National Law Enforcement Museum facts for kids
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| Established | October 13, 2018 |
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| Location | 444 E St NW, Washington, D.C. |
| Type | History museum |
| Public transit access |  Judiciary Square |
The National Law Enforcement Museum is a special museum in Washington, D.C.. It opened its doors on October 13, 2018. This museum helps visitors learn about American law enforcement through fun, interactive exhibits. It also has many old and new items, plus a special area for learning and research. The museum is mostly underground, right next to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. It's located in Washington, D.C.'s Judiciary Square, close to many important courts.
Contents
Museum Design and Layout
The museum was designed by Davis Buckley Architects and Planners. This is the same company that designed the nearby Memorial. The museum has many permanent galleries and one gallery that changes its exhibits often. Different teams worked together to design and build the exhibits you see.
The building is mostly underground. It has two entrance buildings and covers about 55,000 square feet inside. The museum's main area is dug about 60 feet below the ground!
History of the Museum
The idea for the museum was first planned in 1991. But it took many years to get enough money and overcome other challenges. In 2000, the United States Congress officially allowed the museum to be built. The goal was to tell the story of law enforcement in the United States. A special area called the "Hall of Remembrance" would honor officers who died while serving.
President Bill Clinton signed the bill into law on November 9, 2000. It took five more years for the public to review and approve the construction plans.
On October 14, 2010, important leaders like Attorney General Eric Holder helped break ground for the museum's construction. This was a big step forward. By October 2012, over $58 million had been raised from private donations to help build it.
In 2014, a bill was passed to extend the time allowed for the museum's construction. This helped make sure the museum could be completed. The museum finally opened on October 18, 2018.
The museum temporarily closed to the public on March 15, 2020, because of the pandemic. During this time, it offered online learning programs. The museum reopened on August 27, 2021, after being closed for 18 months.
Museum Collections
The museum has many interesting items in its collections. These items help tell the story of law enforcement. Some of the things you can see include:
- The U.S. Park Police helicopter that helped after the Air Florida Flight 90 plane crash.
- A costume from the 1987 movie RoboCop.
- A sweatshirt worn by the character Jack Bauer in the TV show 24.
- Items that belonged to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.
- Evidence from a major investigation in October 2002.
- Memorabilia related to the federal agent Eliot Ness and his team, known as the "Untouchables," from the Prohibition era.
- Handcuffs used by police to arrest Sirhan Sirhan after he shot US Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968.
- A badge, gun, and coin purse that belonged to American Old West lawman Pat Garrett. He was famous for catching outlaw Billy the Kid in 1881.
- A badge and Deputy US Marshal commission that belonged to Ted Hinton. He was part of the group that caught famous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde in 1934.
- A bulletproof vest from around 1930 that was used by gangster Al Capone.
- An Indiana State Police car.
- Michael K. Neal's pickup truck.
Museum Exhibitions
The museum has several exciting exhibitions for visitors to explore.
Permanent Exhibitions
- Being an Officer shows the many different jobs law enforcement officers do to keep communities safe. You can learn about special roles like SWAT, bomb squads, and K9 units.
- Dial 911 lets you pretend to be a 9-1-1 Emergency Operator. You get to answer calls, figure out what's happening, and send officers to help. You can even listen to real 9-1-1 calls!
- History Time Capsules display historical items from the museum's collection. You can learn about law enforcement officers from different times in American history, like colonial days, the Wild West, the Prohibition Era, and the Civil Rights movement.
- History Beat highlights six important items from the museum. Each item has a video presentation that tells deep stories from law enforcement history.
- Officers’ Stories shares real-life accounts of what it's like to be an officer. These short, true stories give you a peek into the lives of individual officers and their work.
- Reel to Real shows items from law enforcement in pop culture, like toys and props from famous cop shows and movies. It also features a short film where an actor and a police commissioner talk about how law enforcement is shown on screen.
- Take the Case lets you act like a forensic scientist and a detective. You collect evidence, look for clues, and learn how cases are built using modern investigation methods.
- Tools of the Trade explores all the gear and equipment officers might use. You can learn how officers use their tools and how these tools have changed over time.
- To Serve and Protect highlights how officers work with their communities. It shares first-person stories from events like 9/11 and the Air Florida Flight 90 rescue. This exhibit also has an interactive display called the "Web of Law Enforcement," where you can follow recent criminal cases from start to finish.
- Hall of Remembrance features the names and photos of officers added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial each year. You can also learn about the Memorial's history and the effort to honor fallen officers.
Temporary Exhibitions
- Post 9/11: The Evolution of American Law Enforcement focuses on the big changes that happened in U.S. law enforcement after the 9/11 attacks.
Digital Exhibitions
- Five Communities started as an exhibit in the museum and is now online. You can learn how five different police departments across the U.S. work with their communities.
See also
In Spanish: Museo Nacional de las Fuerzas de Seguridad para niños
