Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Museum Modern and contemporary art museum with sculpture garden
On the National Mall, the Hirshhorn’s circular concrete building and outdoor sculpture garden present rotating modern and contemporary exhibitions, installations and public programs.
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is a Smithsonian Institution museum in Washington, D.C., devoted to modern and contemporary art. The site combines an indoor museum building with an outdoor sculpture garden on the National Mall.
The museum’s cylindrical gallery building houses changing exhibitions, installations and works from its permanent collection, while the adjacent Sculpture Garden displays outdoor works set in a landscaped plaza. The institution emphasizes contemporary sculpture, installation art and experimental media.
Founded through the gift of collector Joseph H. Hirshhorn, the museum serves as a national center for modern art exhibitions and research and has hosted numerous major temporary shows and commissions.
The museum sits on the National Mall near the southeast section of the Mall, within walking distance of other Smithsonian museums and federal landmarks.
- Collection focus: The museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution and specializes in modern and contemporary art, including rotating temporary exhibitions and a permanent collection.
What to See #
- Main museum building: The Hirshhorn's circular main building, a distinctive concrete cylinder that contains rotating galleries of modern and contemporary art.
- Sculpture Garden: The adjacent Sculpture Garden on the National Mall that displays outdoor works and site-specific installations in a landscaped setting.
How to Get to Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden #
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Independence Avenue near 7th Street SW. Take the Washington Metro to Smithsonian station (Blue/Orange/Silver lines) or L’Enfant Plaza (multiple lines) and walk about 5-10 minutes across the Mall to the museum.
Tips for Visiting Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden #
- Admission to the Hirshhorn and its Sculpture Garden is free (part of the Smithsonian); visiting on a weekday morning minimizes crowds.
- Don't skip the outdoor Sculpture Garden on the Mall-its works and layout are often less busy than the galleries and are accessible directly from the Mall walkway.
- Check the museum's website before you go for temporary installations or evening programs that can change the flow and crowding inside the cylindrical building.
Best Time to Visit Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden #
Plan weekday-morning visits in spring or fall for the quietest gallery experience; weekends and summer afternoons are busiest.
Weather & Climate near Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden #
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1042 mm/year), wettest in May, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm).
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February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm).
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April
April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm).
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May
May is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (103 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm).
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 32°C and lows of 20°C. Significant rainfall (101 mm).
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August
August is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 19°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm).
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September
September is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
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December
December is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm).
