Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Not surprisingly, you’ll find the Washington, D.C., outpost of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum heavy on political figures. Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry are all represented, along with a healthy mix of musicians and sports stars, from Madonna to Tiger Woods. The museum also includes a wax likeness of Michelle Obama, looking every bit the first lady in a red dress and pearls. She stands next to her husband in front of a White House mural — perfectly positioned for a presidential photo op.

Madame Tussauds Washington, D.C., is one of nine museums worldwide that offer visitors the chance to get up close and personal with wax figures of the famous and infamous. French sculptor Marie Tussaud created her first wax model, a depiction of Voltaire, in 1777, and later opened a museum in London that included a popular “Chamber of Horrors,” depicting victims of the French Revolution. Today, one of the chain’s most controversial figures is the likeness of Adolf Hitler featured at the Berlin museum; the statue has been repeatedly vandalized.

Wax figures of Diana, Princess of Wales—a perennial favorite—can be seen at the London, Las Vegas, New York, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and Washington, D.C. outposts.

Travel Tips

If you’re looking for a lunch spot, the Hard Rock Café and ESPN Zone restaurants are located nearby. For a more upscale option, head south to Pennsylvania Avenue, where outdoor seating abounds at restaurants like Ten Penh and Les Halles.

For more, visit: www.madametussauds.com/washington, or buy tickets in advance here.

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Madame Tussauds Washington DC