S. Dillon Ripley Center
Museum · National Mall ·

S. Dillon Ripley Center

Museum · National Mall ·

Underground museum with rotating art exhibits & children's theater

hidden gem
art museum
free museum
gardens
architecture
traveling exhibitions
restaurants
wheelchair accessible
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null
S. Dillon Ripley Center by null

Information

1100 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20004 Get directions

Restroom
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom

Information

Static Map

1100 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20004 Get directions

+1 202 633 1000
si.edu
@smithsonian

Features

•Restroom
•Wheelchair accessible entrance
•Wheelchair accessible parking lot
•Wheelchair accessible restroom

Last updated

Jan 17, 2026

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Lyle’s New Chef Brings Some Funky Dishes to His Old Kitchen | Eater DC

"There’s an opportunity to see Today Show anchor Al Roker and his daughter Courtney Roker Laga talk about their cookbook at the S. Dillon Ripley Center with NBC News4 anchor Eun Yang; Al Roker’s Recipes to Live By features 100 recipes from his home kitchen (including shrimp and grits with bell peppers and bacon and spice-rubbed pork chops), tickets are free for Smithsonian members and $25 for the general public, and copies of the book will be available for purchase with a chance to get them signed." - Emily Venezky

https://dc.eater.com/2024/10/17/24272346/lyle-new-dupont-chef-bill-williamson-am-intel
S. Dillon Ripley Center

Joe D.

Google
It is with great reservation I comment on this museum. It is one of my top three museums. It is a hidden gem. The exhibits change so I cannot describe properly what you will see. It does connect to two other museums. The Asian Art museum and the African Art museum. The Ripley Center is obvious but unknown. So in the summer it is cool, quiet, and clean.

Christopher H.

Google
Very nice side attraction when visiting the capital! Really enjoyed the exhibits. Everyone goes to DC for the show stopper attractions but really there is so much hidden within the cuty to enjoy. Strongly recommend a stop to take in as much of our nations history as possible.

Hilda K.

Google
It's worth passing through the Ripley Center if you're visiting the Museum of African Art and/or the Freer/Sackler. Graphic Eloquence is always on display and worth seeing. The current temporary exhibit, Artists at Work, is an impressive array of works by Smithsonian staff. There are a couple of vending machines for reasonably priced drinks and snacks.

Michael V.

Google
The Ripley Center is, in fact, under the roof garden and has a changing exhibit area. Plus some exhibits on artwork. Kind of hidden and never crowded. You can also access it from the Asian Art Museum or the African Art Museum. Restrooms available.

Rob G

Google
A (literally) hidden gem. A beautiful art museum, underground. There is a small kiosk adjacent to the Smithsonian Castle that is the principal entrance. You enter the kiosk, take the elevator down, and enjoy the displays.

Michael W.

Google
When in here by mistake. Very interesting

Brad

Google
The S. Dillion Ripley Centre (free entry) is one of many museum and exhibition venues located along the south side of The Mall in D.C. Opening hours are 10am to 5.30pm daily. This is a small, circularly shaped kiosk style building with a copper dome, situated between the Smithsonian Castle and the Freer Gallery. Upon entry, you descend several floors where you find exhibitions which change throughout the year. The underground exhibition area is directly linked to the Freer Gallery, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and National Museum of African Art. As such, you can actually use the entry for any of these four venues and each any of the others including the Ripley Centre exhibition space. Note: The Smithsonian Ripley Centre webpage has information on current and upcoming exhibitions. This is worth a quick review if you are considering making a stop here during upcoming visits to D.C.

Gee C.

Google
I loved this free museum more than any other. Impeccably clean, organized with lots of security taking care of the art exhibits. They had the Asian culture art and photography