OP, you might find you lose your appetite after seeing some of the exhibits. I know I did.

Anonymous wrote:Imagine being so cheap and stingy you can’t deal with buying lunch after you visit the FREE world class museum.

Eat at 10. Go to museum at 11. Look around. Leave. Go to Reagan building and eat. This isn’t hard. You don’t need to squirrel in your stupid bagged lunch like a weirdo.

Wow, I agree that OP should not bring in food, but you're lucky that you don't seem to need to count your dollars. Not everyone has a budget to eat out whenever they want. Get some perspective.

OP, eat beforehand. Everyone will be ok to be off schedule for a day and it may mean that you actually stay longer in the museum since everyone will have already eaten.

Anonymous wrote:OK, thanks for all the great suggestions on how to work around a rule that conflicts with the larger Smithsonian rule posted on their website.

Has anyone ACTUALLY been there and brought food in or been turned away?

I have been allowed to bring my water bottle inside a month ago.

I agree the food is part of the experience. It is amazing there. Reconsider making time to eat there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe the lockers they have are before you go through security (someone, I'm sure, will correct me if I'm wrong). Take your lunch and stash it in a locker. It'll be there when you're done. But, you'll need to eat it outside the museum.

Thank you, PP -- someone who has actual useful information.

Except it’s wrong. You go through security at the door. Once you’re in you can rent a locker for your things but you will be made to throw away your little tuna sandwich before even entering. Where were you going to eat it anyway, on the floor?

Imagine being so cheap and stingy you can’t deal with buying lunch after you visit the FREE world class museum.

Eat at 10. Go to museum at 11. Look around. Leave. Go to Reagan building and eat. This isn’t hard. You don’t need to squirrel in your stupid bagged lunch like a weirdo.

Teacher here.
I've been on my share of field trips to all of the museums. The African American History Museum makes you dump the food. I never understood why that blurb about properly sealed food being allowed was on the main Smithsonian site when the websites for nearly all of the popular museums say the exact opposite. The American History Museum is the only one that allows it to my knowledge. I've had 50/50 success at the other ones. For a new museum like this one, security isn't likely to be lax.

Anonymous wrote:I believe the lockers they have are before you go through security (someone, I'm sure, will correct me if I'm wrong). Take your lunch and stash it in a locker. It'll be there when you're done. But, you'll need to eat it outside the museum.

The lockers are after security.

You will pass through and the lockers are near the bathrooms. I saw people throw away food before. Including a woman who’d just bought a bean pie from a vendor outside.

Anonymous wrote:Geez OP you’re getting it—They’ve had a problem with people being disrespectful with food trash in the past and it’s not exactly like a picnic type museum experience as well

This has been the rule since the Museum first opened. It is not the only Smithsonian with that restriction.

Anonymous wrote:I believe the lockers they have are before you go through security (someone, I'm sure, will correct me if I'm wrong). Take your lunch and stash it in a locker. It'll be there when you're done. But, you'll need to eat it outside the museum.

Thank you, PP -- someone who has actual useful information.

I believe the lockers they have are before you go through security (someone, I'm sure, will correct me if I'm wrong). Take your lunch and stash it in a locker. It'll be there when you're done. But, you'll need to eat it outside the museum.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe eating a tuna sandwich while looking at an exhibit on the slave trade is not the most respectful thing? Eat a big breakfast and eat your lunch after the visit is over.

Lol

The food at this museum is so great too

Maybe they've had problems with people respecting rules and cleaning up after themselves in specific locations/museums more than others.

Geez OP you’re getting it—They’ve had a problem with people being disrespectful with food trash in the past and it’s not exactly like a picnic type museum experience as well

Maybe eating a tuna sandwich while looking at an exhibit on the slave trade is not the most respectful thing? Eat a big breakfast and eat your lunch after the visit is over.

OP, once you're in, you're in. You can enter the museum, see as much as you want, eat lunch at the museum cafe, and return and see more of the museum, if you wish.