This museum is located in a Federal-style house purchased in 1920 by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss. Its collections stem from the family’s holdings, and include objects of Pre-Columbian art, Byzantine art, European masterworks, and rare and modern books. The holdings also include Byzantine jewelry, Pre-Columbian sculptures from Mesoamerica and the Andes, a 1929 Steinway grand piano signed by Ignacy Paderewski, and El Greco’s early 17th century painting The Visitation.
Dumbarton Oaks Information
- Public Transportation: Excellent (Metrobus routes 30, 32, 34, 36, D2, D4, and M12 come within two blocks of the garden and museum entrances)
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good (Note: The hillside gardens may present challenges for some visitors)
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 2–6 p.m. (summer), 2–5 p.m. (winter), closed Monday
- Admission: Museum is always free. Summer Season garden admission $8, students, seniors, and children under 12 $5
- Tours: A brief introductory tour of the gardens takes place daily at 2:15 p.m. (except Mondays). In-depth guided tours of the gardens are available for a fee of $8 per person, and must be arranged in advance. Docent-led tours are offered to eligible groups of 10 to 45 people on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday by advance reservation and for a fee of $8 per person.
