Newseum
Museum Former museum in Washington DC about journalism and media
Open until 2019, Washington’s Newseum presented First Amendment exhibits, newsroom artifacts and a section of the Berlin Wall; it drew journalists and visitors interested in the history and practice of journalism.
The Newseum was a museum in Washington, D.C., dedicated to news, journalism, and the First Amendment, located on Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The institution operated a high-profile building from 2008 until it closed at the end of 2019.
During its operation the Newseum presented multi-floor galleries and interactive exhibits on press history, broadcasting, a First Amendment gallery, and a 9/11 Gallery that displayed artifacts and firsthand media accounts. Prominent features included a large outdoor segment of the Berlin Wall and broadcast studios that showcased the process of producing news.
The Newseum traces to a nonprofit initiative to interpret journalism and press freedom and moved into a new, purpose-built facility on Pennsylvania Avenue in 2008. Financial pressures and rising real estate costs led to its closure on December 31, 2019 and the disposition of many exhibits and artifacts to other institutions.
The Newseum occupied a downtown Washington site on Pennsylvania Avenue NW in the district of the U.S. capital, within the broader area of federal buildings and national memorials.
- Opening and closure dates: The Newseum building on Pennsylvania Avenue opened in 2008 and the museum ceased operations and closed to the public on December 31, 2019.
What to See #
- 9/11 Gallery: A multi-level gallery devoted to coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks, containing artifacts, oral histories, and media documentation installed when the museum was on Pennsylvania Avenue.
- First Amendment Gallery: A First Amendment-focused gallery that presented legal history, landmark press-freedom cases, and interactive exhibits about free speech and the press.
- Berlin Wall segment: A large outdoor segment of the Berlin Wall that was displayed on the museum plaza as a visible temporary exhibit during the museum's operation in Washington.
How to Get to Newseum #
N/A - the Newseum’s Washington, D.C. facility closed in 2019. Consult the Newseum website for information about traveling exhibits and digital archives.
Tips for Visiting Newseum #
- The Newseum closed its D.C. location in December 2019; check for archival exhibits or traveling exhibitions from its foundation before planning a visit.
- For journalism history in Washington consult the Newseum's legacy online resources and partner institutions like the Newseum.org digital archive.
Best Time to Visit Newseum #
The Newseum's physical museum in Washington, D.C. closed in December 2019. Visitors should consult online archives or temporary exhibitions elsewhere for related content.
Weather & Climate near Newseum #
Newseum'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 (1050 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. Regular rainfall (80 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (104 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 32°C and lows of 20°C. Significant rainfall (102 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 19°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
