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Smithsonian National Museum of American History Tour

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Group Size

Max 8

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Tour Duration

2.5 Hours

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100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

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Free Cancellation up to 24 hrs

Highlights of the tour

Highlights generally include (as long as items are not on loan or being restored):

  • The Star-Spangled Banner— see the original flag that inspired the U.S. national anthem. This massive 15-star, 15-stripe banner flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and remains one of America's most treasured artifacts.
  • The Greensboro Lunch Counter— stand before the original Woolworth's lunch counter, where four African American college students staged a historic sit-in in 1960, sparking a nationwide movement for civil rights and desegregation.
  • George Washington's Uniform and Sword — get up close to George Washington's actual military uniform and battle sword, worn and carried during the American Revolution!
  • Abraham Lincoln's Top Hat — see the top hat worn by President Abraham Lincoln on the night of his assassination at Ford's Theatre in 1865. A haunting and powerful symbol of his presidency and legacy.
  • Dorothy's Ruby Slippers — step into Hollywood history with the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. One of the most recognizable artifacts in pop culture history.

Details

Join us for a private tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, where the story of the United States' rise from a rebellious colony to a global power unfolds through its most treasured artifacts. 

From the American Revolution to the Civil Rights Movement and wartime ingenuity during World War II, this museum brings America's history to life, On this 2.5-hour tour, our expert guide will lead you through this vast collection, ensuring you see all the museum's most important exhibits. Stand before the original Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired the national anthem. Explore presidential legacies with George Washington's sword and Abraham Lincoln's top hat, worn on the night of his assassination. Visit the Greensboro Lunch Counter, where a peaceful sit-in ignited the Civil Rights Movement, and admire the inaugural gowns of First Ladies, each reflecting a pivotal moment in history. You'll even step into pop culture history with Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. By the end of this tour, you'll have explored the milestones of American history, from revolution and reform to innovation and culture. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a first-time visitor, this experience offers a deeper understanding of the nation's past and what it means to be American today.


Itinerary

  • A 2.5-hour tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History with one of our expert guides.
  • Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560

Inclusion

• PRIVATE MUSEUM TOUR 

• PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE

• DURATION 2.5 HOURS

• ALL ENTRANCE FEES


Semi-Private Tour

Enjoy an intimate small-group experience
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What Our Customers Say

Great experience
Jonathan N 2 contributions

Great experience

We had a great time with Leigh Jameson. She is very good at her job. I definitely would go through this company again. ??

16 April 2025

Great time!
Patrick H 1 contributions

Great time!

Very knowledgeable! They were also very tolerant of our super chatty and easily distracted child, very well done! We enjoyed it very much!

25 April 2025

Great tour!
Beth G 4 contributions

Great tour!

Annemarie gave us a lovely tour, very informative! Highly recommend seeing the museum with a guide so you aren’t overwhelmed!

17 May 2025

Everyone needs to go here at least once in their life
Theresa C 2 contributions

Everyone needs to go here at least once in their life

LEIGH was phenomenal. We learned so much about history so we knew we didn’t, but she was amazing explaining everything we saw.

25 May 2025

Wonderful
Kathy R 4 contributions

Wonderful

Excellent informative tour with great sidebar information. Donna really knows the history of the museum and exhibits

30 May 2025

So much information.
sks187 2 contributions

So much information.

Rebecca was awesome. She had inside stories and incredible knowledge for each area. Answered each of our questions with no hesitation.

30 May 2025

Excellent!  We were fortunate enough to score AnneMarie as our guide!  She was highly knowledgeable.
Footprints365010 2 contributions

Excellent! We were fortunate enough to score AnneMarie as our guide! She was highly knowledgeable.

Our guide, Anne Marie, was excellent! Highly knowledgeable and informative. Such a good teacher!! We strongly recommend her!

12 June 2025

Tour guide is just the best!
Karen H 2 contributions

Tour guide is just the best!

What a great experience! Rebecca was just the best! She told us so many interesting facts, kept it interesting as she was so knowledgeable.

16 June 2025

Annemarie - American History Museum
Jason G 1 contributions

Annemarie - American History Museum

My wife, myself and teenage daughters did a tour with Annemarie at the American History Museum today and easily gave 5 stars. She was very nice, engaging, thorough and well versed.Im a bit of a history nut so this doesn't come lightly. Highly recommend.

01 August 2025

History comes alive
zenmomma82 21 contributions

History comes alive

We loved our tour with Annemarie! We are a family of 4 with two preteens and she did an amazing job engaging everyone in the group. She had a wealth of knowledge and expertise and a gift for answering questions on the fly, especially out of the box ones from our 10 year old. She really made the museum come alive for us and it was truly a great experience to walk through it with her guidance. I would highly recommend this tour experience.

09 August 2025

Rebecca was awesome!
LJ W 3 contributions

Rebecca was awesome!

Rebecca was super knowledgeable and friendly. She knew the museum backwards and forwards and gave us a really great overview of the American History museum. He would definitely have her as a tour guide again!

04 January 2025

Great experience
Alexander W 1 contributions

Great experience

Annmarie was such a great guide, showing us all details from the civil war, and the history of presidency. She was very good at explaining and brought the stories to life! Would come again 100%!

16 February 2025

Great Tour – Highly Recommend
Cale 1 contributions

Great Tour – Highly Recommend

We had a great experience touring the Smithsonian with Maribeth. The museum is huge, so having a guide like her made all the difference. She was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also flexible, allowing us to focus on the exhibits we were most interested in while still giving us a well-rounded experience.She brought the exhibits to life with interesting stories and details that I wouldn't have noticed on my own. She made the tour both educational and entertaining, keeping everyone engaged with her enthusiasm and deep knowledge. It’s clear she loves what she does, and that energy made the tour...

31 March 2025

Customized and interesting
Maria W 10 contributions

Customized and interesting

Anne-Marie was a great guide. She asked about our preferences and interests and customized the tour with exhibits that would be of most interest to our children. We also hit the highlights with some memorable stories that helped the exhibits come to life.

21 April 2025

Smithsonian American History Museum with Maribeth
GGH1 29 contributions

Smithsonian American History Museum with Maribeth

Maribeth was an excellent and very well informed guide. I'm a history buff but Maribeth brought so much knowledge to the tour that I was unaware of. She brought fun to the learning experience.

22 April 2025

Great tour!
Samahoe 4 contributions

Great tour!

Maribeth was very pleasant and full of knowledge. I learned a lot from her, especially little details. I’d definitely recommend her.

04 May 2025

Annemarie is the best!
Catharine L 2 contributions

Annemarie is the best!

Annemarie was such a great tour guide! She was very pleasant and knowledgeable. My mom loves history and she catered the tour to what we were interested in. She answered any question we had. Had a lot of fun and would definitely recommend her!

14 May 2025

Maureen was amazing!!!
Abby P 4 contributions

Maureen was amazing!!!

My family of 5 THOROUGHLY enjoyed our tour of the American History Musuem! Maureen was our guide, and not only was she knowledgeable and fun, she also catered the experience to my tired troop of young adults. This was our 4th tour in 2 days, and it was by far the best. We couldn't be more pleased!

26 June 2025

Ryan did great!
Ben M 1 contributions

Ryan did great!

Ryan was great! Very informative. He had a great gen z history of how cherry blossom trees got to usa. Also did great in getting the kids excited at the different exhibits.

09 July 2025

Our tour guide Brenda was outstanding
Scott S 2 contributions

Our tour guide Brenda was outstanding

Our tour guide Brenda was super! She knew how to navigate the museum and about everything in it. She tailored the tour to our four young children while educating the four adults with her vast knowledge of the displays. Everyone had a wonderful morning.

25 July 2025

FAQ's

Please let us know immediately by email to babylontoursinfo@gmail.com or by texting or calling +1 917 999 0380. Our refund policy does not cover medical issues that arise within 24 hours of the tour's start. In such cases, please contact your travel insurance provider. We can provide a document confirming you were unable to attend.

Yes! You can reschedule free of charge if you notify us at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. For rescheduling within 24 hours, a fee applies to cover guide payments, unused tickets, and company costs (no profit is made on this fee). If you booked through a booking platform like Viator or GetYourGuide, you must reschedule directly with them.

Please inform your guide as soon as possible. As this is a semi-private tour, it must start on time. If your tour is ticketed, the guide will reply to your message with the tickets so you can enter the museum or monument on your own and try to join the guide inside if possible. Please note that once the tour begins, the guide will not be able to regularly check their phone.

Please let us know immediately by email to babylontoursinfo@gmail.com or by texting or calling +1 917 999 0380 . Our refund policy does not cover transportation issues within 24 hours of the tour's start. In such cases, please contact your travel insurance provider. We can provide a document confirming you were unable to attend.

Please let us know immediately by email to babylontoursinfo@gmail.com or by texting or calling +1 917 999 0380. Our refund policy does not cover medical issues that arise within 24 hours of the tour's start. In such cases, please contact your travel insurance provider. We can provide a document confirming you were unable to attend.

Yes, you are welcome to stay in the museum until it closes.

Your guide will have your tickets. As long as you bring proof of ID, the guide's name and number, and arrive at the meeting point on time, the guide will assist you with entry.

No, as the museum is large, locating the guide inside is challenging. The guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and accompany the group inside. However, you are welcome to stay in the museum after the tour ends!

Yes, you are welcome to stay in the museum until it closes.

Please let us know immediately by email to babylontoursinfo@gmail.com or by texting or calling +1 917 999 0380 . Our refund policy does not cover transportation issues within 24 hours of the tour's start. In such cases, please contact your travel insurance provider. We can provide a document confirming you were unable to attend.

No, as the museum is large, locating the guide inside is challenging. The guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and accompany the group inside. However, you are welcome to stay in the museum after the tour ends!

Your guide will have your tickets. As long as you bring proof of ID, the guide's name and number, and arrive at the meeting point on time, the guide will assist you with entry.

No, Viator is a booking platform and Online Travel Agent. They sell our tours, but we are Babylon Tours, a Tour Operator currently offering tours in 12 major cities worldwide!

Please inform your guide as soon as possible. As this is a semi-private tour, it must start on time. If your tour is ticketed, the guide will reply to your message with the tickets so you can enter the museum or monument on your own and try to join the guide inside if possible. Please note that once the tour begins, the guide will not be able to regularly check their phone.

Your guide will reach out to you the morning of the tour by text and email. Please ensure you have provided your correct telephone number (including country code) and email beforehand. Please be sure to check your SPAM folder if you don't see the email in your inbox.

Yes! You can reschedule free of charge if you notify us at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. For rescheduling within 24 hours, a fee applies to cover guide payments, unused tickets, and company costs (no profit is made on this fee). If you booked through a booking platform like Viator or GetYourGuide, you must reschedule directly with them.

Yes! All tickets for the permanent collection are included and organized by Babylon Tours.

No, Viator is a booking platform and Online Travel Agent. They sell our tours, but we are Babylon Tours, a Tour Operator currently offering tours in 12 major cities worldwide!

Please arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.

Your guide will reach out to you the morning of the tour by text and email. Please ensure you have provided your correct telephone number (including country code) and email beforehand. Please be sure to check your SPAM folder if you don't see the email in your inbox.

Your guide will be wearing a Babylon badge on a Babylon lanyard. They will also reach out to you on the morning of the tour to confirm the meeting point.

Yes! All tickets for the permanent collection are included and organized by Babylon Tours.

Yes, our tours run rain or shine. Please check the forecast and dress appropriately. Tours will only be canceled in the event of a dangerous weather alert from local authorities.n

Please arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.

Your guide will be wearing a Babylon badge on a Babylon lanyard. They will also reach out to you on the morning of the tour to confirm the meeting point.

Yes, our tours run rain or shine. Please check the forecast and dress appropriately. Tours will only be canceled in the event of a dangerous weather alert from local authorities.n

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