"We are all born collectors of this one thing: words,” according to this museum’s founder Ann Friedman. We just don’t always know how to use or appreciate them. That’s where Planet Word’s mission comes in: to inspire and renew a love of words and language. The museum, opened in 2020 and aptly located in the building where Alexander Graham Bell first tested his photophone, features multi-sensory and physical activities all meant for visitors to explore the power of words. The third-floor gallery “Where Do Words Come From?” includes a 20x40-foot-tall word wall. Speak into one of the gallery’s four microphones and the word wall will respond to your voice and shape a story. In “Spoken World,” various stations are centered on a 12-foot-tall LED globe where ambassadors will introduce visitors to their native language through tongue-twisters, songs or sports chants. Other exhibits focus on poetry and real stories on the impact of words in everyday life. Outside, the museum’s sound sculpture is a weeping willow tree that triggers audio in several different languages and forms when you get close. The museum encourages visitors to reserve advanced entry passes online; these are released each month on the first of the month. A limited number of walk-up passes are also offered every hour on the half-hour.
Washington, D.C.
Travel Guide
Washington, D.C.› Attraction
Planet Word Museum
1300 I St. NW

Our Rating
Neighborhood
The White House Area
Hours
Wed–Sun 10am–5pm
Transportation
Metro: McPherson Square (14th St. and I St. exit)
Phone
202/931-3139
Prices
Free admission
Web site
Planet Word Museum

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.