Guided Tour of the National Academy of Sciences Building
Take a one-hour guided tour of the beautiful National Academy of Sciences Building.
Select date and time
Location
National Academy of Sciences
2101 Constitution Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20418About this event
Tour the "nation's home of science in America."
Take a one-hour guided tour of the beautiful National Academy of Sciences building at 2100 C St., NW, Washington, D.C. Dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge in April 1924 and designed by architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, the building’s architecture is a unique fusion of classical elements and “irregular” forms, and celebrates the history and significance of science.
On this tour, admire rich Hellenic, Byzantine, and Egyptian architectural influences and touches of Art Deco. Explore the Great Hall with iconography by Hildreth Meière and other ceremonial rooms with architectural sculpture by Lee Lawrie and murals by Albert Herter. You’ll also peek inside the acoustically brilliant Fred Kavli Auditorium, part of the 1970 wing.
Enjoy artwork and exhibitions exploring intersections of art, science, and culture.
This tour is organized by the Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences (CPNAS). CPNAS sponsors exhibitions, salons, theatrical readings, and other events that explore relationships among the arts and sciences. The NAS is a private, nonprofit institution that recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine — provides science, technology, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations.
Learn more about the exhibitions on view at www.cpnas.org.
Read the full visitor code of conduct guidelines here.
Questions? Email us at cpnas@nas.edu.
Frequently asked questions
Bring your government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license or passport) and a print out of your ticket or have the ticket ready on your phone.
Please arrive between 5 and 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time. Latecomers will miss this opportunity.
Enter at 2100 C St NW, Washington, D.C.
The closest Metro station is Foggy Bottom on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines. It is a .75 mile walk (about 15-20 minutes) from Foggy Bottom to the National Academy of Sciences. The 31, 32, and 36 buses also stop nearby.
Complimentary parking is available in the Visitors Lot located at 256 21st NW, just south of the intersection of 21st and C Sts NW. Spaces are not guaranteed and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tell the guard in the booth that you are attending the guided tour of the NAS Building.
There is a ramp from the sidewalk to our back entrance at 2100 C St NW.
Yes! Email us at cpnas@nas.edu if you anticipate that you will need an auditory assistive device on the tour.
If traveling via Taxi, Uber, or Lyft, we recommend setting the Albert Einstein Memorial as your drop off point, from there, walk up 22nd St, turn right on C St., N.W., and enter the back entrance at 2100 C St. NW. After the tour, there is also a taxicab stand conveniently located on 22nd St NW.