My spouse and I call it the annual pilgrimage. We walk from the host hotel to the museum. It's about an hour and a little more. The staff is wonderful, you do have to go through metal detectors. The cost worth the interactive experiences in the museum. You can learn the history of policing, see how it's evolved to include women and people of different backgrounds. They have a lot of interactive learning opportunities, and every time I go there's something new to see. We plan on going back next year. read more

We had the most amazing time at the Law Enforcement Museum in Washington DC. Instructor Charles Humphrey taught two classes; Use of Force and Driving. Charles has to be the most knowledgeable person in these subjects in the country! The classes were extremely informative and anyone in law enforcement would greatly benefit taking classes from Charles!! read more

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This is a fun and informative little museum that really helps to broaden the average citizen's understanding of law enforcement. Many of the exhibits are interactive and are made to engage children and adults. It's not a huge museum so it doesn't take more than an hour and a half to two hours to make it through the whole thing. For a complete picture stop by the Law Enforcement Memorial across the street. read more

Coming from a family of LEOS and having donated to this since the beginning, this was a bucket list stop for many years. I was excited to visit and humbled to do the paper etching of my family members name from the memorial wall. This is a fantastic museum and I enjoyed the many historical elements too. The movie room with the many stories brought tears to my eyes. This is an important museum, as it brings the humanity back to LEOS. read more

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National Law Enforcement Museum is yet another Washington, D.C. museum that unfortunately I don't think many people know about. I'm sure if they didn't charge to get in, they'd get a lot more traffic. Open since October 2018, I hope that they don't end up like the Newseum. Anyway, yes, it's worth a visit here for the following reasons: 1) Support your police force for keeping us safe 2) Training Simulator (included in the price of your ticket)--this was the highlight of my visit. I went in March around 1:00PM on a weekday and no one was there except me so I had the opportunity to do 3 scenarios and get one-on-one time with a nice fellow who was in law enforcement for decades. I learned some pretty valuable lessons police officers would in training when they're approaching a potentially hostile situation. 3) Robocop! So, honestly, given the location and fact you need to pay to get in, I can understand why this place doesn't get much traffic. It is in a perfect location surrounded by multiple court houses, right off the Judiciary Square metro station. read more

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This was a pay museum, but worth it. In a town of so many excellent free museums, you really have to be good to make it worth paying a fee. I was mainly here to see the helicopter (from the Air Florida rescue.) Side note: you could probably see that for free if you wanted; after you clear security, you can see the tail and side from the balcony, before going to the counter to pay. I decided to stay, and I'm glad I did. Staff were super helpful and friendly, and very knowledgeable. There are interactive displays, lots of interesting artifacts, and just so many stories here. Take an hour or two and check them out. It's easy to get to from the Judiciary Square Metro. It seemed small at first, but there are exhibits around the edges, with tons of things packed in- but clearly organized and displayed. I enjoyed my visit, and would bring friends back. read more

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This place is a MUST see in Washington. Yes you have to pay but like many in DC, this one is not supported by your tax dollar! The awesome displays are made possible by donations and admission fees. This place is full of interesting items related to Law Enforcement. In addition, the latest in interaction display devices are used to teach you about this much talked about professions. Unlike most TV shows we see on the profession; these displays realistically show you what it's like to be a cop. The driving and shooting simulators are second to none and they are FREE with admission! My main reason for going was to see the copter that plucked the survivors from the Potomac. Way cool. I will go to this place everytime I visit DC. So much to see. Currently a 911 exhibit is on display. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God! read more

Want a deeper look inside the life of a police officer, this is the place to visit. There are a lot of exhibits that show the humble beginnings of police work up to the more modernized officer. There are exhibits that honor fallen officers as well as k-9 heros. You will experience many different work shops, if interested. This museum has a state of the art driving simulator; a must do. There is also a shooting simulator that tests your skills. Fun! read more

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One of DC's best kept secret museums that's fun and interactive! The museums details the harrowing efforts of law enforcement from police officers to forensics to 911 dispatchers. The ticket price is well-worth it! The museum is only 1 floor - on the bottom and you can leisurely walk through it in 2 hours partaking in all the activities. The immersive exhibits with forensic case studies, 911 dispatcher calls, covert ops video surveillance and the training simulator is captivating. Through all these interactive experiences, I realized how on-point, vigilant, and quick law enforcement needs to be. Definitely not a easy job! I was surprised to learn that there are over 250,000 911 calls made every year. The training simulator is a must! In a short 20 minute session, you learn when someone is posing as a threat and shoot at targets on a screen in a few different scenarios. The last simulator session is at 4:20pm, so get here early! There's a new session every 40 minutes or so. If you miss the session, you can come back the next day. The staff is super friendly and accommodating! There are some pretty unique and historical artifacts - call-boxes dating back from 1880, drunk-o-meters or aka breathanalyzer from 1938, and old-school style of lanterns with whale oil. Al Capone's iconic bullet proof vest and J. Edgar Hoover's desk are not to be missed! There's some interesting memorabilia of Robert Kennedy who served as Attorney General - engraved ashtray (only back then!), leather briefcase, glasses (the fashion back then!), and nameplate. The impact of dogs on police force is impressive. Introduced in the police force in 1968, dogs have a much better sense of smell than humans with the Bloodhound taking the crown. Don't ignore the small room tucked on the side. The demographic and racial mix of the 5 cities is quite fascinating - Cleveland (51% Blacks), Charleston (71% Whites followed by 23% Blacks), Chicago (Even split between Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics) Somerville (70% Whites, 10% Asians), and Dallas (43% Hispanics). I didn't realize how poor Cleveland is or the high rate of crime in Chicago. Glad to see the benign impact of community policing and de-escalation particularly in high crime areas of Camden County and Chicago. After visiting the museum, check out the Law Enforcement Memorial across the street with all the names etched in tribute to those who served our country. Highly recommend the museum - interactive and fun! Provides a new perspective and appreciation for law enforcement. read more

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Opened in October 2018, the National Law Enforcement Museum is one of the newest museums in Washington, D.C. Appropriately located next to the Law Enforcement Museum (right outside of the National Building Museum directly above the Judiciary Square Metro (Red Line), the museum is entirely underground (with the exception of a glass entrance with security and a glass exit). Here's what's to love and here's what's to not: What to love: 1) Film: Out of all the museums, they have some of the best, most engaging films you can watch throughout, especially the 20-minute introduction film. It's worth your time! 2) Exhibits: For a seemingly small and dry subject, they do a good job of creating exhibits that are interactive, thought provoking, and interesting. The detective exhibit is especially interesting! In the back, they have a community law enforcement room telling the stories of five cities. You can also write in what community law enforcement means for you! They also have a very cool 20-minute security simulation that is great for older kids. 3) Staff: All the staff were very kind and helpful! 4) Remembrance Room: There is a room remembering fallen law enforcement where you can write a tribute to them. So honoring! What's to not love: 1) Price: An adult ticket is $23.27 after taxes making it one of two of the most expensive museums in D.C. I support paying for museums, but the price seems steep for a very small museum. In a city full of large, free museums, people may find it off-putting. 2) Size: It's small. You can literally stand in the center and do a 360 spin and make eye contact with every single exhibit. That said, if you read everything, you may find yourself there for 2-3 hours, but the physical space is small, especially compared to the large Smithsonians in the city. 3) Omissions: Given the rise of the #BlackLivesMatter movement and the fact that minorities have been preyed upon by law enforcement (consciously or unconsciously), I think the museum could have done a better job of honoring that fact. They did showcase community law enforcement and did a good job of showing law enforcement of all backgrounds in the films. However, I did leave wondering if they would tell the story of #BlackLivesMatter and what police are doing to partner with the movement. Several museums do this like the National Underground Railroad Museum in Ohio. At the end, they give the status of slavery today and what is being done about it. This museum could do the same by talking about the current climate around US law enforcement. All in all, it's worth one visit to this museums if you are willing to pay the price. read more

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PROS: This museum had a lot of cool memorabilia about the history of law enforcement. Dating back to the 19th century, they had what cops would use and wear. They also had moments in time memorabilia; movies, toys, 9/11, bonnie & clyde and much more. They also have driving and shooting simulators CONS: I think the cost of $22 was too much and the shooting simulator was too long OVERALL: For me since I'm not in law enforcement this is a one and done type of museum. But if you haven't seen this yet I would recommend coming here read more

I went on a Saturday in July 2025. I am a 30 year retired Law Enforcement Officer (both Uniformed and Investigator). I had high hopes. The Security Officer at the initial checkpoint was friendly and welcoming as was the man selling tickets. I spend $42 to take my wife in. Really liked the exhibits but for a full price ticket (mine was retired LEO and wife's was full price) I was taken aback by the fact that many of the interactive displays were out-of-order. Many of the Officer Down Memorial terminals were down. The theater with a film was out-of-order. Many of the "Take the case" displays were down and the Use of Force simulator was down. I understand that things happen but on a Saturday in July to charge full price for a museum with many out-of-order displays is an embarrassment. You should offer discounts or at least advise that many displays are down before taking people's money. read more

Last Saturday my family spent the afternoon at the National Law Enforcement Museum & visited the "Use of Force Simulator" where Legendary Lawman, Special Agent & Use of Force Consultant Charles Humphrey taught an intriguing and timely class that I recommend without prejudice for all. We are praying for National Policing Policies regarding USE OF FORCE be implemented properly & immediately. Amen Dr. Tommie Thompson read more

I normally don't care how much things cost, but this a very small museum for the price they charge. The exhibits are quality though. There are a few computer screens where you can learn more and lengthen the time of your visit, but just walking around the one space, there was interesting information. One large display case running the entire museum length had police equipment from way back in history so it was neat to see the progression of technology. There were a few displays about specific police cases and their outcomes, displaying certain things from the event. Overall though the museum seemed to be geared to kids, displaying police radios, describing the uniforms police wear, and having a state police car on display etc... I was expecting way more than this museum delivered. read more

National Law Enforcement Museum - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I had 5 star expectations but I found a 2 star museum. Especially for $20 pp! I have it an extra star because I love LE and I support them every step of the way but this museum is very lacking. I kept looking for where the museum started because I thought I was in the lobby just outside the museum looking at a few things. Love the concept but it is lacking creativity, variety, etc. I'd love to see at least an entire exhibit for each federal agency inside. Even the fallen officer room... you can't search by agency or even state which seems kind of silly to me. All in all... my summary in two words would be: "Good Start"... read more

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Very cool museum to check out with a lot of interactive installments. This museum is cool for kids who want to get involved in law enforcement, people in law enforcement, and anyone who has a family member in law enforcement, or lost someone in the line of duty. Cool museum itself, but you also have the law enforcement memorial here to pay your respects to fallen officers whether in the line of duty or from 9/11 and the aftermath. Well worth checking out if you are in the area! read more

What a great museum that will open October 13th in Washington DC. The new museum is located across the street from the National Law Enforcement Memorial. Not only are there tremendous historical artifacts there is a current reflection of how police departments are reconnecting with community policing. This is a great museum that is worth the visit. read more

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Visiting the National Law Enforcement Museum was quite an experience, we got to see in real life the skills and wisdom that is required by every police officer to de-escalate any situation and the patience and experience needed to determine the use of force. The Next-Gen technologies behind the law enforcement operations from the 911 calls handling, to the police cars features, helicopter systems, jail and historical details of the US law enforcement displayed at this museum were so amazing. Special agent Charles Humphrey and the team were outstanding. Special thanks to Dr. Tommie Thompson (The Game Changer) for facilitating this wonderful tour. This is a "must see" for any family with teenagers.!!!! This is a "must see" for any family with teenagers.!!!! read more

What an experience. My husband and I saw it from the street and thought it was small based on what we could see but we're profoundly surprised when we went inside. The 9-11 room was a tearjerker read more

Only open Thursday-Saturday. I understand weird hours during the off season but to only be open three days a week during the busy tourism season is baffling. They should be embarrassed. read more

Enjoyed this newer museum which is accessible by metro. Lots of stuff to look at and some things to do like figuring out forensic evidence and how to respond in various scenarios if you a police officer. They have some interesting historic items as well such as J Edgar Hoovers desk and prison cells from Lorton prison (now closed). Cafeteria is credit card only and automated machines some healthy food and good sandwich selection. We had chicken salad croissants. Gourmet coffee machine NOT working the day we there (so aggravating!). You have to pay fee to enter museum and not a lot of parking nearby. read more

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It's a nice place to spend like 3.5 hrs. Well maintained, lot of history and photos to see.

I went to the National Law Enforcement Museum last month when they had a free Family Day. They had a lot of great activities for Family Day, including a scavenger hunt for kids and when the kids turned in the completed scavenger hunt form, they got a stuffed police dog, very cute! The museum has interesting artifacts and I found it engaging; however, I am glad I went on Family Day because I don't know that I could justify the high price of the museum at other times, which is $21.95 for an adult. (Although I did buy a discounted ticket at the museum's booth NBC4 Health & Wellness Fair for $11 before I learned about Family Day, so you may want to be on the lookout for other ticket specials.) If you're visiting the DC area, I would encourage you to visit the free museums before visiting this one, unless you are especially interested in law enforcement, not only because of the museum's high cost, but also because the museum is pretty much one floor, so it won't take you that long to go through it. It's interesting because the Newseum (another paid DC museum), is bigger and has more floors and content in their current location than the National Law Enforcement Museum and will be moving to a new location because they couldn't sustain the museum with visitor revenue. Also, the National Law Enforcement Museum didn't seem to have any temporary or changing exhibits, so I'm not sure how the museum plans on bringing guests from the area back in and having them pay to visit the museum again. The museum pretty much consists of one floor (the very bottom floor), with the gift shop and security being on the upper levels. I watched most of the videos and read pretty much all of the content and was there for about 3 hours. The museum has multimedia and interactive exhibits; however, I will say that some of the videos were very long. While they gave a lot of detail, it definitely clogs up the flow of the museum because everyone just stays in one spot or in front of one simulation. There were a decent number of people there on the day I went, but I'm glad it wasn't more crowded because I could see how I would have spent a lot of time just waiting to try to do things because the videos/interactive portion was lengthy. One of my favorite parts was role-playing as a 911 dispatcher and responding to different calls using the screen to answer questions. There also was another exhibit where you collect evidence as you're investigating a scenario you select. I thought the Training Simulator would be more interesting, but we had a cop and a kid participating, so pretty much the cop took control of the simulation and the rest of us just watched, so it wasn't very interesting or engaging for everyone else in the room who wasn't participating. The Hall of Remembrance honoring fallen officers is very moving and I liked how it was visible from the museum floor, but also separated by glass doors to make it a quieter and more reflective area. If the museum has another Family Day or discounted tickets, it is worth checking out, but I don't think I can recommend it at its current price point. read more

This was pretty cool, well worth the price in my opinion. Plenty of cool interactive exhibits and a lot of unique stuff like the dc sniper's rifle. Plus a police car that you can make the siren and lights go off in. Overall a worthwhile visit. Also the people that worked there seemed passionate about their job and policing. read more

Done very well and shows law enforcement from such a wide perspective. It's extremely interactive and even includes a scenario where you are armed and respond to a shooting to see what it's like to be in that situation. Also has a memorial inside for all the officers killed in the line of duty (see picture) read more

National Law Enforcement Museum - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here on Museum Day. Fun and interactive, but I wouldn't pay $22 for admission on a normal day.

We were in DC while the museum was being constructed, etching the names of colleagues that have fallen, on the walls in the memorial.... their names forever engraved. Lucky to be here one last time in our lives, my husband (a 26 year law enforcement veteran) was able to see the completed museum. Wow! What a beautiful tribute to the brave and wonderful force that continues to protect and serve. My biggest take away was how much policing has changed and how the community is so important to the success and safety of all. I loved the interactive activities... 911 dispatcher, forensics, witness abilities, etc. The staff was awesome, the museum a winner. Five big stars! read more

I enjoyed this museum. They have a lot of great interactive activities and historical artifacts. The museum basically just highlights the day to day life of a law enforcement officer. It's conveniently located right across from the Judiciary Square metro stop. It costs about 20 dollars to enter the museum which is pretty pricey considering the size of the museum. read more

This place is so new that I had to make a Yelp page for it. Located right off the Red Line (Judicary Square stop), it may be initially hard to find if you aren't exclusively looking for it. With that being said, once you find your way inside, you are in for a treat. Although a ticket to the musuem will cost between $18-25, depending on various factors, it is well worth the money. The musuem is on one story however it located on fairly wide floor with about 12 seperate exhibits and a theatre. On my visit, I watched a 20 min movie about community policing in various parts of the United States. I also stopped at an exhibit which had 10 minute videos discussing the significance of 6 artifacts which discussed everything from Al Capone to the assassination of US Presidents. However, my favorite exhibit was the "Day in the Life" exhibit that followed the shifts of three different police officers through an interactive video that you co ntrolled (side note: the videos continually restarted if I did not touch the dial after 2 minutes which I found to be annoying). I stayed for only 3 hours but felt there was much left to be explored which is why I plan on returning in the not-so-distant future. The major knock on the musuem is it is so new that they didnt have a place to eat (or it may not have been open). Although not free, this is another excellent musuem in the heart of Washington DC. read more

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This is a lovely intimate museum with lots of interesting artifacts and history. The museum is truly bright and beautiful despite being entirely underground. The exhibits really showcased the everyday work of a law enforcement officer, but it also highlighted several interesting events in law enforcement history. I highly recommend watching the welcome video as well. It is a thought provoking film showing the past, present, and future of law enforcement, and how the roles of officers are changing in this new world. I also enjoyed the section on canine policing. Someday as the museum expands I'm sure that they will add a section on equine policing. This museum is just opened and shows much promise in the competitive museum heavy DC landscape. I will certainly come back to the museum and will continue to support it as it grows. read more

Great overall. Very informative. Spend a few hours and you'll learn a lot. History of police officers, medical examination exhibit, along with 911 responder, dna labs, and a few others. You can check out a real police car, jail cells, and some other police tools used on the job. 1 critique, in regards to the simulator; there should be a ticketed system or paid system which guarantees you get to use the simulator. Very technologically advanced, but only 2 or 3 people get to use it in a room of 20. read more

This small gem of a museum just opened (October 2018) and my wife and I found it fascinating and informative, even with our having no connection to law enforcement. We had to leave after 1-1/2 hours; could have used another hour. The interactive multimedia exhibits were first rate, state of the art, and engaging. Pre-teens with active, curious minds through adults is the target audience. Start with the great high-definition orientation film that runs every 30 minutes on the hour and at the half. read more

Awesome museum showcasing all aspects of law enforcement. Facing the museum, you enter through a rotating door on the left through security and head downstairs. Entry is about $21 for an adult with discounts for certain groups. There is a $5 charge for the training simulator which is worth it! You buy that at the same counter. Took me two hours to thoroughly roam the museum although not huge but lots of interactive displays. read more

This was the main thing I wanted to see on this particular short stay in DC. I walked from my hotel so it was a little hard to find through google map's walking directions. It's a small museum and kind of a bummer that they charge $21 ($18 for LE) when most other museums around here are free. There was probably a total of 10 people in the museum browsing around on a Wednesday afternoon. I was excited to try the simulator room and thought the sign had said "training schedule" and listed 4:20. I asked a guy sitting at a table in front of the simulator room at 4:07pm how it worked but he did not offer me to try it. I waited until 4:20 and realized they were closing the room and that you had to be there BEFORE 4:20. But... Alan stepped in and was ever so kind to allow me to try the simulator room. He powered it all back up for little ol me and I am forever grateful for the extra time he took out of his day to do that (because he could have just said nope, they're closed). You can tell he's passionate about LE and had great advice to offer to another LEO. The five stars is for ALAN!!! read more

Love this place. My wife requested we go so she could learn more about LEO. It was so educational and had fun interactive activities also. Allow 2-3 hours to full see/read everything read more

This museum is really worth a visit! Very well done with lots of interactive activities. Be sure to participate in the simulator activities! Plan for a minimum of 90 minutes for your visit. read more

Didn't really plan on stopping here, but it was worth it. Neat exhibits. Give yourself a couple hours if you want to read everything. Make sure to stop across the street at the wall. The community wall in one basement room where people could leave their thoughts about what they liked and didn't like about cops was goofy and out of place... STFU this is the national LEO museum. Lol... But overall good experience. read more

Awesome experience! Very fun and hands on museum ! Great for the current or retired Leo or just with family - friends! A little pricey to get in but all goes towards a good cause! read more

Great museum, very well designed. Definitely worth a visit. Our family really enjoyed it.