The following special exhibitions are on view at area museums. For a complete list of all permanent, indefinite and long-term exhibitions, please consult individual museum websites. Museums marked with an * are free.
*AMERICAN UNIVERSITY MUSEUM AT THE KATZEN ARTS CENTER Fall exhibitions are on view through Dec. 6: “Ahn Chang-Hong: noon-mool,” “Beyond Words: The Sacred Art of Ayesha Kamal,” “Observer: The Street Photographs of Norman S. Carr” and “Double Feature: Two Graphic Narratives by Mary Garrard.” 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW. american.edu/cas/museum
*ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY MUSEUM “We Make History,” through Jan. 2, 2028. Letters, photographs, sports memorabilia and other items convey how community stories form the nation’s foundation. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu
*DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION MUSEUM “A Revolution in Their Words,” through March 27. This exhibition explores the fight for American independence through four sections: words of diplomacy, words of the people, words of resistance and words in print. 1776 D St. NW. dar.org/collections/museum
*DUMBARTON OAKS “Insular Horizons: Travel and the Environmental Imagination on Crete, 1598-1845,” through April. Nine books explore how Crete’s insular environment guided travelers’ itineraries and changed their impressions of the island. 1703 32nd St. NW. doaks.org
*FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY “To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare,” through May 2. Nearly 100 objects highlight the role Black women have played in William Shakespeare’s plays, and how they have channeled the playwright in their work. 201 East Capitol St. SE. folger.edu
*GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MUSEUM AND TEXTILE MUSEUM “Generations D.C.,” through Nov. 7. A generation-spanning installation telling the stories of laborers, activists and artists in the nation’s capital.
“Revolutionary Echoes in Washington,” through Nov. 7. A collection of letters, maps and illustrations studies how the ideas behind the Declaration of Independence resonated in D.C.
“Weaving an Empire: Textiles of the Inka World,” through Dec. 19. A display of rarely exhibited garments from 15th-century communities under Inka rule. 701 21st St. NW. museum.gwu.edu
HILLWOOD ESTATE, MUSEUM AND GARDEN “Interwoven: A Tradition of Textiles,” through Jan. 3. A meditation on textiles that considers their function as decorative objects, expressions of identity and more. 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. hillwoodmuseum.org
*HIRSHHORN MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN “Revolutions: Art From the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860-1960,” through Nov. 1. This collection presents 208 artworks made during a period defined by evolutions in science, philosophy and mechanization.
“Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen,” through Jan. 3. A collection of the American conceptual artist’s work features his paintings and a new video installation.
“Light Is a Plastic Medium: The Photography of Carlotta Corpron,” through March 14. A collection of work by the 20th-century abstract photographer, known for helping elevate the craft as an art form.
“Big Things for Big Rooms,” through July 4. This two-part exhibition explores the development of immersive, large-scale artworks since the late 1960s. Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. hirshhorn.si.edu
INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM “Camouflage: Designed to Deceive,” ongoing. An immersive look at camouflage and its myriad uses in espionage. 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW. spymuseum.org
KREEGER MUSEUM “Out of Bounds,” through Dec. 31. An exhibition of work by seven alumni of the Hamiltonian Artists fellowship program in D.C. 2401 Foxhall Rd. NW. kreegermuseum.org
*LIBRARY OF CONGRESS “The Declaration’s Promise: A Revolutionary Idea,” through July 3. This exhibition, which analyzes the founding principles of the Declaration of Independence, includes Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the document. Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. loc.gov
*MARIA & ALBERTO DE LA CRUZ GALLERY “Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Look Alive,” through April 11. A selection of installations by the Mexican-Canadian artist, including a work in which nearly 3,000 lightbulbs respond to visitors’ heartbeats. Georgetown University, 3535 Prospect St. NW. delacruzgallery.org
*MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE ART GALLERY “Arab Pop Art: Between East and West,” through Jan. 23. This exhibition, featuring 35 works from 14 artists, conveys Arab identity through the lens of global pop culture. 1763 N St. NW. mei.edu/art-gallery
MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE “Blessed Stanley Rother: Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Shepherd,” through Oct. 1, 2027. An exhibition documenting the life of the U.S.-born Catholic priest, who helped translate the New Testament into Tz’utujil. 400 Fourth St. SW. museumofthebible.org
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART ARLINGTON Fall exhibitions are on view through Jan. 24: “Common Wealth,” “Dusk in the Dawnland,” “New South, Ground Truth,” “To Eat Out Their Substance” and “Emily Fussner: Some Shining Coil of Wind.” 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. mocaarlington.org
*NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM Five new galleries are ongoing: “Aerospace and Our Changing Environment,” “Futures in Space,” “Boeing Milestones of Flight,” “Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight” and “World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation.” Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW. airandspace.si.edu
*NATIONAL ARCHIVES MUSEUM “Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration,” through July 5. This exhibition tells the story behind the Declaration of Independence and shows how the parchment has been preserved.
“The American Story,” ongoing. A redesign of the museum’s permanent exhibits highlights an 1823 stone engraving of the Declaration of Independence, George Washington’s annotated copy of the Constitution and more. 701 Constitution Ave. NW. museum.archives.gov
NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM “The Tuskegee Chapel: Paul Rudolph X Fry & Welch,” ongoing. Sketches, models, brick replicas and a robotically built sculpture highlight the material and design innovation of a Tuskegee University landmark.
“A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4978 Schools That Changed America,” ongoing. This exhibition features the narratives and photographs of Andrew Feiler, who tells the story of how thousands of schoolhouses were built across the segregated South.
“Coming Together: Reimagining America’s Downtowns,” ongoing. A multimedia exploration of how lessons learned during the pandemic are shaping the future of American city centers.
“Mini Memories: Souvenir Buildings From the David Weingarten Collection,” ongoing. A showcase of 400 miniature building souvenirs from nearly 70 countries.
“House & Home,” ongoing. A collection of photographs, models, films and objects that examine American homes both familiar and unconventional.
“Building Stories,” ongoing. This immersive exhibition dives into the world of architecture, engineering, construction and design as depicted in children’s books. 401 F St. NW. nbm.org
*NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART “American Icon: The US Flag in Art,” through Dec. 6. More than 30 works, including paintings, prints, photographs and video, convey varying interpretations of the American flag.
“Sky Hopinka: Kicking the Clouds,” through Dec. 6. A multimedia exhibition shows how Hopinka uses language to deconstruct the contemporary Indigenous experience.
“In the Library: Reimagining America by Design,” through Dec. 31. An installation highlighting the work of George Washington University students who spent a semester examining the National Gallery’s Index of American Design.
“Back and Forth: Rozeal., Titian, Cezanne,” through Jan. 3. The striking similarities between Titian’s 16th-century works and paintings by Rozeal. and Paul Cézanne are highlighted.
“Homelands,” through Aug. 1. An exploration of how people relate to place as conveyed by the works of 20 contemporary and modern artists.
“Celebrating American Art,” ongoing. The reimagined American art galleries feature new texts, digital tools and activities. Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. nga.gov.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM OF EXPLORATION “Photo Ark: Animals of Earth,” ongoing. An exhibition highlighting the work of Joel Sartore, a nature photographer renowned for his portraits of animals, including endangered species.
“Red, White & Blue,” through December. Photographers explore the United States through the colors of the American flag. 1600 M St. NW. moe.nationalgeographic.org
*NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE “Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.,” ongoing. The exhibition focuses on the Black Lives Matter movement and art that depicts resistance and protest.
“Revelation: A Journey Into Abstraction,” ongoing. This collection highlights abstract art created by African Americans since the mid-20th century.
“Reset: Abstraction Embodied in Design,” ongoing. An exploration of how Black designers shape everyday spaces. 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. nmaahc.si.edu
*NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART “Benin Bronzes: Ambassadors of the Oba,” ongoing. Nine bronze artifacts taken by the British during the Benin Punitive Expedition of 1897 are on display as part of a long-term loan from the National Commission for Museum and Monuments in Nigeria.
“Sanctuary: Mekdes,” ongoing. Through seven sculptures, Ethiopian American artist Tsedaye Makonnen confronts the dehumanization of Black women, femme people and their communities.
“Visionary: Viewpoints on Africa’s Arts,” ongoing. An installation organized around seven viewpoints designed to shape the manner in which African art is experienced.
“Currents: Water in African Art,” ongoing. Artworks from the museum’s permanent collection underscore water’s role as a potent cultural force. 950 Independence Ave. SW. africa.si.edu
*NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty, and Happiness,” through December. This semiquincentennial celebration features 250 objects — including the desk used by Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence — spread over 250,000 square feet.
“¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa,” ongoing. Featuring nearly 300 objects, this bilingual exhibition traces salsa’s path to becoming a defining sound in American music.
“Corazón y Vida: Lowriding Culture,” ongoing. This exhibition about lowriders — custom cars with elaborate paint jobs and hydraulics for bouncing — includes photography, tools of the trade and two classic Chevy Impalas. Constitution Avenue NW, between 12th and 14th streets. americanhistory.si.edu
*NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN “Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe,” through Jan. 1. This retrospective of the Ho-Chunk artist features minimalist sculptures made of willow branches, feathers and other organic materials.
“Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting,” through spring. Featuring more than 50 works, this exhibition examines the expansion of American Indian art after World War I.
“InSight: Photos and Stories From the Archives,” ongoing. These photos, selected from more than half a million stewarded by the museum, offer intimate insight into Indigenous lives. Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW. americanindian.si.edu
*NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ASIAN ART “Saodat Ismailova: Melted Into the Sun,” through Nov. 29. Text, archival footage and original film unpack Central Asia’s traditions, oral histories and landscapes.
“From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art,” through Jan. 18. More than two-dozen Islamic works from the Louvre in Paris are on display.
“A Museum in the Making,” through Aug. 1. This exhibition tells the story of Charles Lang Freer’s Detroit home, which the collector and industrialist turned into an experiment in art and design. 1050 Independence Ave. SW. asia.si.edu
*NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY “Imagining Bison,” through summer. Historic books, paintings, photographs and objects convey portrayals of bison through the ages.
“Cellphone: Unseen Connections,” through June 2028. This exhibition, about the way phones connect us to the natural world, features multimedia installations, a sprawling graphic novel and more than 750 objects.
“From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage,” through 2029. More than 600 specimens and cultural items represent the 50 states, D.C. and five U.S. territories.
“Bison: Standing Strong,” ongoing. This ode to the United States’ national mammal includes the six-foot skull of an ancient bison ancestor, an immersive soundscape, multimedia elements and Native objects. 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. naturalhistory.si.edu
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS “Remix: The Collection,” through Oct. 25. Familiar collection favorites are displayed alongside recent acquisitions.
“Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California,” through Jan. 17. Nearly 80 quilts speak to artistic expression during the Second Great Migration.
“Marlo Pascual: Making Something Out of Something,” through Feb. 28. An exhibition featuring 17 works from the American artist, who recontextualized photos sourced from thrift stores. 1250 New York Ave. NW. nmwa.org
*NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY “Portrait of a Nation: 2025 Honorees,” through Nov. 15. Steven Spielberg, Temple Grandin and Jamie Dimon are among those depicted in this annual exhibition spotlighting those who have made extraordinary contributions to American culture.
“Star Power: Photographs From Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell (A Sequel),” through Jan. 10. An encore installation featuring 20 photos of movie stars from the 1930s and ’40s.
“The Spirit of Invention: Patent Office and Patentees,” through June 6. An exhibition depicting the early history of the Patent Office through selections from the museum’s collection.
“Meserve Collection Highlights: Modern Prints From Mathew Brady’s Portrait Negatives,” through May 14, 2028. Nine prints from 19th-century negatives feature the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ulysses S. Grant and more. Eighth and F streets NW. npg.si.edu
*RENWICK GALLERY “Justin Favela: Capilla de Maíz (Maize Chapel),” ongoing. A site-specific installation lines the Rubenstein Grand Salon with gold fringe and piñata corncobs to highlight corn’s role in North American visual culture. Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street NW. americanart.si.edu
*RUBELL MUSEUM “Thomas Houseago: Collages,” through fall 2027. A variety of paintings and mixed-media works by the Los Angeles-based British artist.
“Friends, Lovers, and Me: Recent Acquisitions,” though fall 2027. An installation featuring the works of 17 contemporary artists. 65 I St. SW. rubellmuseum.org/dc
*SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM “Shahzia Sikander: The Last Post,” through Nov. 8. A 10-minute video artwork examines the East India Company’s imperialist presence in South Asia and China from the 1600s to the 1800s.
“Nick Cave: Mammoth,” through Jan. 3. The 67-year-old artist creates an immersive installation featuring the crafted hides and bones of mammoths, a video projection of the extinct animals and a sprawling light table with hundreds of transformed found objects.
“Much Here Is Beautiful: Photography Surveys of the U.S. Bicentennial,” through April 18. A collection of 225 photos that places images marking the 1976 bicentennial alongside other federal survey photography. G and Eighth streets NW. americanart.si.edu
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