Art Museum of the Americas

A quiet, small, free museum, displaying items from the collection of the Organization of American States. The museum is housed in the former residence of their Secretary General. I appreciate that the OAS opens its space and collection to the public rather than hiding it in some basement. The museum primarily displays items from Latin American artists, although a Canadian exhibition was on display when I visited in August 2025. It’s worth popping in if you’re in the area, but it’s not a destination in and of itself. As other reviewers noted, there’s no staff or curators on site other than the security guard at the entrance, and minimal information provided about the pieces in the permanent collection on the second floor. Docking one star because the building isn’t accessible and there’s no bicycle parking anywhere around the building — not a single rack nor post to lock a bike to. This would be such an easy, cheap fix that would encourage many more visitors to arrive by bike.

It's s nice museum, very small, but interesting. Bring some cash with you to put into the donation box!

We discovered this museum while visiting the National Mall. The museum was small but it had several interesting art pieces. There was no admission price, but the staff did ask for a suggested donation of $5. The place was clean. The staff was friendly. I was able to find a street parking nearby.

Great hidden gem! Collection is small, but we truly enjoyed few pieces, Inuit artists especially touched my heart. And everything is in an absolutely stunning building with quiet garden. The overall atmosphere is very chill - staff is just one nicest guard at the entrance.

As others have mentioned, this museum is quite small, and is located in a building that has shown signs of aging, both interiorly and exteriorly. It felt as if the funding/financial support for this museum was quite limited. There were several interesting artworks from artists based in countries like Brazil and Peru, with a focus on contemporary artworks. However, the gallery space was small enough that you could explore everything in 20-30 minutes (or even less). having visited many other excellent free museums in the D.C. area through multiple trips, this one would be much lower on my list if someone were to ask me for a list of museums in the area to visit. The location's also far away from the nearest metro station, so a bit out of the way for visitors taking public transportation. If you decide to come, note that there would be NO LOCKERS to store your bags. They literally just have several hooks on the wall several feet away from the main entrance for people to hang their backpacks/bags. So either don't bring a bag, or make sure you carry all your valuable items with you while you leave your bag behind. There was a box with suggested donation (I believe $10 suggested), but I felt as if the security guard, the only staff in the entire museum who was NOT friendly at all, tried to guilt me into making a donation. This was why I felt this way: When I entered the building, he was blasting the radio loudly without acknowledging me. After I left my bag on the hook and about to go up the stairs into the galleries, I asked him about the location of the bathroom. His response was "The bathroom is PRIVATE, and only for people visiting the exhibition." I told him "Yes, of course I'm here to see the exhibition" (What do you think I'm here for?) Then he said "sign in over there and there's a donation box". It was still PUZZLING to me why he made it sound like I couldn't use the bathroom at a FREE museum unless I made it very OBVIOUS that I was there to visit the exhibition, and seemed to imply that I HAD to give a "voluntary" donation

Title: Art Museum of the Americas: A Tiny Gem or a Missed Opportunity? Review: I recently visited the Art Museum of the Americas in D.C., and while the experience had its moments, it fell short of expectations. The museum is surprisingly small, occupying just one floor, with a collection that felt more like a sampler than a true showcase of the Americas' rich artistic heritage. Navigating the exhibits was unstructured, with no information desk or handouts to provide context. The sole museum representative—a security guard—was polite but unable to confirm whether the collection was permanent or temporary. That said, I enjoyed the small selection of art on display, and the hallway adorned with small blue tiles added a touch of charm. While the museum’s mission to celebrate Latin American and Caribbean art is admirable, its limited scale and lack of visitor support make it a brief and somewhat underwhelming stop. It's worth a visit if you’re nearby, but it's not a destination to prioritize.

The Art Museum of the Americas is a quiet, intimate space with a diverse collection that offers something for everyone. Unlike the larger museums nearby, it’s not crowded, so you can enjoy each piece at your own pace. The setting allows for a more personal and reflective experience, making it a great stop for anyone looking to appreciate art without the noise and rush of busier venues.

Such a wonderful museum i really loved it. I will visit again for sure. The process is too smooth didn’t take any time from us to go in and its a free museum you just need to donate few dollars

We stopped by the Art Museum of the Americas for the first time a few weeks ago after having it on my list for a while! It's small, but had a few interesting exhibits (one on the work of Maria Luisa Pacheco and one on the work of Ernesto Bazan). Some parts of the museum are beautiful, too! It's small but has a special focus and is worth a visit if you're in the area.

We happen to bump into this museum on a Monday. Well it was closed. So we planned our next day (Tuesday) to begin here. Well we were turned away that "they were closed because they were preparing for an event" (Tomorrow). Today was or last day in DC so this of course was very disappointing!!!!

Amazing museum! Great views and very informative, I'll definitely come back another time.

What an oasis! This is a very small museum. It feels more like a gallery space. There is $5 donation if you want, but it is free. The building is charming and I am guessing it was once a beautiful home. We truly loved Geandy Pavon's work. She is truly a talented artist. I especially enjoyed the tiled enclosed patio with the wall of windows looking out towards the garden. At the time of our visit, the garden was closed. If you want a experience a small museum and don't have a lot of time, the Art Museum of the Americas is a perfect escape from the city and for one to enjoy art.

Saw the museum on Instagram of a woman walking through the museum with tons of instagramable imagery. The art and architecture looked beautiful so of course, my friend and I decided to go. Welp...we just left, cutting our visit short, because the security person was SO RUDE and NASTY, it made the entire experience ridiculous!!! When we first walked in, he barked "put a donation there and sign in!" On the website, it said "free" with no mention of donation. We would've been happy to donate but it was cash only and we didn't come prepared. We started on the top floor, enjoying the incredible artwork and made our way down to the main floor where we saw the beautiful architecture in the hall. Like the person on Instagram, we wanted to take pics of each other walking through. We took a few pics and then decided to head outside into the courtyard first to take pics there. Next thing we know, the security comes barking again about how we weren't supposed to go outside. We apologize and attempt to come back inside but he shuts and locks the door. Finding that completely unacceptable, we knocked on the door. He stood there shaking his head but we kept knocking. Finally he lets us in and walks away. We decide then to take a few more pics in the hall and then leave. Seconds later, he comes barking back about not taking pics in the hall. There was nothing anywhere that said no pics and we tried to explain to him about the Instagram posts we saw of others who had taken pics. He didn't care. He was rude and nasty. If he represents the museum and if that's how the museum wants to be perceived, then I would recommend NEVER going there! If the museum cares about the patrons, then that guard needs to go! It's a nice museum and space but not at all worth being treated poorly! Horrible experience!! Just horrible!!

This art museum rarely visit by people and they are not crowded. Many DC's museums are to long of line I think this is a good option. The mission is to exchange the cultural among the America States. They carry a lot of Latin and Caribbean art. Our visit is free. Most of the art is at second floor. A good glance of variety artist. From water color, oil painting to sculpture. The building host the museum is beautiful. It has good courtyard.

My daughter, and my girl decided to come here yesterday since my daughter was on spring break. It's a small museum but it's still cool all of the displays shown. We got to play on the piano and experience the cool sounds that came with it. It's quiet as well too. But it's a must to see and experience with family or friends.

Really not much to look at, but it probably depends on what show is featured. I stopped in because it was a hot day and this is one free indoor exhibit about halfway between the Lincoln Memorial and the White House. It was empty when I got there in the afternoon. For some reason, they made us sign in (maybe for record keeping since it seems odd to sign in to see a museum). There were maybe 5 names all day. Walking around there was some interesting art, but it takes a very short time to walk around and see everything unless you want to take in the air conditioning and sitting on a bench. If you're in the area, maybe look what they have showing at the time and it can be a nice little setting to see something different, but there's not a lot to see and the building is a bit hidden.

Not a major museum in a town that's full of them; this gallery is really a couple of rooms devoted to the notion that "America" is more than just the United States. I'm guessing they're more into Latin American art than giving us a perspective on Canada though. There were some interesting objects, and I'd stop in if they rotated a new exhibition through. They ask you to sign in but there's no metal detectors or anything, and there are bathrooms (a welcome sight in any touristy area). Your stay will more likely be measured in minutes than hours, but it's free (small suggested donation that they didn't push heavily), and it's in a location where you can easily stop in briefly and move on to innumerable other things.

Good things come in small packages. Art Museum of the Americas is a small museum housing Central and South American Art. By definition this is all modern art, and the permanent collection contains some very striking pieces. It's maybe a bit under most people's radar, and as a result, it's a quiet, peaceful place, perfect for contemplation. On the day of my most recent visit (a Sunday afternoon in December), there were only a few other visitors during my entire 2 hour stay. AMA is bare-bones in terms of amenities, so there's no museum cafe, no audio guides, no gift shop, no coat check. The suggested donation is $5, and I'd say it's worth that and then some. If you enjoy modern art, AMA is well worth a visit!

I love a good museum, but this one is one that's safe to miss in DC: 1) It's VERY small. There are only two floors to it and the art isn't the best in DC. 2) They take suggested donations, so it does cost unless you want to feel guilty as the museum workers stare you down if you don't pay. Pluses: 1) One of the rooms is beautiful with its blue walls and cool architecture. 2) The back of the museum is great with a beautiful fountain. It would be a great place to rent for an event!

I had never heard of this museum until one of my colleagues told me about the Female Archetypes exhibit that we went to one weekend at this museum. I had no idea where and what this museum was (surprised because I love museums and thought I knew most of them in DC), and decided to go, especially with this exhibit going on! The Art of Americas is right behind the Organization of American States and not far off from Reflecting Pool/memorials, but is probably less visited because it's not on the same side of the Washington Monument as the Smithsonians. I found this to be a huge plus, because I get exhausted with the crowds and people milling around the Mall all the time on nice weekends in the summer. Also, I found it really appropriate to be situated by institutions doing regionally relevant work. There is an optional donation at the entrance, and virtually the only staff for the museum is the person at the front desk. There are two floors, and the Female Archetypes exhibit was on the first floor of the gallery. The space is doesn't have a lot of distractions to detract from the actual art and there is a beautiful mosaic room in the back with a view of the courtyard. The second floor houses what I believe to be a more permanent collection, and I love the fact they capture daily life in Mexico as a form of art. The smaller size of the museum makes it less intimidating and exhausting than most of my museum visits, and it was a perfect Sunday afternoon cultural excursion after a brunch nearby.

If you ever wanted to know what your own personal episode of the Twilight Zone would be like, the AMA is the place to go. Entire first floor gallery was eerily empty (not a single painting anywhere) but still open. Front desk was on a personal phone call the entire time, refused to answer any questions or acknowledge us. Entire place was empty. Creepy, ill lit/laid out, weird weird weird. I was expecting Rod Sterling to step out from behind a corner and start narrating at any second. 3 stars for the hilariously bizarre anecdote I can now tell for the rest of my life.

Way off the beaten path - and more of a gallery than a museum - it tends to feature one exhibition (right now, it's Possible Worlds: Photography and Fiction in Mexican Contemporary Art). The nice thing is that the exhibits are interesting enough (and, of course, free - though make sure you sign in. The guard gets very upset if you don't!), and there are almost no crowds (you can take your time to stroll through the galleries leisurely without bumping into a single other person). I wouldn't plan to spend more than 45 or so minutes there (we saw Possible Worlds for about half an hour, and enjoyed it, but it's not a heavily curated exhibit and each gallery only has a few pieces in it). What is magnificent about the museum is the space itself- especially the blue tiled room on the second floor - it is breathtaking.

I did not know this museum existed, but am very glad to have found it. The museum itself is small, I think there were six rooms in total, but it actually made the experience more enjoyable. My visit was during their 50 years, 50 works exhibit. It featured work by some of the most important names in 20th century Latin American art, including Dr. Alt, Diego Rivera and Emilio Pettoruti (just to name some of my favorite pieces). I was the only guest for most of the visit. A nice change from larger museums where you have to read the inscription between other viewers shoulders. The exhibits change often, so it is worth visiting more than once and the outside sculpture garden is even more impressive. I hope to spend some time there on a warmer day. It is not a long walk from the larger museums. It is not immediately clear that it is a museum, but can be recognized by the large yellow piece of art work in the front. Do not expect a gift shop or other additional museum features, instead think of an art gallery when visiting.

When we arrived at the Museum, we were the only visitors. Our family went to see the Mexican Toys exhibit, which runs until February 3, 2007; the exhibit is transient , so it's a little difficult to review this place. The museum building (a house) is small and the exterior had the colonial appearance of buildings that we had seen in Mexico and that you can probably see throughout Latin America. There's something about the way the plaster and paint wears with time. The exhibit was shown on two floors that wind through the house and because we had our daughter in a sling rather than the stroller, we didn't notice if there was an elevator. The collection of toys was impressive and fascinating. They gave us all sorts of ideas for what we would like for our daughter and reinforced in us the idea that great toys can be simple and require no batteries. As part of the exhibition, the museum is conducting toy-making workshops for older kids. If they had more information regarding the toys, e.g. state of origin, that would have made it more interesting, and had there been a gift shop my wife would have spent a fortune on items related to the show. It's a nice place for a quick visit and it's free!

For some reason this has become one of my favorite museums in all of D.C. Maybe it is the lack of crowds and annoying tourists. It probably has more to do with the interesting selection of art on view. There is basically one piece from every country south of the border, and there are some nice pieces. There are a few drawings by Diego Rivera. I really appreciated the table in the back with books free for the taking. I took one for myself and one for someone else who really appreciated it.

At this museum, you'll find modern and contemporary art from Latin America and the Caribbean. From paintings and graphics to sculpture..it is here. They also offer a TON of educational programs like lectures, seminars, children workshops, film programs, and tours. FYI- it is currently in renovations. It is re-opening on November 15th.

Great small little gallery. Free admission too. The entrance address doesn't show up on really clearly on google maps- it was half way around the building from the location it took us to.

My dad and I stopped here on the way to the national mall and really enjoyed the art in this museum. It was free entrance but we donated some money in return. There was a friendly security guard at the entrance. The building is cute and we were grateful it had air conditioning. They had some seating available which was nice and they have clean bathrooms as well.

3.75 seems about right. The Art Museum of the Americas is somewhat under rated and often ignored by even long term residents. I saw it on a rainy day in late Fall in 2013. It is a small place, you will spend 20-40 minutes. HOWEVER, you will learn quite a bit. I found it interesting to read about Asian artists who were either born in Latin American countries, or moved there at some point in their life and how it either changed the art they were doing, or some of the fusions between Latin/American/Asian art. I would recommend if you are around the Foggy Bottom/GW neighborhood and have 30 minutes or so to kill.