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Planet Word

Museums ·Washington ·Closed
4.82.6K
#43Things to do in Washington DC District of ColumbiaTravelers' Choice 2025
  • Ideal for kids, teens
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About

Planet Word is a language arts museum in Washington, DC, inside the historic Franklin School on Franklin Square.

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Planet Word

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What's on here

Wordplay Wednesday Wordplay Wednesday Wednesday, 17:005 USD The Big Idea: Pulling Back the Curtain on Reality TV The Big Idea: Pulling Back the Curtain on Reality TV Monday, 19:0010 USD

Why go

  • Hear hundreds of languages from Speaking Willow, a motion-detecting tree sculpture.
  • Solve a mystery by completing language puzzles and riddles in Lexicon Lane.

Opening hours

TodayClosedShow all
Monday10:00 – 17:00
TuesdayClosed
Wednesday10:00 – 17:00
Thursday10:00 – 17:00
Friday10:00 – 17:00
Saturday10:00 – 18:00
Sunday10:00 – 18:00

Don't miss

  • Speaking WillowRafael Lozano-Hemmer created this motion-detecting tree sculpture.
  • Lexicon LaneA permanent exhibit designed like a small village, opened in March 2022.Third floor
  • First WordsA named museum exhibit.
  • The Spoken WordA named museum exhibit.

What's inside

  • Displays range from an interactive globe-sized room to poetry written on bathroom walls.
  • A separately booked room of puzzle boxes has varying difficulty and an escape-room feel.

With kids

  • Children can engage with language by speaking or signing and manipulating objects.
  • The separate puzzle room contains boxes at varying difficulty levels and has an escape-room feel.

Tips for your visit

  • Book the puzzle-box room separately.

Interesting facts2

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  1. The historic Franklin School building was designed by Adolf Cluss.

    Planet Word - Wikipedia

  2. Planet Word was created by Ann B. Friedman, a philanthropist and former reading teacher.

    Planet Word - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

Lexicon Lane opened in March 2022, and the museum has hosted the North American School Scrabble Championship since 2022.

  1. 2017Renovation of the Franklin School building began.
  2. 2018Work stopped after interior demolition was found to violate DC and federal preservation rules.
  3. 2020Planet Word opened on October 22 after work resumed following a fine.
  4. 2022Planet Word began hosting the North American School Scrabble Championship.

How to get there

  • On footPlanet Word stands on Franklin Square, at 13th and K Street.

Sources: Planet Word - Wikipedia · Washington, D.C./East End - Wikivoyage (see) · checked 3 Oct 2026

Where
925 13th St NW, DC, Washington DC

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Does the Planet Word puzzle-box room need a separate booking?

Yes. The puzzle-box room must be booked separately.

Where is Lexicon Lane at Planet Word?

Lexicon Lane is on the museum’s third floor.

Do Planet Word’s exhibits include signing?

Yes. Exhibits invite visitors to speak or sign.

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