You're walking down F Street NW in Penn Quarter, looking for that iconic red awning. You've got your camera ready for a selfie with Barack Obama or maybe a weirdly stiff Abraham Lincoln. But when you get to 1001 F Street, something feels off. The windows are papered over. The doors are locked. The bustling crowd of tourists posing with wax figures is... gone.
Honestly, it's a bit of a ghost town.
If you were planning to visit Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. this year, I have some bad news. It’s closed. Permanently.
It didn't just go on a "temporary hiatus" like some websites still claim. The wax has melted away for good in the District. Most people still get this wrong because Google Maps or old travel blogs haven't quite caught up to the reality of the post-2020 landscape. It's frustrating. You spend an hour finding parking in D.C. (which is a nightmare) only to realize your destination hasn't existed for years.
What Actually Happened to Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.?
The story is pretty simple, but also a little sad. Like a lot of things in the city, the pandemic was the final blow. The museum officially shut its doors on March 17, 2020. At the time, every museum in the world was closing for "two weeks" to flatten the curve. We all know how that turned out.
By July 2021, the parent company, Merlin Entertainments, decided they weren't coming back. They started looking for someone to sublease that massive space.
Why did it fail when the London or New York locations thrive? Well, D.C. is a tough market. Think about it. You are literally blocks away from the Smithsonian Institution. Those museums are world-class. They have the actual Spirit of St. Louis and the Hope Diamond. And the best part? They’re free.
Asking a family of four to drop $100+ to look at wax dolls when they can see the real Star-Spangled Banner for zero dollars across the street is a tough sell. The "U.S. Presidents Gallery" was the main hook here—it was the only place in the world where you could see all 45 presidents in one room—but even that wasn't enough to keep the lights on when the tourists stopped coming.
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The "Presidents Gallery" Dream
The one thing that made the Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. location truly unique was its focus on history. Most Tussauds are about Hollywood. This one was about power.
Walking through the Presidents Gallery was sort of like a fever dream of American history. You’d turn a corner and there’s Teddy Roosevelt in a safari outfit. A few feet away, JFK is standing by a podium. It was the museum's "E-ticket" attraction.
I remember the local hype when they added new figures. Adding Donald Trump in 2017 was a whole production. They even had to update the Melania figure. When Joe Biden was added, it was supposed to be a big draw, but the museum never really got to capitalize on that before the permanent closure was finalized.
Where did the figures go?
This is the question everyone asks. Do they just melt them down? Toss them in a basement?
Not exactly. Wax figures are incredibly expensive to make—often costing upwards of $200,000 each. Merlin Entertainments usually relocates them to other attractions or keeps them in climate-controlled storage in London or New York. The political figures from D.C. likely ended up in the Nashville or New York City locations, while others might be in a warehouse waiting for a "Presidents" themed pop-up somewhere else.
Better Alternatives in D.C. (That Are Actually Open)
Since you can't go to Madame Tussauds Washington D.C., you're going to need a backup plan. Luckily, you're in the museum capital of the world. If you wanted that "brush with fame" or historical immersion, there are better (and cheaper) ways to get it.
1. The National Portrait Gallery
If you wanted the Presidents Gallery, go here. Period. It's only a few blocks away from the old Tussauds site. They have the "America’s Presidents" exhibition, which features the famous Lansdowne portrait of George Washington. It’s the real deal. No wax, just actual history. Plus, the Kogod Courtyard inside is one of the most beautiful spots to sit and eat lunch in the whole city.
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2. The International Spy Museum
If you wanted the "fun and interactive" vibe of a private museum, this is your best bet. It’s located at L'Enfant Plaza now. It’s not free, but it’s arguably much more entertaining than looking at wax. You get a "cover identity" and a badge, and you have to complete missions throughout the museum. It’s high-tech, dark, and genuinely cool for kids and adults.
3. Planet Word
This is a newer gem in the old Franklin School building. It’s a museum dedicated to language, but don't let that sound boring. It’s incredibly interactive. There’s a giant talking wall of words and a room where you can paint with "word brushes." It captures that same "Instagrammable" energy that Madame Tussauds tried to have, but it's actually educational.
4. The National Museum of American History
Want to see the clothes the presidents wore? The actual inaugural gowns of the First Ladies? This is where they live. You can stand inches away from the top hat Lincoln wore the night he was assassinated. That’s a lot more powerful than a wax replica of him.
What Most People Get Wrong About Wax Museums
There’s this misconception that wax museums are just for kids. Or that they’re "creepy."
Okay, maybe they are a little creepy. It’s the "Uncanny Valley" effect. When something looks 98% human but 2% "dead," your brain sends out alarm bells. I’ve seen people jump because they thought a statue was a security guard.
But the craftsmanship is insane.
Every single hair is inserted individually. They use red silk thread for the veins in the eyeballs. It takes months of work by dozens of artists. Losing the D.C. location was a blow to that specific niche of artistry in the city, even if the museum felt like a "tourist trap" to locals.
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Planning Your Trip to D.C. in 2026
If you're looking at your itinerary right now and Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. is still on it, cross it off.
Don't trust the third-party ticket resellers that might still have old landing pages up. They will take your money, and then you'll be stuck trying to get a refund from a bot.
Pro-tip: Always check the official website of an attraction before you go. If the URL redirects to a general "Madame Tussauds" page without a D.C. option, it’s a wrap.
D.C. is constantly evolving. The Penn Quarter area where the museum used to be is still great for food. You've got Zaytinya and Jaleo right there—José Andrés’ spots. You're also right near Ford’s Theatre. If you want a historical experience that hits hard, go see a show there or do the museum tour. It’s a much more "D.C." experience than a wax museum ever was.
The closure of Madame Tussauds is really just a sign of the times. Travelers want "authentic" experiences now. We want the real stories, the real artifacts, and the real history that only Washington can provide.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Check the Smithsonian website: Many now require "Timed Entry Passes," especially the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Air and Space Museum. Book these weeks in advance.
- Visit the National Portrait Gallery: It’s the closest vibe to the Presidents Gallery and it's free.
- Explore The Wharf: If you want a modern, lively area that isn't just marble monuments, this is where the city is moving.