Why America's birthday is better in Washington, DC
The United States turns 250 in 2026, and as destinations across America prepare to celebrate the Semiquincentennial in their own way, there’s one place that should be on every list. Washington, D.C., is uniquely positioned to celebrate America’s birthday, with iconic monuments, a calendar full of festivals and, of course, the founding document itself—the Declaration of Independence.
A place where American history is both made and memorialized, D.C.’s numerous museums help tell the story of our nation. Even better, many offer free admission. Here, you can walk in the footsteps of famous Americans. Historic hotels teem with stories of past notables who have spent the night there. (Pro tip: Hotel rates tend to be cheaper on the weekends when Congress is not in session.) Despite this deep connection to history, there’s always something new going on in D.C., with events being added to the lineup all the time, so you’ll never get tired of visiting. Plan ahead so you can be part of the action in D.C. next year.
Festivities
No matter what month you visit in 2026, Washington, D.C. will be hosting an event that celebrates America’s history. The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival (March 20-April 12) has been a tradition for decades, rooted in the 1912 gift from Japan. At the time, the approximately 3,000 trees were given as a symbol of friendship from the people of Japan to the people of the United States. In summer 2024, Japan donated 250 additional cherry trees not only to celebrate America’s 250th, but also to replace the cherry blossom trees removed due to construction. (The new cherry saplings are still in quarantine, a 2-year process, but should make their debut in 2026.) Next year's festival promises three weeks of music, art and cultural activities.
Summertime is always hopping in D.C. and next year will be no exception. The Spirit of Independence Festival (June 5-7) at the National Archives will include music performances as well as family-friendly events and activities.
For nearly one month, the National Mall will celebrate America’s diverse cultural heritage with the Smithsonian 250th Summer Festival (June 18–July 12). Established in 1967 as the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, this annual event honors modern living cultural traditions. Free performances, workshops, demonstrations and other activities will take place.
Only in D.C. can you see July 4th fireworks exploding in the night sky above the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, with ideal viewing from the National Mall. As an added bonus, you’ll hear the National Symphony Orchestra’s “A Capitol Fourth” concert as the soundtrack.
Museums
You’re no doubt familiar with the term “The Smithsonian,” but it's actually a collection of 21 world-class museums and galleries, 17 of which are in Washington, D.C.—and are free. Next year, more than 25 specifically curated Smithsonian exhibits will celebrate American history.
The National Archives already displays the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights in its Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom. The museum also features a rotating exhibit series known as the “Road to Revolution,” which showcases other original documents about colonial resistance, including perspectives from women, free and enslaved African Americans and Native Americans. From March 1, 2026 – Jan. 26, 2027, the Rotunda will exhibit the 19th Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation.

No matter what part of the milestone anniversary you’re interested in learning about, rest assured you can find it in the National Museum of American History. Here you can see the centuries-old flag that inspired the “Star-Spangled Banner," as well as George Washington’s uniform, Thomas Jefferson’s portable desk that he used to draft the Declaration of Independence and Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s table where she wrote the Declaration of Sentiments. More contemporary historical items include Dorothy’s red slippers and Julia Child’s kitchen.

Snap a pic next to your favorite president at the National Portrait Gallery, which focuses on icons throughout U.S. history. The gallery holds not just paintings, but also rare daguerreotypes from the 1800s as well as modern-day digital videos. From May 15, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027, check out “Photographic Memory: Fifty Years of Photography,” which has the earliest known photo of a U.S. First Lady (Dolley Madison) and the original “cracked-plate” portrait of Abraham Lincoln.
Speaking of Honest Abe, in July 2026, an immersive museum is scheduled to open beneath the Lincoln Memorial in a place known as the undercroft (a cavernous space filled with columns). The $69 million project is aptly called the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Museum. It will showcase the history of Lincoln and the memorial (i.e. its construction and its role in American civil rights) via screen projections. Its floor-to-ceiling glass walls will also give views of the underground.

If your only encounter with the Daughters of the American Revolution is their college scholarships, then a trip to their museum is in order. Its collection of more than 30,000 objects highlights the social history of the U.S. prior to 1840 through its decorative arts, costumes, quilts and needlework. Visit 31 period rooms that tell the story of American homes from the 1690s to the 1940s. See furniture like an 18th-century Philadelphia reverse curved sofa or portraits of early Americans in the Yochim Gallery.
The Smithsonian Castle is still undergoing its first major renovation in 50 years (started on Feb. 1, 2023), but it will temporarily reopen for America’s 250th. From Memorial Day through Labor Day 2026, it will have a special exhibition as part of the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future” programming. Here in the castle, you can also pay homage to James Smithson at his crypt. French-born, British-raised scientist Smithson never actually set foot in D.C. while alive, but he left his considerable fortune to a nephew with the instruction that if he died childless, the money was earmarked to found the Smithsonian Institution in America to increase and spread knowledge.
Attractions
Not many people have had the chance to be president during America's 250 years, but The People’s House: A White House Experience offers everyone a real-life view of being the commander in chief. This free museum near the actual White House tells the story of its famous inhabitants and the people behind the scenes who keep it running.
Sit behind the desk in the Oval Office. Pull up a chair at a recreated State Dinner table and listen to the conversations. Join a meeting in the Cabinet Room. Gesture toward objects in various rooms (i.e. East Room, Green Room, etc.) of the State Floor to learn more, thanks to 360-degree immersive projection. Interact with digital portraits of non-political White House staff as they come alive to tell their stories. Plan ahead to reserve your pass as they are released on the first business day of each month for the following month.

The site of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, Ford’s Theatre, is still an active theater with performances; fittingly, you can catch "1776" from March 13–May 16, 2026 in commemoration of the Semiquincentennial. The President’s Box is decorated with an American flag and a portrait of President George Washington, just as it was in 1865. Visitors can head to the museum in the building to see artifacts related to the assassination, in addition to exhibits on Lincoln’s presidency and Civil War milestones.
If you’ve already seen the major monuments by day, gain an awesome new perspective on them with a Monuments by Moonlight Tour, a trolley tour that takes you to some of the city’s most evocatively lit memorials—from Lincoln’s to Martin Luther King Jr.’s—while a knowledgeable guide recounts history along the way. Buy tickets in advance as day-of tickets are considerably more expensive.

The story of America is an ever-changing one and a new, free attraction looks ahead to the next 250 years. The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream is expected to open later this summer, though no official date has been released as of time of publish. The museum’s interactive exhibits (like conversations with lifelike holograms) will explore education, health, entrepreneurship and financial empowerment.
Historic Hotels
With so many free attractions, you may have some wiggle room in your budget to splurge on a hotel that's been part of American history. What started as a row house on the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in 1816 is today the Willard Intercontinental, a Beaux-Arts hotel designed by Henry Hardenbergh, who was also the creative vision behind The Plaza Hotel in New York.
In this spot, Julia Ward Howe penned “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made final edits to his “I Have a Dream” speech. Calvin Coolidge lived at the hotel during his entire term as Vice President. It was also here that Ulysses S. Grant would enjoy a cigar and brandy in the lobby and get annoyed by self-promoters he referred to as “lobbyists." (Though some say the term existed prior, Grant is credited with making it popular.)

Opened since 1928, the Hay-Adams is a 5-star luxury hotel that sits on the site of the former homes of John Hay and Henry Adams. During the 1800s, this was the center of Washington’s intellectual and social gatherings, featuring literary giants like Mark Twain and Edith Wharton. Today that tradition continues with the hotel’s “Author Series” which brings modern-day distinguished authors to celebrate their writings.
Leaning completely into its place in political history, the Watergate Hotel even has a Scandal Suite. Originally Room 214, the suite has framed newspaper clippings on the wall, binoculars, a manual typewriter, a reel-to-reel tape recorder and other items that evoke the 1972 break-in. This adults-only room (no kids or pets allowed) offers modern amenities.

The Jefferson Hotel began as a luxury apartment block in 1923 for members of Capitol Hill and nearby embassies. In modern times, it has hosted recent presidents like Obama, Bush (both of them) and Clinton, along with celebrities like Larry King and Jeff Bezos. Every Saturday, there is a historical tour for guests to learn more about the building. For example, the grand skylight in the lobby was covered for nearly seven decades after taking precautions against bombing during World War II.
Starting with Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Omni Shoreham Hotel hosted every inaugural ball of the 20th century. President Harry S. Truman used to play poker regularly in Room 406D, and JFK often sipped cocktails in the Blue Room with Jackie. Whether you’re getting a spa treatment, relaxing by the pool or strolling the lush gardens, you can make the hotel part of your history too.