The Mansion on O Street

I brought my wife and 3 kids (Ages 8, 11, 18) to see the museum based on the numerous 5 star reviews I read. The advertising sounded very attractive and something my kids would love. When we arrived we checked in, which was easy, and watched a short video. Then we were pointed to the stairs to start searching for secret rooms. All the rooms were very cluttered, borderline hoarderish, and every secret room was so easy to find my youngest kids found them within a minute of entering the room. The price per person for basic morning admission was $33 after fees. There were other groups of people visiting during the same timeslot we had and everyone we spoke to was underwhelmed by the visit. It’s hard for me to believe any of the reviews are honest, especially because there are none under 4 stars. In total we spent just under 1 hour there and discovered every secret room and door. It’s important to note that most of the secrets are just doors/windows and not rooms you can enter.

The other reviews and the website did not prepare me for how much STUFF there is in this museum--every surface and every wall covered with books, knick-knacks, record albums, paintings, etc.. Some of it was really cool, like the enormous bathtubs and the themed rooms. But I also felt a bit suffocated as if I was in the house of a hoarder. My companion was obsessed with understanding how they keep everything dust-free. Overall, well worth a visit, and totally different from any other museum.

A completely different experience than any other museum in D.C. The beginning of the self guided experience is worth listening to every word. Its walls (that open) must have amazing stories to tell. Try and find as many hidden entrances that move you from room to hallway to room. It’s surreal as there are actual guests staying in the mansion. The amount of incredible memorabilia in this Mansion is overwhelming and every piece is for sale. As it’s an Inn as well as a museum there is a bar to stop in when you find your way back. Depending on your time limits, this could be an hour visit or three. A little off the beaten path, still hanging on to a “hidden gem” - loved it

We visited the museaum with our 2 children - age 10 and 12 What a fun experience !! My kids did not want to leave. There was something for everyone is every room and the secret doors made it so exciting ! We would highly recommend this to anyone, all ages!

Went with our 12 and 14yo kids. They loved finding the secret doors; us parents loved the nostalgia. We were there over 90 minutes - tired by then, and all the stuff everywhere can be overwhelming to the senses over time. Yes, it seems pricey given so many things in DC are free, but it was a fun unique experience and glad we did it. We felt it was worth it. We parked a couple blocks away via SpotHero since too far for our bikes from our VBRO which was not near a metro stop.

My family (2 parents are four 18-21 year old kids) loved the Secret Door Tour in the Mansion On O Street. We found 12 doors (including two tiny doors)! It was a fun evening. The museum pieces were interesting. Our group was most impressed with the incredible bathrooms that some of the bedrooms have. We learned a lot and had a lot of fun. We highly recommend looking for the secret doors in O Museum.