© / The National Museum of Women in the Arts

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Washington, DC


The only US museum exclusively devoted to women’s artwork fills this Renaissance Revival mansion. Its collection – some 5500 works by more than 1000 female artists from around the world – includes Renaissance artists such as Lavinia Fontana and 20th-century works by Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe and Helen Frankenthaler. Placards give feminist interpretations of various art movements.

The historic building's interior is gorgeous. In the Great Hall, one of the building’s grandest spaces, the original chandelier hang meters away from a second, very different one made of LED lights, Murano glass, and hand-crocheted wool, by Joana Vasconcelos.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Washington, DC attractions

1. Touchstone Gallery

0.27 MILES

Touchstone Gallery exhibits contemporary pieces created by its 45 member artists. Works cover multiple media, including sculpture, painting and the…

2. Petersen House

0.28 MILES

After being shot at Ford’s Theatre, Lincoln was carried across the street to Petersen House. Its three tiny, unassuming rooms create a moving personal…

3. McPherson Square

0.28 MILES

Named for Civil War general James B McPherson, who once commanded the Army of Tennessee, this square sports an 1876 statue of McPherson on his horse…

6. Ford’s Theatre

0.3 MILES

On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln here. Free timed-entry tickets provide access to the site, which has four parts: the…

8. St John’s Church

0.37 MILES

St John’s isn’t DC’s most imposing church, but it is arguably its most important. That’s because it’s the ‘Church of the Presidents’ – every president…