National Gallery of Art – Sculpture Garden

Such a pretty place to relax and take beautiful photos. Lots of professional photographers taking wedding photos. Tons of wildlife in the area. Lots of people have picnics here so the squirrels are rampant and entertaining. Overall this is a great place to have a meal or just sit and people watch.

You may want to explore the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art because the gallery already has a lot to see and the Sculpture Garden has all sorts of hidden gems. The Four Sided Pyramid by Sol Lewit is not only beautiful, but also a fun treat in perspective and dimensions. Aside from the sculptures there are an array of beautiful flowers planted as well as a variety of trees. I used to work nearby and really enjoyed having my lunch there.

My Take - The Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art is a cool spot if you’re spending time around the National Mall. It’s not massive, but it’s a nice break from the busy museums and monuments. Ambience & Layout The garden feels like a little oasis right in the middle of DC. You get trees, a big fountain, benches to sit on, and plenty of open space. Even though you’re in the middle of the city, it feels calm. In the summer it’s great for a relaxing walk, and in the winter the fountain turns into an ice rink, which gives it a completely different vibe. Sculptures They’ve got a solid mix of modern and contemporary pieces. Some are big and bold, like Robert Indiana’s “AMOR” or Roy Lichtenstein’s “House I”, which plays tricks with perspective as you walk by. Others are more subtle, like granite seating sculptures you can actually sit on. It’s not overwhelming—just enough to enjoy without feeling rushed or overloaded. Experience For me, this is the kind of place you stroll through at your own pace. You don’t need hours; 20–30 minutes is enough to see everything, but it’s also easy to just sit down and relax if you want to take a break. It’s free, which makes it even better. Seasonal Stuff If you’re here in the summer, they host Jazz in the Garden, which a lot of people rave about—live music with art and nature around you. In the winter, skating on the fountain is a fun touch and pretty popular. Pavilion Café Right next to the garden is the Pavilion Café. Nothing fancy, but good for a sandwich, salad, or a drink. It fits the vibe—casual, not too many choices, but decent. Final Word Overall, the Sculpture Garden is a peaceful, low-key place that balances art and nature really well. It’s not huge, but it’s worth the stop—especially if you need a break from all the indoor museum walking.

A small oasis where you can rest near the fountain or have a refreshment at the coffee shop, after visiting one of the many interesting museums at the Mall. Modern large-scale sculptures of well-known artists are beautifully incorporated in the garden’s landscape and make the visit even more pleasant and interesting. And there is no entry fee 😁

Really nice sculpture garden. There are variety of sculptures in a landscaped setting. It's not too big, it took me about 40 minutes to see all of the sculptures. Very shady, so nice to get out of the heat. Beautiful fountain in the center. There is a cafe with restrooms behind it. I arrived just as they were opening the gate in the morning, and I was the only visitor.

Review oSculpture Garden is a beautiful and relaxing spot in Washington, D.C. The garden features a variety of impressive sculptures surrounded by well-maintained greenery. It’s a peaceful place to walk around, enjoy art, and take in the scenery. The fountain in the center is a highlight, and in winter, it turns into an ice-skating rink, which is a fun experience. It’s free to visit, and the location is perfect for a quick break from exploring the National Mall. Overall, it’s a lovely outdoor space that combines art and nature perfectly.

There are plenty of areas to sit and take pictures! You can watch the fountain for a while and enjoy something from the café. There are many sculptures and art pieces to look at. It is worth the walk and a must-see at the National Mall.

I loved it. The thinking rabbit was my favorite. If you are visiting the museums in DC, I recommend you visit the sculpture garden.

This is the best ice skating experience in the Washington DC area, and there are many to choose from. They Zamboni the ice in between every skate session, which begins at the top of every hour. I would recommend coming in the morning when they open at 11am and buy the tickets for the one hour or two hour long skating session you'd like and then go hang out in the museums immediately around the Sculpture Garden. You do need to return about 30 mins before to wait in the line to rent skates, which are a separate charge of $6 for skate rental. In the winter skating season of 2024, it is $10 for children and seniors and $12 for adults for the ice rink. Cannot recommend it enough. We are lucky enough to be here on a warm day, but I've come at night in the cold as well and we all had an amazing time.

It's not extraordinary huge sized. You do get some unique modern art in. Also it's nice to see the trees. Some areas of DC are built up, but thank goodness for some greenery. This place offers a respite. Yes you can still hear the cars honking. That's part of city life. This is in the Smithsonian part. It's easy to access from the art galleries. There are quite a few modern art statues. Some of them are pretty cool, others I frankly don't understand. Modern art fans will probably be more enthusiastic. Admission is free, and it's a good place to catch a break.

It's difficult to miss this place when walking from the National Museum of Natural History to the west wing of the National Gallery of Art. It's in between the 2 buildings at the National Mall. Just look for the big round reflecting pool/fountain in the middle of the courtyard, or the ice skating rink depending on the time of season. There were many people sitting on or around the fountain when we visited in the month of June. I think they were dipping their toes in the pool. I think my favorite is the House I sculpture by Roy Lichtenstein. I know he's better known for his pop art paintings, but his House series of sculptures are actually just as impressive. I didn't even try to snap a picture of it. It would do it no justice. It's the odd illusion seen when walking around it that makes you go hmmm. The funny thing is that the house sculpture is totally one dimensional. They've also added a few sculptures since the last time I was at the garden. There's a cool looking steel tree that somehow seems to blend in with nature. It's called Graft by an artist named Roxy Paine. The smooth & shiny branches take on a different look depending on where you're standing. The grafted one looks kind of creepy. Like it's getting ready to reach out and grab your shirt. I also thought it was cool to see a cast iron Paris metro entrance area near the Pavilion Café. You know, like the ones that are all over Paris that lead you to the underground subway system? Apparently, they were all designed by a French architect named Hector Guimard who is famous for Art Nouveau. I would have taken more pictures of them had I known. They were installed at all of the underground entrances during the 1900 Paris World Fair. This particular Métropolitain Entrance is an original one that was removed. Maybe to be repaired? I'm not sure, but it was interesting to read about it. It's located in a perfect spot at the sculpture garden. It's in front of the Pavilion building which is also designed in the same style, and bringing in the beauty of nature much like these entrances. It's just one of many sculptures that will surprise you when walking through the garden on your way to the gallery.

The park was well laid out with a variety of artwork integrated within a garden setting. It was very accessible located in between the National Gallery and Museum of Natural History. There were lots of shade trees, places to sit (most around the fountain) and even a small cafe where people were enjoying their lunch breaks. The cafe even had one of the two Paris Metro signs I've seen outside of Paris. My favorite art piece was the House by Roy Lichtenstein. It was a really deceiving piece of art that changed as you walked by it. Was it 3D?

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is a sculpture museum that opened in May 1999 & is located in Washington D.C. National Gallery of Art Sculpture is owned by the National Gallery of Art & is located between the National Gallery West Building & the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Admission is free. There was luscious greenery, gorgeous landscapes, and a beautiful modern contemporary sculpture collection. So many interesting, colorful sculptures were displayed of various geometrical shapes, structures, and designs. It was definitely an enjoyable place to visit! Website - www.nga.gov Instagram - @ngadc Hours of Operation - 7 days a week from 10 am - 5 pm. December - March - The sculpture collection is centered on a fountain, which is transformed into an Ice Skating Rink. Admission is Adults $9, Children & Seniors $8. There is also a Pavilion Cafe open on Mon. - Sat. from 10am - 7pm & on Sun. from 12am - 7pm.

Not the best choice for a hot summer stroll but this lovely little outdoor sculpture garden was cool. The sculptures are quite different from each other and they are situated around a man-made body of water. Take this quick little detour around downtown DC, it's worth the effort.

I've visited or walked through the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden several times without remembering to write up a review! It's free, of course (as is the National Gallery of Art that it is a part of - a must visit), so I often walk through it when I'm near the Mall. It's nice - not huge, but a good size - and there's lots to see. My favorite pieces are: Marc Chagall's Orphee; Louise Bourgeois's Spider, and Magdalena Abakanowicz's Girls. But there are also works by Joan Miro, Tony Smith, Robert Indiana, Ellsworth Kelly, Alexander Calder, and more. There's also a cafe (the Pavilion Cafe), which seems like a nice place to get a coffee or beer or glass of wine when taking a break from museums, but it often appears closed to me when I wander by. And an ice skating rink in winter! A nice walk though is quick addition to a day on the National Mall.

The sculpture garden is an outdoor venue, but it is located behind gates that close promptly at 5pm, so plan accordingly. The works are varied in color, theme, mood, and style, and features a variety of American artists. There is something for everyone here.

I love, love, love the sculpture garden! I first visited in 2016, and there were some sculptures that I did not remember well, and some I swear I hadn't seen at all (Untitled by Christopher Wool is a 2017 piece, so I definitely did not see it the during my first visit, and I don't remember seeing Orphée by Marc Chagall, but it's tucked away behind some bushes so it is easy to miss). On my 2022 visit, I was able to explore the sculpture garden on my own, so I happily took my time taking photos to post on Yelp. This time, I managed to get photos of EVERY sculpture and I have posted photos of the sculptures that I did not photograph the first time. The sculptures that I saw were: Orphée - Marc Chagall Typewriter Eraser, Scale X - Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen Personnage Gothique, Oiseau-Éclair (Gothic Personage, Bird-Flash) - Joan Miró Spider - Louise Bourgeois Wandering Rocks - Tony Smith Puellae (Girls) - Magdalena Abakanowicz Aurora - Mark di Suvero Six-Part Seating - Scott Burton Untitled - Joel Shapiro AMOR - Robert Indiana Stele II - Ellsworth Kelly Thinker on a Rock - Barry Flanagan America - Alfredo Halegua Four-Sided Pyramid - Sol LeWitt Chair Transformation Number 20B - Lucas Samaras Moondog - Tony Smith Cubi XXVI - David Smith Cheval Rouge (Red Horse) - Alexander Calder House I - Roy Lichtenstein Graft - Roxy Paine Cubi XI - David Smith Untitled - Christopher Wool From my first visit in 2016, I learned about some well known artists that I had not heard of before, and learned the names of some whose work I recognized, but didn't know their name (Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Indiana), and I have been able to identify art work by some of the artists that are featured in the garden - I will see a sculpture (or photo of a sculpture) and I will think, "Hey, that reminds me of X sculpture by so-and-so in the sculpture garden!" and sure enough, it will be by that artist. The sculpture garden is a great place to learn about art, and one of my favourite places to visit in DC. An aside: no asshole cyclists were zooming around in the garden during my 2022 visit! [Yelp collections: East Coast 2016; East Coast 2022; Washington, DC 2022; Public Art; Cheap Thrills; Psycho Cyclists]

These sculptures are so intriguing and interesting. If you're looking for something free to do on a nice day, be sure to stop by.

Wow! This is amazing! I love sculpture and beautiful gardens and this one is spectacular. We went in May when it was green outside and lots of flowers were blooming. The sculptures are amazing and there are lots of places to stop and sit. Dozens of families were hanging out around the fountain in the middle. They also have a cafeteria and restrooms here. We used the restrooms but not the cafeteria. I honestly can't say what my favorite sculpture was in this garden because there were so many great ones (maybe the rabbit.) I understand they have live music in the gardens from time and time and I would love to be there for a concert. I also would like to go back in other season, fall and winter, because I bet it takes on a whole different look.

My son and I stopped here primarily for ice skating. It was $30 for him and I, which included locker rental and skate rental. Skating includes two 45 minute skating sessions. They take 10-15 minute to clean rink in between sessions. It was our first time ice skating... it was great and fun! They don't allow you to be on your cell phone on the ice, even to take pictures. However, this wasn't consistently enforced with everyone. There was a wait for our turn, so we walked around the sculpture garden. The sculptures were really nice and interesting. It was locate across from archives museum.

This is one popular park and what basically is bringing in the crowds are all the cool creative art instillations. The park is not big but it has so many sculptures and my favorite was the stainless steel tree which was huge and beautifully created.

It was nice of course. We was running out of phone storage we took so many photos but I regret not taking more here is the only photos that was taken

Visiting this beautiful outdoor space and sculpture garden for my third time in August 2021, I'm still a huge fan. World-class sculpture among meandering trails, there's a large fountain area, a cafe, and even if you're not an art fan this should be on your list for a quick relaxing break, tourists and residents alike. And for those that are art fans, like myself, this is a treasure trove of great sculpture! There's also a hidden Chagall wall that is worth finding, since it's off the beaten path, it's so peaceful. I can't believe I haven't reviewed this before, because I got locked in the Garden and escorted out by an armed (federal) guard back in like, 2009. Funny story for another day, my friends...Top notch sculpture garden!

Looking for a pleasant, outdoor place to hang out with food close by and a good view? Well, there are about a million spots like that in DC and especially the National Mall area, but hey, come try the Nat'l Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden anyways! It's a pretty expansive garden, and the art to be found is so much fun. One game I really like to play here is to try and pose like the sculptures. Seriously, try it- you'll definitely get weird looks from the passerby's but the fun and laughs triumph! There's a cafe in the garden that does have indoor and outdoor seating. It's close by so many other museums and is actually across the street from the Nat'l Gallery of Art museum, which may be a little misleading. Check it out!

Totally gorgeous experience that is a must-see/do on a nice sunny day. The sculptures were lovely and worth taking in. The fountain area was also exceptionally beautiful and a great place to relax and soak in the ambiance. There's also a dining area here though I wasn't blown away by the food options, but really you should be here to enjoy some beautiful outdoor art coupled with a really relaxing scenic area full of lovely foliage and flowers. Since this is close to the Natural History Museum, it's worth taking a few minutes to stroll over either before or after your visit there to take in the lovely sights. When I arrived, there was no staggered entry to the grounds. Like most of the museums nearby, they relaxed the rules and anyone can walk in at any time now. Given the pandemic era we are in, obviously this could change at any time but at least this is an outdoor venue and hopefully a little less skeevy than being indoors with a ton of people right now.

Walking around this park to look at sculptures and art for free, yes it's open to the public and you can wander around looking at some unique pieces placed at many different locations. It is close to the National mall so if you are going to any of the free museums then you can also stop by here! It's very easily walkable, for the young and old. If you want some food they also have a small cafe located inside the park. If I have a chance I would also like to come back to DC during the wintertime just to see the pond as ice and maybe being able to ice skate. Plenty of people are also enjoying this nice walk so why not take it in and enjoy it!

Absolutely lovely!! Gorgeous walk, lovely layout, perfect location. Great for adults and kids. A must see if in the area! Very clean and have restrooms open to the public.

My mental health needed a place like this to walk, breath pure air, and enjoy the wonderful vibe. It turns out that this gallery is in like a park, open to the public and free. As you walk around, you will enjoy these sculptures all labeled with their name and artists' name who made them or what they represent. There's also an ice skying ring with loud nice music going on. I didn't check the prices to rent them but it looked fun. There's also a nice coffee shop but we already had plans to eat elsewere.

Walked through here on way from our parking spot to the Natural History Museum! I had to do a double take. As I was walking by this house, it seemed to move as I walked by. There supposed to be a similar version in Atlanta. Will have to check that one out too!

Whether it's a quick walk around the pavilion during the work day, their free Friday afternoon jazz concerts in the summer (come early it gets crowded), or ice skating in the wintertime, the Sculpture Garden has been one of my favorite places in the city to get a mental break. It's proximity to the Smithsonian and the National Mall allows you to quickly stop in and out without it messing up your schedule. I highly recommend a visit if you have not been here yet! PS: Magnolias are currently in bloom right now and it is glorious!

A beautiful outdoor garden featuring a variety of plants and modern art. The environment is very open-air and it is located between two Smithsonian museums at the national mall. There are a lot of benches, a cafe, and even a fountain at the center with fascinating water displays. It's a very pleasant place for an afternoon stroll and has a very calming decor even being in one of the busiest spots in the DC-area.

I like this outdoor attraction. Just by the National Gallery of Art is this sculpture garden. Several sculptures are scattered throughout. Going through can take only a few minutes if you aren't overly interested. This is a good way to get between the museums. All the sculptures here are pretty cool. Some are made from metal. There's others made from some kind of unidentifiable material like glass or something. Even without considering the sculptures, this place is pretty cool. It has a nice fountain that's refreshing when it's hot. At the cafe in the middle you one can purchase overpriced food. In the winter there's an ice skating rink. Beware that it's always crowded. The ice also looks dangerous to be on. I prefer going on spring or summer, to sit at the fountain. It also has jazz concerts that are fun. The sculptures also look better at this time.

Beautiful sculpture garden. Amazing sculptures. Nice day outside. Ice skating! Only six chairs...

The sculpture garden is a cute little addition to the National Gallery of Art. The pieces were really interesting and it's a great green space used for concerts and events. It was really hot on the day we went, so our visit was quick, but it was enjoyable.

This is a fun little place to take a detour through. In any other city you wouldn't think twice about stopping and looking at the items scattered throughout, but here it is basically the whole point of it. Consider a majority of it as an outdoor museum. I wasn't actually coming here intentionally as I was going to use it as a shortcut to get from point A to point B. But I'm kind of glad I did. It is kind of an oasis in the hustle and bustle of what's going on outside its gates. Winding, calming paths lead you from one piece to another and it has an effect on you that you don't notice until you are ready to leave. Like your spirit feels lifted. Would definitely be a nice place to just sit and enjoy yourself.

You have got to check out this park because it has sculptures that are forged and created by some of the most influential artists in the world! It is always a little bit crowded, but how can it not be when it is such a wonderful park to visit? Besides the art sculptures, there is a fountain and it is next to Smithsonian and the National Gallery of Art that you can hit up as well. Talk about not hitting two, but three birds with one stone! Highly recommend even if it is for as little as 5 minutes! Literally take some time to smell the roses and admire the artwork!

I'm probably not being much fair with this review since I didn't visit the indoor museum - but I did check out the outdoor sculptures while here as well as the fountain. (Admittingly, I didn't know the museums existed at the time). The sculptures were cool to look at. A lot of them I questioned the meaning of them. One particular one was Ellsworth Kelly's piece, Stele II. I'm not gonna lie...it looked like an over sized phone charger! Because my feet were tired from walking too much in the last few days, I sat and chilled on the benches in front of the fountain for awhile. It's a cool place to just zone out for a bit! Next time I'm in DC I'll be sure to visit the museums - then I'll definitely give a fair review...

So this outdoor sculpture park is small but enjoying for a stroll through. Located near the West building of the National Gallery of Art . It is between there and the Museum of Natural History. Ice skating rink is placed in the colder months. Little cafe located on the grounds with inside and some outside seating ( on nice days) . Cool area outside the cafe that looks like a subway stop in Paris - says "metropolitan " ( see photo) If you are in the area- nice to walk thru

RATING FOR OUTDOOR SCULPTURE GARDEN: What a lovely space to take a relaxing stroll. The sculptures really caught my eye and were beautiful, thought-provoking and clever. One of my favorites was the optical illusion house (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/9TS5h1gjr9_E1TIi6X6atw?select_video=rBd9O2IKIf85mx9-SUkHAQ&utm_source=oshare&ref=yelp-android). There was one large red sculpture that reminded me of a heart with it's multiple chambers, arteries and veins; yes, I'm a retired nurse. It's title was Cheval Rouge; I could see that too. You can find a number of benches shaded by trees and surrounded by beautiful flowers. There were people sitting around the beautiful fountain; but since it was 90 degrees out, hubby and I escaped to the cool sanctuary of their lovely Pavilion cafe. Open to the public with free admission (it's gated so please note posted hours). A peaceful rest stop during our tour of the National Mall.

It's always been a nice touch that our national art gallery has outdoor space dedicated to the sort of sculpture that doesn't fit in art galleries. It's a great space, but it does get crowded here, particularly the madness that ensues during summer Jazz in the Garden on Fridays. You'll want to bring a sheet and put it down early. Regardless of whether there's music playing or not, it's definitely worth a walk through.

The National Gallery of Art is a must see for art lovers. I've visited the indoor exhibits previously and this past Friday enjoyed my first Jazz in the Garden experience. It was so much fun to see all the people gathered in the garden enjoying a warm summer evening in DC with friends and family, while listening to great local bands. The tickets are free, but you have to register in advance on the National Park Service website. Reservations open one week in advance, starting at noon and they sell out fast. You can also get a few last minute reservations at 10am the day of the event...those last minute tickets go fast too. Jazz in the Garden only runs each Friday night through June and July. The easiest way to secure a reservation is use your favorite internet search engine and type in "Jazz in the Garden DC." The first search result will take you straight to the NPS reservation webpage. They NGA cafe is open during these Friday night Jazz events and they also setup booths selling sangria, white wine, and water. You can bring a picnic; just not outside alcoholic beverages. You can also bring blankets or lawn chairs, since there is limited seating in the garden itself. If you are looking for a relaxing Friday night event to just chill on the grass or dip your feet in the fountain in the sculpture garden, then this is where it is at. Thanks NGA and NPS for a great night and look forward to coming back again soon!

My husband, our little girl dog and I were doing the tourist thing in the National Mall this past Sunday and found ourselves at this beautiful (free) art sculpture garden. So many great art structures, perfect for taking photos! I especially loved the large fountain in the middle. There is a garden restaurant here and provides free water for anyone (regardless if you dine here or not), which is great for those needing to refill their water bottles since we are visiting DC in humid and hot July (definitely don't visit DC during the summer months if you can avoid it). This garden would make for a great photo shoot, especially with the "Amor" (Love) sign.

I kind of felt like I was walking in Wonderland as I strolled through this outside exhibit. Unfortunately, the only rabbit I saw was made of stone. Oh well. I still enjoyed my visit. There are a lot of sculptures to see and plenty of photo opportunities, especially at the fountain in the middle of the grounds. I hope you take some time and enjoy the art. If you stop by in the summer, you might want to get here early to beat the heat.

The Sculpture Garden, to tourists, is a unique garden on the National Mall housing modern art and a cafe. Many will come to see the art and others will tip their toes in the massive fountain in the middle during the summer. For locals, the garden is a gathering place during any season. During the summer, the garden hosts "Jazz In the Park," which is a DC rite of passage. Live music plays as interns/locals scramble to find a place to picnic with expensive wine for purchase. In the winter, the fountain turns into the best outdoor skating rink in the city with a beautiful backdrop in the National Archives. Regardless, the garden is worth a visit for any occasion and no matter who you are.

This is a beautiful piece of land to sit and admire the artwork. In the winter, they build an ice rink in the middle for people to come and enjoy. It is always peaceful and a perfect place to relax with a friend.

Nice little spot to take a stroll. This is a sculpture garden that is part of the national gallery of art. Some of the sculptures are definitely better than others to me. I particularly liked the rabbit and the spider. Situated in the center of the park on this winter visit was an ice skating rink. There is a cafe on the grounds, benches and table seating. I did not visit the cafe so can't speak to the items there but aside from the inside cafe of the museum and food trucks this is one of the only options in the immediate vicinity.

I had caught glimpses of some interesting things on a few trips up and down the National Mall and finally had a minute to investigate....what a nice little sculpture garden tucked away among the museums. It really is kind of hidden and isn't very large, so it's easy to miss when everything around it is huge (e.g. museums, monuments, the Capitol). It doesn't take long to walk through, but there are some interesting pieces that do make it worth a quick stop. They were starting to get ready for ice skating in October so one area was closed due to work on what would be the skating rink. Definitely worth a quick stop!

Right across from the National Archives is the National Sculpture Garden, which is a great place to visit all year long! It's not too big of a "garden"/space, but it's really nice to walk around and take in the outdoors and some art. There's a neat little cafe in the garden with light bites, coffee, tea, and beer/wine. It's a nice place to take a break if you're in the area while showing people around, especially on a hot day when you need a break. In the Winter you can pick up some mulled wine or hot chocolate before or after going ice skating in the ice rink that's set up each year. In the Spring - Summer, the garden hosts "Jazz in the Garden", which is free! You can come by with your own picnic and something to sit on, and listen to some awesome music. If you don't have the National Sculpture Garden on your DC Bucket List, what are you waiting for??

They turned the fountain into an ice skating rink for the winter. What a great little break for parents and a way to run off some energy for the kiddos!!!! 2 hour skate sessions, adults $9 and kids $8 with a $4 skate rental. The ice is maintained every hour and the staff is great with the inexperienced skaters. The place is small enough that you can wander through the garden and see the rink the entire time.

The sculptures are surrounded by paths, trees, grass and places to sit. There's also an indoor place to get food and use the restroom. Great place to take IG worthy photos or grab a book and a coffee to enjoy a beautiful day.

Always charming here whether it's the summer jazz festival or in winter when they transform that huge pond into a ice skating rink. Been here in both summer and winter, and it's always an oasis in central Washington DC. There is a cafe with lot of natural light ("sun room" style of glasses). The sculptures are always interesting to look at especially the ones with optical illusions.

Due to lack of time, I only had enough time to check out the sculpture garden and didn't visit inside of the National Gallery of Art. The sculpture garden is free to enter and there are the Ice Rink in the middle of the garden (available from mid November to mid March) and the Pavilion Cafe. You will find 21 art works within the garden and unfortunately guided tours are only available on Fridays (12:30 PM) & Saturdays (1:30 PM) from Sept 1st to Oct 31st. You can always call (202) 842-6188 to confirm time for guided tour or see the sign posted near the Pavilion Cafe. If you can't do the guided tours, National Gallery of Art detailed all of art work on their website (https://www.nga.gov/Collection/sculpture-garden.html) and you can just do a self-guided tour. Took me about 15 minutes to circle around the entire garden. Few sculptures definitely stood out (e.g. rotating 2 dimensional house, AMOR sculpture, mini pyramid, etc). P.S. - Around 5 PM, I saw tons of food trucks just about a block away (between Madison Dr & Jefferson Dr).

My family was in Washington, DC for a 2-day trip and we made a trip here so my Kids could enjoy outdoor ice skating! I love that they turn a fountain into an ice skating rink in the winter. You can enjoy it from November 15-March 15. It's so cool. You can Google the video of the transformation - it's pretty awesome. You don't get to have this experience in Miami, so it was really exciting for them. The rink is tucked away in a beautiful park right off the main streets and feels magical. There are a lot of trees, some trails, and sculptures. It's a beautiful place to take pictures. We visited during the early afternoon so the locals were probably still in school. The rink was empty and my kids got to enjoy it without the crowds. The rink is open daily from morning to night (check their website for exact times). There's also a pavilion cafe to grab a bite to eat. There are also several restaurants within walking distance. The staff was pleasant and the staff that was present on the ice were kind enough to give my kids some pointers so they didn't have to hold onto the sides! The cost of the skate rental was affordable. Skates can be rented for two 45-minute sessions. It's $9 for adults and kids 13+ and $8 for people age 50 and over, kids 12 and under, military, and students with ID. If you're going on a really cold day remember to bring gloves! We forgot gloves and it was brutal. We also enjoyed all the squirrels! They're extremely friendly and curious.

I was not exactly thrilled to be walking through this garden of giant sculptures, but I could see why people would find them exciting. I was walking by the impressive water fountain just inside one of the entrances and became drawn in. Since I was already here, why not have a look around? Giant tree, giant 2-D house, giant wheel with cables thing. Meh. This must be a fun place to walk around if you're a tiny child, but I would not add this to my list of sights to see in future DC trips. If you ARE going to walk through the garden, make sure to get some photos with these sculptures for scale!

The Sculpture Garden is located adjacent to the National Gallery of Art and houses 21 large-scale modern art sculptures of varying materials. They're nicely spaced and displayed in a lush verdant setting that only enhances the viewing experience. Entry is free. With its large centerpiece fountain and walkways and patios, it really feels more like a park than a garden, which is nice. In the summers, they feature free Jazz music night on Fridays, which draws a big crowd. The restaurant is available for drinks and food, so you can treat this venue as a welcome respite from the tourist trudge about the Mall or from the indoor workday. It seems like a wonderful central gathering place. The only wish I have for it is that it were bigger. Green space is hard to come by in paved-over D.C.

Beautiful garden area with a huge fountain right in the middle. On a hot day it's a great place to sit on the grass or bench and dip your toes in the water. They do have security guards roaming around to make sure people don't go too far into the center. However, try to stick around to see the fountain show and maybe get sprinkled with some water. The garden has a cafe area as well to grab some food or drinks as you enjoy a beautiful day outside.

Here you will find an utterly Fabulous art stroll, and enjoy the beautiful gardens, ze tre famous art work and even skate during winter in the fountain from December to March. Designed by OLIN, the gardens were opened in 1999 so make it the the most recent addition to the beautiful museum to house the sculpture garden of the National Gallery. Stop off at the Pavillion Café for a much deserved respite for your tummy and belly , grap a frothy cap and croissant and sit beneath the shadow of Graft, by R. Paine. As you marvel at the surroundings. It is well worth the visit for the amazing works of über-well-know artists and see these pieces that are worth millions. Here is a list to help you identify each glorious piece along your stroll. We played a game to ID the artist/ title of each. See how well you do on your art hunt. The works: Claes Oldenburg; Coosje van Bruggen, Typewriter Eraser, Scale X, 1999 Joan Miró, Personnage Gothique, Oiseau-Eclair, 1974/1977 Louise Bourgeois, Spider, 1996/1997 Tony Smith, Wandering Rocks Magdalena Abakanowicz, Puellae, 1992 Mark di Suvero, Aurora, 1992-93 Scott Burton, Six-Part Seating, 1985/1998 Joel Shapiro, Untitled, 1989 Ellsworth Kelly, Stele II, 1973 Barry Flanagan, Thinker on a Rock, 1997 Sol LeWitt, Four-Sided Pyramid, 1965 Lucas Samaras, Chair Transformation Number 20B, 1996 Tony Smith, Moondog, 1964 David Smith, Cubi XXVI, 1965 Alexander Calder, Cheval Rouge, 1974 Roy Lichtenstein, House I, 1996/1998 George Rickey, Cluster of Four Cubes, 1992 Hector Guimard, An Entrance to the Paris Métropolitain, 1902/1913 David Smith, Cubi XI, 1963 Roxy Paine, Graft, 2008-2009 Robert Indiana, AMOR, 1998/2006