MEDIA CONTACTS:
Julia Garbitt: julia [dot] metjian
gwu [dot] edu, 617-921-4904
Chita Middleton: chitagwu [dot] edu (chita[at]gwu[dot]edu), 202-994-5593
WASHINGTON (October 6, 2025)—Despite the ongoing government shutdown (which has closed the National Gallery, the Library of Congress and will soon close the Smithsonian), The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum is open during its regular hours (Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Admission to the museum is free.
Current Exhibitions:
To learn more about current exhibitions, visit museum.gwu.edu/exhibitions.
In honor of The Textile Museum’s centennial, "Enduring Traditions: Celebrating the World of Textiles" explores the cultural significance of about 60 masterworks from its renowned collection of some 21,000 handmade textiles, which represents five continents and five millennia. From royal robes to ceremonial carpets, these exceptional textiles reveal traditions and values of communities around the globe.
“Source Material: Lessons in Responsible Fashion” explores three strategies for addressing today’s fashion crisis: extending a garment’s longevity, promoting recycling and reuse, and embracing local materials. Drawing from The Textile Museum Collection, the exhibition highlights how cultures across time have cherished the resources needed to make textiles. These historical examples are presented in conversation with the work of contemporary designers who are reimagining responsible fashion today.
“Capital Accommodations” explores the layered histories of hotels, taverns, boarding houses and motor lodges in Washington, D.C., from the city’s founding to the modern era. Drawing from the museum’s Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection, the exhibition presents photographs, ephemera and prints that illuminate the roles these accommodations have played in shaping the city.
Visitors are invited to traverse the nation’s capital by air, land or sea in “From A to DC: Transportation in Washington,” an exhibition exploring the history of Washington’s transportation systems. Artworks from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection depict innovations in travel that transformed the District during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Public Programs in October:
Most programs are free. To see the full calendar or register for a program, visit museum.gwu.edu/programs.
Thursday, October 9, 6 p.m.
Museums Today: Museums in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Virtual, free
Saturday, October 11, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Workshop: Introduction to Indonesian Batik
In person, $15
Monday, October 13, 12 p.m.
D.C. Mondays: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew
Virtual, free
Saturday, October 25, 11 a.m.
Rug and Textile Appreciation Morning: Colors of the Oasis
Virtual and in person, free
Friday, October 31, 1 p.m.
Cotsen Textile Traces Talk: Syrian Refugees Stewarding Textile Heritage
Virtual and in person, free
Visiting Information
The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum is located on GW’s Foggy Bottom campus at 701 21st St. NW, in Washington, D.C., just blocks from the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery, White House, Kennedy Center and the National Mall. Galleries are open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on university holidays. Admission to the museum is free. For information on the museum's visiting hours, exhibitions and educational programs, please check the museum website.
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