What days and times is the Museum open?
Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum is closed for federal holidays.
For the 2022 holiday season, the Museum will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.
Do I have to pay admission?
Admission to the DEA Museum is free!
What do I need to visit the Museum?
All guests 18 years and older must present a valid government issued photo ID. The Museum is located in a federal building and guests will be required to comply with security rules and procedures, including bag screenings and stepping through a metal detector. Certain items are prohibited in federal facilities. Please consult this page for a full list.
How do I get to the Museum?
The Museum is located at 700 Army Navy Drive in Arlington, Virginia, directly across the street from Pentagon City Mall and at the corner of Army Navy Drive and Hayes Street. It is accessible by Metro and Arlington County Transit. Click here for driving directions.
Where can I park?
Street parking in the area is limited, but paid parking is available at the Pentagon City Parking Garage. Buses and large vans may drop off at the curb in front of the DEA Museum entrance on Hayes Street prior to parking. Parking for buses is available across the street in front of the Fashion Center at Pentagon City Mall.
Is there a place to eat?
The Museum is surrounded by restaurants, grocery stores, and other shops. Grab lunch at the Pentagon City Mall food court or a quick snack at a nearby coffee shop.
Are wheelchairs and other accommodations available?
The Museum welcomes all visitors by acknowledging and embracing their diverse physical and cognitive abilities. The galleries are wheelchair accessible and a wheelchair can be provided if requested. All audio components are open captioned and, if requested in advance, Museum staff can adjust both audio and visual media for visitors with cognitive sensitivities. Please contact us at deamuseum@dea.gov or (202) 307-3463 if you have any questions or concerns.
Can I take pictures in the Museum?
Yes, guests are welcome to take pictures inside the Museum’s galleries.
Can I book a tour for my group?
The Museum offers engaging tours, activities, and programs for school and community groups. Registered merit badge counselors are also on staff to help Scouts explore fingerprinting, crime prevention, and other fun topics. To book a tour, complete this form and a staff member will be in contact soon.
What will I see when I visit the Museum?
The all-new DEA Museum has been reimagined by staff and partners to engage and educate the public in a colorful, contemporary space. Interactive exhibits featuring hands-on activities, artifacts, and diverse, personal histories make the Museum a modern and compelling exploration of the long, dynamic history of drug use, misuse, and law enforcement unlike any other. Its innovative learning environment boasts over 40 hands-on activities, 180 artifacts, and an education room outfitted with distance learning technology. Displays showcase the various roles of DEA agents and employees, delve into the history of predecessor agencies, and emphasize the impact of drug use on Americans’ lives. Exhibits on the science of opium, marijuana, cocaine, and synthetic drug misuse also empower visitors with knowledge of different drugs and their risk factors. Nowhere else can guests investigate these topics with the resources and expertise of DEA.
What can children do at the Museum?
There’s something for everyone at the all-new DEA Museum, especially younger visitors. Investigate a case, go on a virtual mission, and get sworn in as a Junior Special Agent, all in one fun-filled afternoon. Over 40 hands-on activities invite children to explore the Museum’s colorful galleries, including life-sized magnets, touchscreen timelines, and interactive games.
Are there any changing exhibit areas?
Yes! Visit the Museum often to see something new. A changing exhibit area features unique, captivating displays that are cycled regularly. Each inspires programs on its artifacts and theme. A rotating spotlight exhibit highlights noteworthy moments in DEA’s history, like the conviction of Joaquín “El Chapo” Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, head of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Is there a place to pay my respects to DEA’s fallen heroes?
A brand new Wall of Honor located in the Museum's lobby offers guests a central, yet serene, place to remember and reflect on the sacrifices of DEA’s fallen. Newly commissioned portraits, a dignified brass display area, respectful 24-hour illumination, and an interactive kiosk share the stories of each hero.
How big is the Museum’s collection?
More than 5,000 objects and 40,000 photographs make up the Museum’s collection. From hundred-year-old medicine bottles to a seized Harley-Davidson motorcycle, it is a trove of artifacts and images that chronicle DEA’s past and the history of drug use in the United States.
How can I donate to the collection?
The Museum’s collection is always growing thanks to the generosity of individuals and DEA employees. If you have objects, images, or documents related to the history of drug law enforcement, please fill out the Collection Donation Form. The Museum is unable to accept unsolicited objects, images, or documents unless you first submit a completed form describing the material you wish to donate. Please do not send materials until you have been contacted by Museum staff. If you are unable to complete the donation form, please call the DEA Museum Collections Department at (202) 271-3224 or (202) 710-1937.
Does the Museum welcome researchers?
The Museum welcomes scholars, federal employees, and members of the public studying the history of drugs and drug law enforcement. To learn more about the collection or to schedule a research visit, please call the DEA Museum Collections Department at (202) 271-3224 or (202) 710-1937.
How can I learn something new from home?
The Museum’s new website features enriching online content and educational programming. Sleek and accessible, deamuseum.org assembles virtual exhibits, recorded lectures, and other activities and resources in one, easy-to-use site. Users can view the collection, book tours, contact staff members, and stay up to date on Museum news and events, including artifact talks and scouting activities. Staff is also developing an inaugural distance learning program, which will deliver live, virtual content from the multipurpose education room for the first time in Museum history. There are additional enriching learning opportunities on DEA’s other educational websites.
How do I contact the Museum?
The Museum encourages visitors, the press, educators, retired agents, and other communities to reach out and receive Museum updates, contact its friendly staff and leadership, book free tours, and schedule media events. Fill out the contact form, follow the Museum on social media, and sign up for the e-newsletter. Press and professional filmmakers can contact the Museum at deamuseum@dea.gov or (202) 307-3463 to schedule a visit, video session, or interview.
How can my institution host the DEA traveling exhibit?
The DEA Museum invites partnerships with museums, science centers, and other like-minded organizations to bring DEA's expertise to new places. Host a traveling exhibit that builds community coalitions and supports drug education and prevention efforts in cities across the country. Fill out this form and learn more about hosting the acclaimed exhibit Drugs: Costs and Consequences.
What is the DEA Educational Foundation and what is its relationship with the Museum?
The DEA Educational Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization committed to educating the public on the many costs and consequences of illegal drugs in the United States. In addition to funding the DEAEF Youth Dance Program, the Foundation develops programming and exhibits with partners around the world. The Museum partnered with the Foundation to create its acclaimed traveling exhibit, Drugs: Costs and Consequences, and the Foundation operates the Museum’s gift shop.