I love this place is just so peaceful and beautiful. The gardens are just full of magic, you might encounter Harry Potter

This building looks like a medieval European castle. Adds color to the area. There are very nice flowers in front of it. We didnt get inside.

Very neat building to see and has the smiths known visitors information inside. A cute little cafe for a quick bite, tours of the castle, and decent restrooms with a changing table all inside. The cafe is a little higher in price but that honestly isn’t surprising.

Visitor center…Amazing architecture, looks totally diff in zones of same boring buildingsThis castle is basically a welcome visitor center. Almost all the museums are free in DC and when I tried to find out why I got to know, it was James Smithson who was a British scientist who left his estate to the United States to found “at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.”Few art pieces are kept here but this is more of the visitor center and information center guys are great. James gave me all kind of information I needed. There is one big DC map replica lighten with led and you can give your destination on computer screens and it ll show you how you can go there from the castle. it was cool. I also tried to mint Abraham Lincoln coin at one of the kiosks. There is one mosaic kiosk, where you can get you to photo in a mosaic way and email to your ID.Security will check all your bags at all entrances and guards are everywhere in each room. They are friendly and helpful. The building was superb, red stone, architecture was great. Behind this building, there is the Arts and Industries Building which is closed now.All museum comes under Smithsonian Institution and they are the one who maintains it.

Beautiful place full of history to enjoy with family and friend... very convenient coffee shop inside...

The Smithsonian Institution Building, located near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. behind the National Museum of African Art and the Sackler Gallery, houses the Smithsonian Institutions administrative offices and information center. The building is constructed of Seneca red sandstone in the Norman Revival style (a 12th-century combination of late Romanesque and early Gothic motifs; built in the Gothic and Romanesque revival styles) and is nicknamed The Castle. It was completed in 1855 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.The Castle was the first Smithsonian building, designed by architect James Renwick, Jr., whose other works include St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City and the Smithsonians Renwick Gallery, also in Washington D.C. The building committee held a nationwide design competition in 1846 and selected Renwicks design by a unanimous vote. A cardboard model of Renwicks winning design survives and is on display in the Castle. Renwick was assisted by Robert Mills, particularly in the internal arrangement of the building.

Downright beautiful, and a place I will be visiting again. This is the hub of the Smithsonian museums, with a lot of history and a taste of what each museum has to offer in the rear of the visitor center. The place itself has great things to do, that you would expect from a visitor center, such as a cafe, shop, and places to diffuse and hang out. The history here is quite substantial with the museum wing of the facility having a lot of historical background to the founding of the Smithsonians thats definitely worth a peek. The garden outside is the butter on top, with a great diversity of flowers and creative atmosphere outside of the castle. Great place all round.

I did not go inside. As I thought the outside was the main reason for me go there. This place still looks amazing even though it is quite old building well maintained. I really like this buildings architecture.

I totally love this place with lots of flowers and beautiful castle.

Not too much to see inside. The building is pretty and includes a small display for each of the museums within the Smithsonian system. Gardens in the back are beautiful and the remains of James Smithson are there. That room is pretty and gives a great history of the man who started the Smithsonian.

A beautiful place to go when on the national law.This Smithsonian castle has public restrooms, gift shops, exhibits (a really unique exhibit on birds in one of the rooms), and a interactive information center. The information personal that are there to provide assistance are also very friendly.It will take about 1-2 hours to get through the exhibits on the mail floor.

This was a surprise. I stopped in a couple of years ago while geocaching, but only to the entrance to get the answer to a question. This time, I went inside and found so much information! The antiques are lovely, the information is slightly overwhelming and available in different formats for all to enjoy. The table/map/information is great. I kept dragging pictures into the square to learn about so much, and not just in the DC area. The little Museum Store had what I was looking for when I originally decided to enter, and the Castle Cafe was very nice. There were excited kids all over in there! And I have a feeling I didnt see all they had to offer.

A very informational, majestic institution with amazing Architecture! Free of charge & located in the National Mall in DC. If you are a history buff, this is a must see . Learn how the Smithsonian Institute originated & see James Smithsonian’s burial place.

The Smithsonian Institution Building is also referred to as the Smithsonian Castle (free entry) and is a registered National Landmark building in the United States. Opening hours are 8.30am to 5.30pm daily.Opened in 1855, the Castle has one of the most interesting exteriors of any building along The Mall, being made of red sandstone and featuring an attractive blend of Romanesque, Norman and Gothic Revival architectural styles. The building is beautiful and worth viewing from all sides.Within the Smithsonian Institution building, visitors will find general information regarding all Smithsonian museums and venues, a small cafe and an exhibition area where you can learn about Englishman James Smithsonian, who bequeathed his property and various collections to the United States of America in 1826, allowing the young nation to establish the museum and institution in his name.The highlight of visits to the Smithsonian for me personally is the Gothic Revival style West Wing (The Commons), which does well to resemble medieval period church and museum buildings like what you might have visited in Europe during your travels.The Commons is an atmospheric exhibition space where you find the permanent collection known as the American Treasures, a eclectic display of items which provide visitors with a taste of what can be seen and experienced within the full collection of Smithsonian Museums here in D.C.In the end, the Smithsonian Institute is very much worth a quick visit if you are spending time along The Mall and plan to be this particular area. You can view the exhibitions here in as little as 20-30 minutes and spend a similar amount of time just enjoying the delightful architecture of the building within and from the outside.Note: there are several attractive gardens which surround the Smithsonian Institute buildings as well. These make for peaceful and relaxing places to rest your feet if you have been sightseeing for a few hours and need a break.

The architecture is good, but there is not much to do inside. Recommend you just look at this place from afar.

Wonderful building, just gorgeous and such an opposite to all other building at the mall. The gentleman at the info desk was very nice and helpful, knowledgable about the building and the others. Its also surrounded by great gardens.

Find the Hidden Gems, See the Gardens. Great Photo Spots!The stunning Smithsonian Institution Building is known as The Castle and is at the heart of the many museums that make up the Smithsonian. The Visitor Information Center staff will help you find everything from the Hope Diamond, art, natural history, and science interests.This beautiful building on the National Mall has a gift shop, exhibits information, a cafeteria, and even a crypt on display. The Castle is just next door to the National Air And Space Museum, but it is the beautiful gardens just outside that are perfect for photos.There is no parking so consider the Circulator Bus, Subway, or Uber. The Metro Subway has a stop right here, the Smithsonian Station. American history come alive at the Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian Castle is where you want to start off first when visiting the National Mall and its Museums. Not only does it have information and maps but restrooms, a cafe, and even exhibits. And it opens 8:30 AM in the morning. So it allows you plan out your visit and also have a little rest before you take on all that history, culture, artwork, and crowds.

Nothing much to see. But its at a walking distance from space museum and you can see African cultural museum too.

Smithsonian Castle (Visitors Center) - Grander outside than in with the exception of the exhibition hall with its circular rose window and beautiful ceiling. The general area is very spartan, with a visitors desk and plenty of places to rest in air-conditioned comfort. There is a nice gift shop as well as Castle Cafe for a quick bite or refreshing drink. The gardens are just outside and are quite beautiful. There were butterflies and bees everywhere! Take a look at the detail in the many park benches. Not sure if they are old or new but they are beautiful! Adequate handicap ramps, lifts and restroom facilities inside. Definitely a must visit! An antique carousel is across the street, with the National Mall behind it.

There are just a few exhibits or artifacts to see. The building and history of the start of the Smithsonian Institution is what you get here.the building is exquisite and anyone can appreciate it. The pieces are great also.light coming in will provide any photographer a chance for a once in a lifetime photo.What more can I say? Go-60 Go- See-See- See- Enjoy_ Enjoy Enj oy

Personally think the exhibition could be better. But it surely served the purpose of explaining how Smithsonian was formed and developed throughout the years.Whats more interesting is the garden. It has some of the rarest flowers and plants from around all over the world.Check out the photos~

A lovely Castle to visit! Sitting outside around the castle in the beautiful landscape was very peaceful.

The Castle is the welcome center for the mall with a staff to help you find you way, a cafe, and an open air seating area. Its well worth your time to drop by. Also talk to the staff. Ask them about their favorite places to visit. Theyre full of great stories!

The castle looks amazing from the outside. There is an amazing set of gardens that look like quilts and are beautiful. That is about where it stopped. Went inside and it is really an information center (hub if you will) to the rest of the Smithsonian museums. The blonde at the information desk was rude and curt eith us and talked with others oh so nice...so that made us not even want to go to the shop or look around. No need to be rude! I gave it a 1 for the outside, but no real reason to waste your time entering!!

The beauty of the Smithsonian castle and the Haupt gardens always brings me joy. The quiet beauty of the space makes the city seem far away. This is the perfect spot to recenter and recharge, eat lunch, meet a loved one or think about everything you have seen in the museums.

This was an amazing place to visit. The architecture is unique in DC, as is the red color. Though this is now mostly adminstrative offices, this was originally where are of thebSmithsonian Collection was held. You can take a half hour tour of the building and learn about James Smithson (founding donor of the Smithsonian Institution) and the history of the Smithsonian Institute. The tour was very interesting. They even have a room that once held the library, but now has exhibits from all of the different Smithsonian Museaums. This is definitely a must if you are in DC.

Absolutely beautiful piece architecture. The building is gorgeous on all accessible sides and is easily noticeable from many area locations.

The Smithsonian castle will tell you where all the other Smithsonian are. All the displays are on the frist floor. There are really cool stuff animals mounted on the wall. The metro station is right in front of the castle so thats a big plus.

Pretty castle like place, get to enjoy the beautiful garden

Nice architecture but worthwhile skipping to spend your time at one of the many smithsonian museums.

A beautiful place to come and see, as well as to learn about the Smithsonian institution. The castle offers beautiful architecture and sights with historic information every where you look. Also, they have a cafeteria which serves soups, salads, sandwiches and other items.

Useful place to start your visit of the smithsonian museum because they can provide you a lot of information and maps

Its one of the older places to visit in Washington but its still worth a walk through. Beautiful architecture and history.

This is a nice museum attraction to visit when touring the nearby museums. This castle is located at the center of the Smithsonian Museums and is directly across from the Carousels.The structure does standout with it similarity to a real castle.There is a nice information area when you can learn about other museums in the vicinity. There is also an interactive area with giant touch screens to view media and also to select media to play on the giant screen on the wall.

Beautiful.

On the outside is a really cool looking castle, in the inside, its a visitor center with a small museum section and a nice gift shop. Architecture inside is nice.

Nice central location and easy to find. Interesting artifacts. Convenient cafe. Small museum. Tours available.

Beautiful Castle.....

Such a photogenic spot, but make sure to check out the nearby underground museums and take a slow stroll through the gardens. Inside the castle isnt super memorable but its worth a stop.

Charge your phone, plan your next stop, and rest your legs, this is the perfect place to do it. Lots of helpful people around to answer your questions.

We didnt go inside but very cool from the outside.

Very beautifully designed building,built circa 1855, well maintained, gorgeous surroundings, brief descriptive items from the 19 component Smithsonian Museum branches and Zoological Park, scale model of Washington DC, Cafe, souvenir shop, nice bathrooms, ideally the best starting point for a tour of the National Mall and its incredible treasures.

Beautiful preserved architecture in an impressive surrounding.

Lovely architecture. Its a good place to see.

Marcus Love you jesus.️

Beautiful but 57.00 for cafe lunch not do much.

The castle Cafe was congested with a long line and only one worker comp ducting business. Limitted Cafe items. Ice machine empty. No refills on fountain drinks. Cannot use personal cups(posted sign says so).

Stunning veiws right off the mall!

This place is one of the most beautiful places I always appreciate to check photos and yeah

The Castle, site of the Smithsonian Museums’ Visitor Centre, is like a heavenly haven in the heat of a mid-summer visit to the National Mall. Located near the middle of the south side of the Mall, it’s perfectly placed either to get your bearings at the start of a visit to the Smithsonian Museums, or to take a break out of the sun in summer (or the cold in winter presumably). There is handy info there on all the other museums and a shop selling souvenirs from across the museum estate. There’s also a small café serving beverages and cakes and crisps and so on. Don’t expect to get a big nutritious meal there, but you will find snacks which will keep body and soul together until your next meal. The loos are also a bonus. There wasn’t a lot of info there about the building itself, which was (just so you know) designed by James Renwick Jr, who’s also responsible for a lot of the churches in Manhattan, and completed in 1855. Parts of it later burned down in 1985, the blaze taking with it all of Smithson’s letters. But it opened again in about 1867 and is now a great place to stop off on the National Mall.

Lovely place, opens early in the day.Small cafe and well maintained restrooms are a heaven when walking the national mall with kids before 10am (everything is still closed).Service is excellent and the castle itself is very impressive.

It is one of the best place to visit in D.c. It is a must go place very well built architecture and they have maintained it very well. This museum have a free guided tours and its very informative and interesting.

A wonderful museum of the Smithsonian, it tells the story of the museum and is a very interesting building too. Dont overlook this gem of a museum nestled among the various bigger museums of the Smithsonian. Free entry and guided tours twice a day.

Did go inside but the building is very impressive

This is a beautiful piece of architecture that fits in and contrasts nicely with the buildings surrounding it.It has a lot of interesting things on display, but for me, it has a much more important function. It is the information gateway to the whole Smithsonian Complex.If you are visiting the Museum, then this is the place to start to ensure you get the best possible experience. The staff are very helpful and know their stuff!

This place looks awesome from the outside, but you wont miss much if you dont go in. There its a good place inside to help you plan out visits to the other Smithsonian locations (if you dont have access to the websites or Google maps). The small snack bar is pricey, a small bottle of water is nearly $4... Stick to the street vendors selling the same thing for $1. Again, nothing lost if you just take a picture of the building while walking past.

The one-stop place for information about all things Smithsonian. The stunning Medieval architecture completely masks the fact that it is just an administrative building for the Smithsonian Institution. Hence, there are no exhibits here. However, there is a very cool small scale model of the city of Washington DC, the entire citys blueprint shown in models.

This is a beautiful historical building. Several parts were in the process of being renovated. It has an immense amount of information on the entire Smithsonian Museum system. You can utilize the resources to help plan out your trip. Make sure to walk all the way around (and view from the courtyard and the national mall side to see all of the Castles beauty.

Nice placeThe Smithsonian Institution Building, located near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. behind the National Museum of African Art and the Sackler Gallery, houses the Smithsonian Institutions administrative offices and information center. Wikipedia

If you are visiting the vast Smithsonian museums for the first time and need pratical info and recommendations, definitely make this your first stop.Other amenities include a restaurant, gift shop, and restrooms. Theres also two exhibition halls that introduce visitors to the history of the building, which is tied to the beginnings and growth of the Smithsonian. The exhibition halls also describe each Smithsonian museum and provide a sampling of exhibits found in each.Finally, they offer guided tours several times a day. Which leads me to why Im taking away a star. We showed up for a guided tour, which they canceled on the spot, without any explanation or apologies.

Good place to visit especially to see the building. But nothing so special you will see inside there. It can be a good opportunity to learn more about Smithsonian history.

Best place to plan your National mall day ...... Which museums to visit, what to see, timings etc

Such an amazing architecture and a really important one to visit while youre in DC

The Smithsonian Castle is simply an architectural gem. While not active as a typical Smithsonian museum, it does house interesting historical artifacts and photos. The grounds and gardens surrounding the building are kept in immaculate condition. The most interesting thing about visiting the castle is marveling in the splendid architecture. The castle was constructed in 1849 and was the official residence of the first Secretary of the Smithsonian, Joseph Henry.The crypt of James Smithson is contained within the building. As the castle is centrally located amongst other Smithsonian buildings on the National Mall, it is well worth a visit.

Awesome place to visit. Great flower gardens around the place. Very well maintained. Should be your first stop on the mall. Nice little restaurant for sandwiches and drinks.

Great spot to start your journey. Awesome volunteers to fill you in

Odd bits and bobs here, best view from outside, take a photo and go to one of their other great museums

Always visit the castle in dc, and the garden in the back is a must see. The castle itself is beautiful, and includes bathrooms, a gift shop, and refreshments.

Amazing network of museums! I loved what I was able to see, you definitely cant experience it all in one day. The exhibits and collections were awesome, I definitely want to go back and see more.

Definitely a must see while you are in D.C.!

Very cool castle to stop by and visit. This is one of my favorite buildings in DC - the architecture is phenomenal, the gardens around it are amazing, and there are cool artifacts inside.

A great first stop to anyones museum tours.Get the background on the Smithsonian museums, the lay of the land for your mueums tour and get a copy of a map for all the museums and DC as well.Great that they are open as early as 8:30am and have a wonderful Cafe.Get your bearings over breakfast and plot your way to different museum destinations.Check out the photo machine that takes an artistic photo - FREE! Very cool!There is also a Penny Souvenir Machine right beside the photo machine.

Its a nice place to recharge yourself especially on a hot day. Theres a little cafe that also serves wine and specialty coffee, with really wonderful staff. The Smithsonian Castle is a great resource about the Smithsonian museums.

Very amazing especially the Gardens are Very Beautiful

Fantastic spot that have lots of information where travelers are taking selfies

Great place to stop and catch your breath. Visitor center has helpful maps. Restrooms. Café. Braille display for the blind. Miniature display of DC helps one orient themselves. A beautiful historic building.

Be prepared to walk. Parking is a beast. Ticket man to get man to give man or woman.

The Smithsonian Castle is well worth a visit, especially for a newcomer to the National Mall. An eclectic series of small exhibits and history of the Smithsonian itself, as well as a (relatively new!) interactive map of the Mall thats very neat.

I love the castle! Its as if you had a very rich great aunt who spent her life traveling and collecting and put all of her stuff in the attic, so when you walk in you never know what youll find. Somehow people seem to overlook it, which is a shame. The building itself is wonderful, the collection is a hodgepodge of amazing pieces of history, plus theres a garden out back

Its a gorgeous building with a couple rooms of cool exhibits, but it wont take more than an hour to get through because most of it is currently being used as offices. I definitely recommend stopping by on your way to another larger Smithsonian museum.

Good place to get a bite to eat and grab gift store goodies. Also had a nice map of the area to see all the museums to visit.

This truly is a great way to start your visit to see any of the museums, especially if you arent sure where to start first.I would also recommend catching a tour. Its not very long and is really interesting. There were a lot of things I didnt know at all about the Smithsonian and it was quite a fascinating story. After the tour, you can look at small collections from each museum and your guide will also give you advice on what to check out first if you still arent sure.

Nice castle with a botanical gardens in the outside

Incredible castle. Some days are free entrance.

The Smithsonian Castle gardens are beautiful to wander around during all seasons. The staff do an amazing job of keeping the grounds pristine and well-manicured, and it seems like there is always something blooming. The benches are great for having lunch or reading a book in relative peace.

Loved the castle! Inside was beautiful, and the garden was magical! This was my first time in the castle, I always underestimated it, dont miss it! I was in love with a 13th century tile from Iran. They also have on display a piece of wreckage from the Hindenburg. Take 30 minutes to walk through!

This place is the Information Center also has a gift shop. they have restrooms here also that you can use. A very beautiful garden outside. The staff was very helpful.

Nice castle to get you information about the institute.

The Castle opens before all the other museums so its a great spot to start an early morning trip to the National mall and grab a bite and a coffee to start you day off.

If you lower your expectations of what this Castle actually is, youll like it. Its just the visitors center for the National Mall - not an actual museum. The gardens behind it are definitely worth a visit.

Truly incredible experience to visit the castle such a detailed explanation of how it came to be why I came into existence and thanks to one man leaving his entire Fortune to the United States of America and of the people who made this building happen is amazing so much history such an amazing story glad I got to see you in person!

Classic architecture

On the Mall , worth a look at the building , information centre staff were very helpful , with limited time we were off to the other Museums. Amazing Place!

It is a very interesting place, the construction attracts a lot of attention and the green areas around it. Inside it has art pieces, a place to get a little cultured.

Start your visit here.

Beautiful building

My favorite class taken in the lower level was sand castle science. we had an opportunity to explore the museum and learn how to make some of the items displayed. A great learning experience.

Very nice place, just dont like the musky smell in the bathroom.

Dropped in for washroom (closed at the time) and had a welcome drink and ice cream after tramping the mall. Live the Smithsonian experience. Shop had some good deals.