"I love these murals, but when do we enter the museum?" Me. "These are the museum," my friend. And…read morethis is how I've come to enjoy the DC Alley Museum as the best outdoor-only free museum experience that I've ever had! For the past 10 years, Shaw's Blagden Alley has partnered with the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities to transform its building walls into canvases for local artists to showcase their work. The result is an alleyway filled with a cavalcade of murals big and small, that blend in well with the local businesses within said alleyway. While walking through this vast alleyway I saw so many incredible works of art that I lost track, and the photos that I took barely do justice It's an absolute street art lover's dream! The best part is that you can either walk through it in a quick dose, or you can do so while grabbing coffee at La Colombe, a cocktail at Calico or Death & Co, or even a workout at DC Strength and Nutrition. Checking out the website is a must to learn more about the core mural artists and to find out about events like their Alley-Oop Music and Arts Festival.

Murals galore! They are all different and unique and range in size. How fun to just explore various…read morestreets and find unique art at every turn. Sometimes you can't even tell if it's part of the outdoor museum or part of the storefront of a creative restaurant. Definitely worth checking out. There is a coffee shop, bar, restaurants, and other business nestled within this space. We need more art, less arguing!

I had a great time photographing the artists and their work but it was well worth the time spent…read morethere.

This was difficult to find, as every site we looked on seemed to give a different address or…read morelocation, but we finally managed to track it down and it was worth it! We put 666 Rhode Island Ave NE in the gps and that was what got us closest, and then we went up the curving drive to the parking lot for Big Lots and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. These are some stunning murals that could use a little TLC...definitely a cool project for them to have done in this neighborhood!

Getting to explore D.C. for a few days was definitely an interesting experience. Of course, this…read morecity is known for every single museum (all have free entrance) they host, but damn this city has a solid graffiti and pop-up art scene outside of those that are hosted within the museums. When I grabbed a coffee at La Columbe, I was immediately surprised by the multitudes of graffiti around this alley. From my peers- it seems like this wall is a new addition to the local art scene and man is it mesmerizing! This is a spot that you'll find plenty of folks taking those insta-worthy photos and simply buffing their photo book. So grab a coffee or treat around here, check out the Love Wall, and explore the alleyway.

This mural isn't easy to spot, especially by car. It's in a thin alley in a residential…read moreneighborhood! In fact, the small one way road that passes by has the mural behind you! So, get out and walk and explore and perhaps you can discover it like I did! Life is good with hidden art in a huge city!

The local artist is SO NICE and alludes his love to art. He is known for his "watermelon house" and…read moremural down the alley...

Fun spot to check out if you're in the neighborhood--a humongous mural painted on the side of a…read morehouse. There are more murals down the alley. We met the artist, Wade Wilson! Friendly gentleman.

This mural is located on a wall donated by 455 Eye Apartments, overlooking a commercial parking…read morelot. There is metered street parking and commercial lot available for those wishing to park and take a closer look. However, most viewers of this mural will be going to or from some other destination. The mural was commissioned by sponsored by The German Embassy in Washington and Street Art for Mankind. It is the work of German artist Hera aka Jasmin Siddiqui, who painted the piece in 2023. The Mural towers 135 feet high and is in decent shape. I would have expected it to be in much better shape though, given its young age. Instead of a crown Mother Nature is wearing a bee hive on her head The mural is intended to raise awareness about climate change, the role women play in curbing it and that they should not be left out when it comes to finding solutions to addressing the climate crisis. . It depicts an African American Mother Nature surrounded by a female farmer planting a tree, and a child watching a bumblebee approaching a flower. The artwork of the piece is nice and I really like that it has a message. The colors really pop and complement each other. The mural reads "NATURE SHOWS US: ANYTHING BIG STARTS OUT SMALL" This is definitely not a destination piece and most of its viewers would probably be coming from or going to another destination and just so happen to stumble across this mural. Anyway, as with most public art works that I visit, I was not here long. I would say five minutes tops and I was off to somewhere else. I highly recommend making a visit to see this sculpture part of a larger itinerary.

This mural was painted as part of POW! WOW!, a global art movement that celebrates culture, music,…read moreand art worldwide. The mural was painted by Ricardo Gonzalez in 2017 and features a colorful portrayal of the popular phrase "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow". The mural is in great shape and I really love the colors. It has a neon sign vibe. The colors on the black background really pop. The mural normally overlooks a parking lot, but the area is under construction and the mural is fenced off. There is parking available on the street adjacent to the mural, so those that are driving and wish to get a better glimpse of the mural can easily do so. I really like this mural. It grabs your attention and is definitley worth a few minutes of your time. The mural is a reminder of the harsh reality of life. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes and I was out. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful murals and attractions in the Nation's Capital and making this part of a larger itinerary.

Really large, really cool mural titled "Quisqueya vene conmigo" on the side wall of Bread Bite…read moreBakery on 14th St NW and Corcoran St NW painted by Nestor Garcia. Quisqueya is what the Tainos called the island of the Dominican Republic, meaning "Mother of all lands." The mural honors the work of Casilda Luna (community builder and activist) who was integral to the Latino community in DC, on issues such as fair housing and senior citizen care, and Daniel Bueno (iconic Latin music businessman), the most influential promoter of Latin music in DC for 40 years. Sadly it's already been vandalized on the bottom left corner by graffiti artists.

On exhibit until January 30, 2026, this is #16 of the 17 installations in Farragut Square, called…read moreHarmonies: Harp, created by LeMonde Studio, and part of a four-piece collection with Banjo (#14), Violin (#15), and Treble Clef (#17). These are so fun because they are huge, interactive, and visible from all angles. Definitely worth visiting before they're uninstalled!