Frequently Asked Questions
Planning Your Visit
We are open from Wednesday through Monday, from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Please note that the last entry is at 5:00 pm. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. Please note: Starting January 1, the Center will be operating on a seasonal schedule and will be open from Thursday - Monday (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Our hours of operation will remain the same.
Additionally, the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream is closed for the following holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Yes, free tickets are required for every visitor. Reserve yours here. Walk-up tickets may be available but are not guaranteed. While General Admission tickets for the American Dream Experience are free, tickets for the Holodeck Experience are $15. Book your General Admission ticket, then select the option to add the Holodeck Experience.
Reserving your tickets in advance will ensure you can visit at your selected date and time. A limited number of walk-up tickets may be available. Tickets are required for both General Admission and the Holodeck Experience.
Please plan to arrive within an hour of your ticket time. Visitors arriving more than one hour after their ticket time will be granted entry based on availability and may be required to reschedule. Last entry is 5:00 pm.
In your confirmation email, please click “Reschedule your visit,” where you can change your ticket date and time up to one hour prior to your ticket time. If you need any additional assistance, please email info@mcaad.org. Be sure to reschedule all booked tickets, including General Admission and any Holodeck Experience tickets purchased.
Free advance passes are released on the first of the month for the following month. For example, all passes for March will be released February 1.
Yes, all visitors, regardless of age, must have a ticket to enter the Center. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Please see our chaperone guidelines for groups.
Once you book your ticket, look for your confirmation email to the email address you have provided. Don’t see it? Check your spam or junk folder.
We’re excited to welcome your group to visit with advance registration. An individual can reserve up to 15 free passes for their visit. For groups of 16 or more, please request a group visit. Walk-up passes are not available for groups of 16 or more people.
Children under the age of 18 must be chaperoned while visiting MCAAD. A minimum of one adult chaperone is required per 10 children. Chaperones must stay with their groups for the duration of the visit.
The American Dream Experience is best for ages 6 and up.
Reach out to us at info@mcaad.org. We will respond as soon as we can with assistance.
The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream follows the federal government’s operating status during inclement weather. If we are closed due to inclement weather, please check mcaad.org for updates. For any closure, we will notify all ticket holders for that day.
Arrival
Our main entrance is located at 1503 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Don’t be deterred by the nearby construction. Follow the blue signs to our main entrance.
We do not have any parking facilities. There are several parking garages nearby. There is no bus parking at the Milken Center. Groups arriving on buses may be dropped near the intersection of 15th Street and New York Avenue, NW.
Please check DC Traffic Advisory for the most up-to-date information regarding any street closures or changes to traffic patterns affecting the area around the museum.
For everyone’s safety, all visitors are required to go through a security screening. Some bags may require further inspection by security personnel. We encourage visitors to travel light to decrease wait times at entry.
- Outside food and drinks that are not securely closed in bag or backpack
- Monopods, tripods, or selfie sticks that are not securely stored in a bag or backpack
- Animals (with the exception of Service Animals as defined by the Department of Justice)
- Any weapons, guns, or knives (including pen knives), aerosol cans (including pepper spray and Mace), scissors, or tools
- Banners, placards, or signs
- Large bags (over 17” x 14”) or luggage
- Wagons or carts (collapsible and fixed wheel)
- Alcohol or illegal substances
- Drones
- Personal transport devices (scooters or skateboards)
The Milken Center for the American Dream does not have any storage facilities for visitor belongings. Please travel light as you’ll need to hang onto your belongings throughout your visit.
Yes, strollers are welcome throughout most exhibition spaces (except for the Holodeck Experience). The accessible entrance is just to the left of the main entrance steps on Pennsylvania Avenue. Wagons and other carts are not permitted.
During Your Visit
Visitors typically spend 1-2 hours exploring the American Dream Experience. Plan an additional 45 minutes for your Holodeck Experience!
We have suggested itineraries on our Visit page.
Yes, the shop is open during regular hours and is located on Level 1, adjacent to the Hall of Generations.
Eating and drinking is not permitted in gallery and exhibition spaces. Visitors may bring food and drink into the Center (in closed containers and kept in a bag) but may not eat or drink in gallery spaces. There are multiple public parks nearby to enjoy packed lunches. Visitors may eat or drink in the Atrium, which is open to the public most weekends.
There is no café or restaurant in the Center.
Multi-stall restrooms are available on the Lower Level, Level 1, 4, and 5. Companion care restrooms are available on Level 4 and 5.
We welcome photos and videos for personal use!
Working members of the media or professional photographers must obtain permission and must be escorted by a staff member while in the building. Please contact info@mcaad.org with requests.
During your visit, you may be photographed or recorded. These images may be used on our social media, website, or emails to share the American Dream Experience. If you’d prefer not to appear, just let a staff member know—we’re happy to help!
A map of the Center can be viewed here.
A free, public Wi-Fi network is available.