The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum sits just off the National Mall and is one of the most serious and affecting museums in Washington. The permanent exhibition, 'The Holocaust,' spans three floors and documents the systematic murder of six million Jews and millions of others by the Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945. It does not shy away from the evidence.
The exhibition is designed by architect Ralph Appelbaum Associates to guide visitors through chronological galleries that become progressively more claustrophobic and dark. The Hall of Remembrance at the end provides space for reflection. Timed entry passes are recommended for the permanent exhibition in busy periods; they can be reserved in advance. The museum is free. Not appropriate for young children.