S. Dillon Ripley Center
Washington, DC
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily
Closed Dec. 25
Admission is free
About
Named after the Smithsonian's 8th Secretary, the underground building's copper domed entrance is on Jefferson Drive between the "Castle" and the Freer Gallery of the National Museum of Asian Art. The Ripley Center houses the Smithsonian Associates and the Discovery Theater and connects underground to the African Art Museum and the Sackler Gallery of the National Museum of Asian Art.
Highlights
Changing exhibitions, The Smithsonian Associates, and the Discovery Theater.
Getting Here
We encourage the use of public transportation.
Metrorail
Metro Station: Smithsonian (Mall exit)
Nearest
Accessible Metrorail Entrance:
Smithsonian
NW corner of 12th St. & Independence
Check Metrorail's Elevator and Escalator Service Status page for service disruptions.
MetroAccess
To provide an address for MetroAccess Paratransit, please use 1100 Jefferson Drive, SW.
Parking
There is no public parking facility for Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. A limited number of city-operated metered parking spaces are available, including several accessible parking spaces.
View a map of accessible parking spaces.
Reserved parking near the museums can be purchased in advance through ParkWhiz.
Note: ParkWhiz is a third-party vendor (ParkWhiz Privacy Policy).
Dining and Shopping
Dining
While this location does not have dining, view dining options at our other locations.
Shopping
While this location has no museum store, you can always shop online.
Accessibility
See Getting Here for information on accessible parking and public transportation.
Accessibility Information and Programs
Disability access service requests: Smithsonian Associates access service requests