In reading thru the posts I see one must get tickets ahead of time for the Holocaust museum. Do I just go there and get tickets for the same day or will I be given a ticket for a subsequent day? Also is there anyway to get a ticket online ahead of time for any place in Washington DC that needs tickets? Thanks.

I saw the Holocaust Museum with my chorus a couple of years ago, and thought it was a must see. Be good if ALL world leaders were escorted through the Museum, might help with peace efforts worldwide.

All that said, get to the Museum early and get in line for your tickets, if you are going with a large group there is an entrance for groups as well.

The museum is so thought provoking and moving and heartbreaking and inspiring all at once.

YOu might go to the Smithsonian website for info on getting tickets on line, or if they are available online.

Enjoy your trip to Washington.

I agree with wantsomesun's sentiments.

The website does have info about obtaining tickets prior to as well as the day of your visit. http://www.ushmm.org/

Minor point, the Holocaust Museum is not part of the Smithsonian group of museums.

I would definitely order tix ahead of time through the web site, we have done that twice and it's made it so much easier and you can plan the rest of your day b/c you know for certain you will have tickets rather than taking your chances early int the morning.

I don't know what other museums you are interested in - for instance, you can order ahead for the International Spy Museum, some special museum exhibits (planetarium, shows, etc at National Air & Space Museum, prior arrangments for some White House tours, etc. I would think if you check the web pages of the sites you are interested, if pre purchasing is an option it will be online, except something special at the White House, which you would need to arrange thru your local politicians, etc.

If the specific museum tour date is known,then you can go to www.tickets.com and access special events or search the site for the holocaust museum. The actual tickets are free but there is a service charge. When we went to DC, we purchased all tickets for the Washington Monument, Holocaust Museum, etc.in advance. It saved time and helped us organize the trip. Well worth paying the service fee. On one occasion, we were able to secure museum tickets from the concierge at our hotel.

I noted the last time I visited that they start distributing SAME DAY timed tickets at 10am. Altho we were quite some way back in line, we still got 11:45 tickets, and that was during the week of Cherry Blossum Festival. Other times we've got tickets closer to 11:am

The line starts at the entrance of the museum on 14th and winds down the alley along the side of the building back towards 15th (Raoul Wallenberg Place) and I recommend you walk directly to Wallenberg Place and join the line from behind, rather than "fight" your way thru the line -- the line tends to be sort of disorganized, kind of winding back and forth. If you take the Metro to Smithsonian stop, leave thru the 17th & Independence exit, not the Mall exit.

What to do while waiting for your time to arrive? There's a small cafeteria in a different building, but even better, there are some displays in the USHMM that are NOT on timed tickets and will be open immediatly. One being Daniel's Story (or similar), a less intense short version of the holocaust, suitable for children. I don't know if "Deadly Medicine" is still downstairs, but it was excellent.