Visit In Person

Location: 1799 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C.

Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, 11 :00 am – 4:00  pm (last entry at 3 pm)

Guided Tours: Guided tours are offered at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, and last about 45-50 minutes. Included with admission.

The Octagon will be closing at 2pm on Friday, April 24th & Saturday, April 25th. The only tours offered these days will be at 11am and 1pm and last entry to the museum will be at 1pm.

Getting here:

The Octagon’s main entrance is located on New York Avenue NW, between 17th and 18th Streets in downtown Washington, DC. Visitors attending programs and events should enter through the New York Avenue side of the building.

Please note: Due to ongoing construction, the sidewalk along 18th Street NW is currently closed. For your safety, we ask all visitors to use the New York Avenue sidewalk to access the entrance. Follow posted signage and barriers around the construction zone.

Public transportation and parking options remain available nearby. The closest Metro stations are Farragut West and Farragut North, each within a short walk of The Octagon.
Private Tours: For groups of 10+ or private bookings, email octagon@architectsfoundation.org. Large group tours require at least 2 weeks’ notice and may not be available during general open hours.

Admission

• $10 / adult
• $5 / seniors, DC residents, college & graduate students, teachers, AIA members, or military personnel
• Free / children and teens under 18

Visiting Tips & Policies

• Tickets are valid for any time within open hours on the day of purchase.
• Need to change your visit date? Tickets are redeemable at any point; check in at the front desk upon arrival.
• Metro accessible: Farragut West / Farragut North stations.
• Driving: Limited street parking; use the ParkMobile app to help locate nearby garages.

Accessibility: The Octagon is not ADA accessible, but a full online tour is available.

• We offer discounts for DC residents, students, seniors, teachers, AIA Members, and military personnel.
• Please plan extra time for parking during the AIA Headquarters renovation.

Explore The Octagon Virtually with Bloomberg Connects

Discover The Octagon digitally with our free guide, powered by Bloomberg Connects, featuring stories, videos, and behind-the-scenes insights:

• Designed in 1799 by Dr. William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol
• From a private residence to temporary White House after 1814, school, government offices, and tenement housing — now a National Historic Landmark
• Explore how The Octagon’s design intersects with civic purpose, sustainability, and social equity initiatives

How to Access

While Visiting: Scan the QR code on-site to launch the guide

Location & Contact Info

• Email: Octagon@ArchitectsFoundation.org
• Phone: (202) 626 7439
• Address:
  1799 New York Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC 20006