Excuse our dust – construction is happening!
We are thrilled to announce that the U.S. Department of Justice Museum will open its doors in July 2026 as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration! This milestone represents years of careful planning, research, and dedication to preserving and sharing the remarkable history of justice in America.
From the Beginning
The Office of Attorney General is one of the oldest in the federal government, established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, the same year George Washington took office as our first president. Edmund Randolph became the nation’s first Attorney General, serving as the chief legal advisor to the president and the federal government. For its first eight decades, the Office of the Attorney General operated with a small staff, handling the government’s legal affairs without a formal department structure.
Capturing 150 Years of History
It was not until 1870 that Congress created the Department of Justice, bringing together various legal offices scattered across the government under one unified organization. Since then, the Department has been at the center of some of the most pivotal moments in American history. From enforcing civil rights and combating organized crime to protecting national security and upholding the rule of law, the Department’s work has shaped the nation we are today.
The new Museum will offer visitors a linear journey through this extraordinary heritage, documenting the evolution of the Department from its founding through the present day. Through carefully curated artifacts, documents, photographs, and interactive displays, visitors will encounter the stories of the people, investigations, and legal cases that defined the Department of Justice.
What Visitors Will Experience
As construction progresses, we’re excited to share glimpses of what awaits:
Historic Artifacts: Working closely with our partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Smithsonian Institution, National Law Enforcement Museum, 911 Museum and Memorial, U.S Census Bureau, and the National Archives, we will bring tangible pieces of history and the Department’s work to life.
Landmark Cases: Explore the legal battles that shaped civil rights, antitrust law, organized crime prosecution, terrorism prevention, and constitutional interpretation.
The People Behind the Mission: Meet the attorneys, investigators, agents, forensic scientists, and other staff members who have dedicated their careers to justice, from the Attorneys General who led the Department through transformative periods to the many public servants whose vital work often goes unseen in the background.
Constitutional Foundations: Understand how the Department’s mission flows directly from our founding documents and how successive generations have interpreted and applied those principles to new national and legal challenges.
Interactive Learning: Engaging exhibits and interactive media will allow visitors to explore the complexities of legal decision-making, the investigative process, and the balance between domestic and national security and civil liberties.
A Living History
This Museum is more than a repository of the past; it is a window into the ongoing work of the Department in pursuit of justice and adherence to the laws. The final galleries will connect historical challenges to contemporary issues, showing how the Department continues to evolve while remaining anchored to constitutional principles and the rule of law.
An informed citizenry is essential to democracy, and this Museum serves as an educational resource for students, scholars, legal professionals, and any individual interested in understanding how our justice system works and how it has developed over time.
Celebrating America’s 250th
Opening the Museum as part of America’s Semiquincentennialpost the is especially meaningful. As our nation reflects on 250 years of democracy, the U.S. Department of Justice Museum will illuminate how the pursuit of justice has been central to the American experiment from its very beginning.
Justice is not static, but requires constant vigilance, adaptation, and the courage to confront difficult questions. It’s a story of progress and setbacks, of landmark victories and hard-won lessons, of ordinary people doing extraordinary work in service to their country.
Celebrate With Us in July 2026!
We invite you to be among the first to experience the U.S. Department of Justice Museum by visiting our website for more updates. Whether you’re a legal scholar, history enthusiast, student, or simply a curious citizen, you’ll find something that inspires, challenges, and deepens your understanding of justice in America. Together, let’s explore 156 years of legal history since the founding of the Department of Justice and as we look forward to the next chapter in the ongoing story of American justice.
The U.S. Department of Justice Museum – Opening July 2026
Preserving the past. Informing the present. Inspiring the future.
