A free museum of words and language near McPherson Square, recommended for ages 10 and up, with sensory backpacks and sound-reducing headphones to borrow, dedicated quiet spaces, a sensory map, two social narratives, and Sensory Friendly Mornings for families.
Monday and Wednesday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 6 pm; closed Tuesday. Last entrance is 1 hour before closing, given availability. Closed Thanksgiving Day (Thu Nov 26 2026); Fri Nov 27 2026, 10 am to 6 pm. On some days, the third-floor galleries may be limited because of private events: check planetwordmuseum.org or call 202-918-6136 before your visit.
925 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 (entrance on K Street)
“During Sensory Friendly programs, we invite all visitors to explore the power, fun, and beauty of words and language in our galleries at a quieter, less-crowded time.”
Backpacks, a limited number of sound-reducing headphones and sensory maps are all at the Welcome Desk in the lobby, first come, first served; leave a photo ID while you use museum headphones. The museum also suggests bringing light reducing glasses if your kid is sensitive to light.
Sensory Friendly Mornings are for families with neurodivergent children or teenagers (recommended for ages 10 and up), and Sensory Friendly Nights are for neurodivergent adults and those with sensory sensitivities. Some exhibit elements are modified, there are fewer visitors, a self-guided visit with optional activities, quiet spaces throughout the museum, sensory kits and maps at check-in, and staff in the galleries; registered guests get a social narrative and sensory map ahead of time. The museum posts them on its events calendar and in its newsletter; past Sensory Friendly Mornings each had their own event page with registration, tickets from $0 to $25, and drop-in any time during the event, and past Sensory Friendly Nights had set entry times.
There are two social narratives, a detailed one and a plain-language one, plus the sensory map. For help making your own copy, each narrative gives its own email: education@planetwordmuseum.org for the plain-language one, support@planetwordmuseum.org for the detailed one. For other accessibility questions, email support@planetwordmuseum.org.
Sensory backpacks with sound-reducing headphones and a calming toy, extra headphones and sensory maps, all at the Welcome Desk, first come, first served.
Dedicated quiet spaces, and you can ask a staff member for a quiet room when it gets too noisy or crowded.
Sensory Friendly Mornings for families, at a quieter, less-crowded time with some exhibit elements modified.
Where Do Words Come From? (3rd floor) (when the 12-minute video on the wall of words starts, the lights dim and the sound starts)not stated
Unlock the Music, the karaoke room (2nd floor) (darker, with some changing lights; microphones turn on when the song starts)not stated
The restrooms (flushing toilets and hand dryers may be loud, and the toilets flush automatically)not stated
Admission is free, with a suggested $15 donation. Only visitors 2 and up need timed passes. Passes come out at 10 am on the first of each month for the next month and sell out fast, so book online ahead; a limited number of same-day passes are given first come, first served, and may be for a later time or sold out. Late arrivals aren't guaranteed entry, but you may be moved to a later entry time if one is available.
General admission passes can be exchanged for a later time and date, subject to availability, by emailing support@planetwordmuseum.org. All passes are donations, non-refundable and tax-deductible. Program passes are non-transferable. The Lexicon Lane puzzle cases are a paid add-on: $50 per case, suggested for up to 4 people. The museum gives two ages for it: limited to ages 12 and up on the pass booking page, or best for ages 8 and up; puzzlers under 18 must be with an adult. Lexicon Lane has its own hours (Wednesday to Friday 12 to 4 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm, closed Monday), which may vary by season, and it may close for special events.
Planet Word is recommended for ages 10 and up, and the museum suggests about 90 minutes. Anyone under 18 must be with an adult, and the museum requires at least 1 adult for every 10 visitors under 17. The galleries are self-guided, on levels 1, 2 and 3; you can start on the third floor and work down.
Food and drinks are not allowed in the museum or the galleries. Keep water bottles out of sight, and no glass containers. Immigrant Food, on the lower level, serves casual food during museum hours and becomes a dinner restaurant in the evening; restaurant hours: Sunday and Monday 11:30 am to 3 pm; Tuesday to Thursday 11:30 am to 9 pm; Friday and Saturday 11:30 am to 10 pm.
Strollers are not allowed in the galleries; park them in the stroller area and bring an infant carrier or backpack if you can. A limited number of free lockers are first come, first served, and luggage isn't allowed in the exhibits. There are single-stall all-gender restrooms on the first floor. Elevators reach every floor, and a limited number of manual wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Welcome Desk with a photo ID. Service animals are welcome; therapy and emotional support animals and pets are not.
Staff wear blue staff shirts. Lost and found keeps only valuables (wallets, keys, phones) and gets rid of other items after 24 hours.
Getting there: on the Silver, Blue and Orange lines, exit McPherson Square onto 14th and I Streets; on the Red Line, exit Metro Center onto 13th Street. Street parking is limited, with garages at 915 and 1010 13th Street NW, and parking spots for people with disabilities at 12th and K and at 13th and I.
