The best museums in DC are free, no membership required. You could always make a donation in his/her name. For example: https://support.si.edu/site/Donation...EBEA75E2D3B83D

While MOST museums in DC are free, not all are. One of my favorite private museums is the Phillips Collection:
https://www.phillipscollection.org
Not only does it have a surprisingly good (small) collection, but it also has musical events, which can be nice for people who are new to the city. I would love it if someone were to give me a membership there!

Hi,
Almost all Washington DC museums are free (paid for by taxes), but my favorite museum is the DuPont. It's private---a mansion turned into a small museum which has exquisite and original taste. Check out the website including the very moving depictions of the African-American exodus to the North in the early part of the twentieth century. A large painting of Renoir's boating party is there in a room of its own. They have chamber music concerts, an inexpensive cafe with very good art, a great museum gift shop. It would be a wonderful gift.

@ cmstraf: Are you sure you are describing the Dupont Museum? It certainly sounds like the Phillips Collection, which holds Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party (not always in its own room -- that depends on the current exhibitions), part of Pippin's series on the African-American experience of the 20th century, and many many other magnificent works -- and is located in the Dupont Circle section of the city. And as I just mentioned, it routinely hosts musical events.

"Best" is in the eye of the beholder. Aside from the Smithsonians (which are free), I really enjoy Hillwood and the Phillips Collection.

My favorite (also free) museum is Dumbarton Oaks. Started my interest in Pre-Colombian cultures and art when I visited during a college trip to DC.

I think the Associates membership at the Smithsonian is a terrific idea.

I am a fan of all of the museums mentioned here. I especially love the Phillips Collection which is in my neighborhood. I've been a member for a number of years and it would be my second choice as gift. But for someone new to the DC area, the Smithsonian option is much broader - art, science, history, zoo and more.

We loved Hillwood.
Thanks to the new Obama portraits, I did a quick visit to the National Portrait Gallery and need to return to spend more time. Fabulous.
Too many favorites to choose from on the Mall.
Love the memorials too - WWII, Korean and Vietnam.

"Best" in terms of what criteria? I adore the Newseum and the US Holocaust Museum. For art I like the Phillips Collection and the National Gallery.

In answer to your question a membership to the Newseum probably won't work since it's closing at the end of this year. I'd love to receive one to either the Phillips or the National Gallery as I've been back to each many times.

The National Gallery is also free.

If the purpose of a "membership" is to gain access to some paid entries, then go with the Phillips.

If the goal is to provide a gift that offers free access to museums that otherwise charge an entry fee, note that the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery are part of the Smithsonian, and so – like all of the Smithsonian museums (and all the memorials) – they are free to anyone, anytime (during opening hours). The U.S. Holocaust Museum is also free to anyone.

If I understand correctly, the Newseum is vacating its current location during this calendar year, but I don’t believe it is closing – it’s “just” relocating to a destination as yet to be determined.

If your goal is to provide a gift that permits access to a lot of interesting free events, an Associates Membership to the Smithsonian might be a great idea.

On the other hand, if your goal is to provide access to an art museum AND events, I’ll again recommend the Phillips. Its not just a wonderful (small) collection, and not just a venue for some lovely music, but when I first moved to the area, I found it much easier to go and enjoy as time permitted, either alone or with a guest (when covered by my membership) than the Smithsonian, which required a bit more advance planning to attend events and didn’t generally give me a way to take a guest to an event for free. And the Phillips is very easy to reach by public transportation and in an area filled with restaurants and cafes and one of DC’s most famous bookstore/cafes (Kramers).

But DC is full of museums devoted to a variety of purposes, and I don’t think you said anything about your friend’s interests?