Smithsonian Castle Information Center — Attraction in Washington

The Smithsonian Castle Information Center is a great starting point for any visit to the National Mall. Located in the iconic red sandstone building, it offers interactive maps, helpful staff, and a peaceful spot to plan your day. Inside, you'll find exhibits on the history of the Smithsonian, a crypt honoring founder James Smithson, and a café for a quick bite. It's a bit of a bummer that the Castle is currently closed for renovation, but the Virtual Visitor Center online is a solid alternative. Overall, it's a convenient and informative stop to kick off your...

Beautiful museum/information center that provides an excellent background of how the Smithsonian set of museums came to exist. The building itself is fantastic and they have displays and sort of random exhibits from the multiple museums from the area. It is nice in that it is not as crowded as many of the other museums, is cool, and provides an oasis where you can relax from the chaos from the other museums. Friendly staff and clean restrooms which is great as they seem to...

Very great, helpful place but the security guard at the entrance was beyond rude and totally soured our day in DC as this was the first place we went. We didn’t notice the very tiny sign on the wall stating all visitors’ bags must be checked. He was not at the security stand either, so walked in. He then comes out of nowhere saying “see this sign? Doesn’t anybody read anymore?” He needs to not work with the public....