Entry and Visitor Guidelines

At many of our museums, you'll be greeted upon entry by one of our security personnel who will conduct a thorough hand-check of all bags, briefcases, purses, and containers. We encourage you to limit the number of personal belongings and bags you bring into our facilities to increase your speed through security checkpoints.

Visitors are required to walk through a metal detector at the following museums: 

• Air and Space Museum and its Udvar-Hazy Center (DC and VA)
• African American History and Culture Museum
• American Art Museum
• American History Museum
• Natural History Museum
• Portrait Gallery
• Postal Museum
• American Indian Museums (DC and NY)

Those who are unable to go through the metal detector will be hand-screened with an electronic wand by security personnel. Bag checks will be conducted by hand or via an X-ray machine.

We ask for your patience, cooperation, and assistance in keeping America's treasures safe.

Visitors should not leave personal belongings unattended, nor leave them stored at one museum while visiting other sites.

Prohibited Items

The following items are prohibited at all museums:

• Sharp items such as knives (including pocket or "Swiss Army" style knives), screwdrivers, scissors
• Firearms
• Pepper spray and Mace.

See Prohibited Conduct for additional information.

We encourage you to limit the number of personal belongings and bags you bring into our facilities as they will be subject to a thorough search. Limiting the items you bring will increase your speed through security checkpoints.

The following museums currently offer visitor lockers/storage:

• African American History and Culture Museum
• American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery (F Street entrance only)
• American History Museum
• Asian Art Museum (Freer and Sackler)
• Hirshhorn Museum (temporarily out of service)
• Natural History Museum
• Postal Museum
• Udvar-Hazy Center (VA)

Visitors should not leave personal belongings unattended, nor leave them stored at one museum while visiting other sites.

The following Smithsonian sites have dedicated lactation rooms. Please check at any information desk for specific locations and for options at those sites not listed here:

• National Air and Space Museum (DC location)
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• National Museum of American History
• National Museum of Natural History
• National Postal Museum
• Smithsonian's National Zoo

The Smithsonian permits still and video photography for noncommercial use only in its museums and exhibitions, unless otherwise posted.

For the safety of our visitors and collections, the Smithsonian prohibits the use of tripods, monopods, selfie sticks or similar devices in our museums and gardens. This is a preventive measure to protect visitors and objects, especially during crowded conditions. We encourage museum visitors to take selfies and share their experiences—and leave the selfie sticks in their bags.

Working members of the media who need to use a tripod or monopod must obtain permission from the museum's Public Affairs Office and must be escorted by a museum staff member while in the building or garden.

The Smithsonian welcomes guests to bring any medical supplies, devices, or equipment they might need during their visit. Visitors should note that public storage space is not available at all locations. Visitors who bring medically necessary items/equipment should plan to maintain possession of them throughout their visit.

All Smithsonian locations permit the use of manual and motorized mobility devices (e.g., scooters, walkers, wheelchairs) and have at least one entrance accessible to visitors using mobility aids. Visitors who bring a mobility aide or device with them should plan to maintain possession of the item throughout their visit. Devices used strictly for recreational purposes are prohibited.

Service dogs are welcome at Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo. Emotional support, therapy, comfort, and companion dogs and dogs in training to be service dogs are not considered service dogs under the guidelines of the ADA.

Smoking is prohibited in all Smithsonian facilities. This includes e-cigarettes.

Visitation policies at the Smithsonian Institution are designed to protect visitors and staff as well as secure and preserve the collections, facilities, and historic buildings entrusted to the Smithsonian's care.

While on Smithsonian premises NO VISITOR SHALL:

• Carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed on the premises. The prohibition on firearms applies to all visitors, including those with firearm permits, but not to active law enforcement personnel authorized to carry firearms.
• Display or carry placards, signs, or banners
• Destroy, damage, or remove property
• Climb upon any part of a building
• Use loud, abusive, or otherwise improper language
• Loiter, sleep, or participate in unwarranted assemblies
• Create any hazard to persons or things
• Perform obscene or indecent acts
• Engage in disorderly conduct
• Use, possess, or sell illegal drugs
• Smoke, this includes e-cigarettes
• Bring dogs or other animals, other than service animals
• Take photographs for advertising or any other commercial purpose
• Solicit for commercial or charitable purposes or distribute advertisements, pamphlets, handbills, and flyers
• Damage, deface, pick, or remove any herb, shrub, bush, tree, or turf, or portion thereof, in any Smithsonian Garden or at the National Zoo

In addition to the above, while on Zoo premises, NO VISITOR SHALL:

• Kill, injure, or disturb any exhibit or research animal by any means except to secure personal safety
• Pet, attempt to pet, handle, move, or remove exhibit or research animals
• Feed exhibit or research animals, except in strict accordance with authorized signs
• Catch, attempt to catch, trap, remove, or kill any free roaming animals inhabiting the premises
• Go over, under, between, or otherwise cross any guardrail, fence, moat, wall, or any other safety barrier
• Seat, stand, or hold children over any safety barrier
• Throw or toss rocks, or any other missiles into, from, or while on premises
• Bring strollers, baby carriages, or other conveyances, except wheel chairs, into exhibit buildings and public restrooms
• Engage in ball games, or any athletic activity, except in places as may be officially designated for such purposes
• Smoke or carry lighted cigarettes, cigars, or pipes into exhibit buildings, or to have a fire of any kind on the premises

Visitors who violate these rules may be subject to fine or imprisonment. The complete Smithsonian buildings and grounds regulations can be found in Title 36 of Code of Federal Regulations, parts 504 and 520 (National Zoo).