National Museum of American History
Things to do the week of May 18-22, 2026
We've gathered up things to do across the nation's capital, including museum exhibits, concerts, only-in-DC events and much more. Don't miss our things to do this weekend and things to do this month as well.
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Monday
In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness – Opens May 14
A bold exhibition explores the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. Across three floors and 300,000 square feet, visitors can encounter 250 significant objects, including the portable desk used by Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence. Another noteworthy artifact is the only surviving ship of the early U.S. Navy, the gunboat Philadelphia. This National Historic Landmark helped stall British forces and now undergoes an on-site conservation to preserve it for future generations.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Nick Cave: Mammoth – Through Jan. 3, 2027
Internationally renowned artist Nick Cave uses surrealism, real-life experiences, raw materials and an unceasing creative intensity to create works that speak to race, gender, identity and history in America. This new installation at the Smithsonian American Art Museum explores the entanglement of land and race in the national consciousness.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Dear America – Through Sept. 20
Explore how artists have captured and questioned the American experience over the last 250 years. Through more than 100 works on paper spanning photography, prints and drawings, discover powerful depictions of the nation’s landscapes, people and ideals of freedom.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Tuesday
Library of Congress
The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery – Opens May 5
Visit the Library of Congress and go straight to The Source, its new education center geared towards a worthwhile experience for the entire family. Dynamic and interactive elements will encourage curiosity and creativity and allow for the next generation to explore the Library’s collections, analyzing info and collecting new perspectives along the way.
Hours | Free Admission
Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540
National Museum of the American Indian
Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting – May 15 – Spring 2027
The National Museum of the American Indian’s new exhibit surveys 10 decades of Native painting, demonstrating how seminal artists elevated the art form after World War I. In an environment that dismissed Native art, trendsetting painters like Fred Kabotie, Tonita Peña and Stephen Mopope advocated for themselves and carved out a space for their distinctive work. Later generations expanded the field even more, making for an exhibition that illustrates the breadth and depth of Native self-expression.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Studio Theatre
Purlie Victorious – May 6 – June 21
Studio Theatre stages this satire that is sure to deliver timely social commentary and a healthy helping of madcap laughs. Originally staged in 1961 and revived on Broadway in 2023, Purlie Victorious immerses you in the Jim Crow South as our main character returns home to take back his father’s church and free sharecroppers from a ruthless racist.
Tickets
Studio Theatre, 1501 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Wednesday
Mexican Cultural Institute
Dressing Absences: The Textile Journey of Pedro Páramo – Through May 23
The Mexican Cultural Institute's exhibit explores the creative process behind Netflix's adaptation of Juan Rulfo's iconic novel, Pedro Páramo. The display includes original garments worn during the filming of the adaptation and highlights the work of award-winning designer Anna Terrazas, whose pieces translate the essence of each character into textiles and color palettes that evoke identity.
Hours | Free Admission
Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
The National Theatre
The Great Gatsby – May 12-24
F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic vision of fragile hope and destructive desire in the Jazz Age practically begs for the stage. You'll be able to see Broadway's take on the 1920s glamor, tension, love and deception -- dance numbers and all -- right in the heart of downtown DC. We're giving you the "green light": get your tickets now, and don't miss the Great American Novel on a great American stage. Just watch out for any billboards on your way there.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
The Motion – May 6 – June 14
A fierce debate among four scholars becomes a journey through belief, memory and identity in a new play at the legendary Arena Stage.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Thursday
Union Station
Take a guided tour of Union Station – Thursdays beginning May 7
Learn about DC’s main transportation hub and its beautiful Beaux-Arts architecture during this new tour offering. You’ll learn about the enthralling history of Union Station, including each of its show-stopping spaces and how the location’s role has changed and evolved over time. The tour will also dive into the Station’s redevelopment and modernization.
Book Now
Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Burnished: Pueblo Pottery at NMWA – May 8 – Sept. 27
For more than two millennia, Pueblo potters in the southwestern region of the U.S. have created clay jars and bowls for storage and ceremonial purposes. Women are at the forefront of this work and its legacy. Burnished presents 24 elegantly shaped clay ollas, seed jars and bowls. The show features indigenous artists and is part of the the museum's participation in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, an initiative of Craft in America.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Pippin – May 12 – July 26
Located in Arlington, Va., Signature Theatre regularly stages modern re-imaginings of classic productions. Next May, the company takes on Pippin. The coming-of-age tale will be brought to vivid life with wit, wonder and unforgettable music.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
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