National Museum of Asian Art

Art museum · National Mall

National Museum of Asian Art

Art museum · National Mall

1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20004

Highlights

Nestled near the National Mall, this serene Smithsonian gem showcases a stunning array of Asian art, from delicate ceramics to captivating sculptures, all in a beautifully tranquil setting.

1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20004 Get directions

asia.si.edu

@natasianart

@afar

"The Sackler Gallery Together, the Freer Gallery and the Sackler make up the Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art. In 1987, the Sackler launched with a 1,000-piece collection and funds donated by Dr. Arthur Sackler, a research physician and medical publisher. Early Chinese jades and bronzes, Chinese paintings and lacquerware, Near Eastern ceramics and metalware dating from the 4th to 7th centuries, and Hindu and Buddhist sculpture from the 10th to the 18th centuries constitute the bulk of his gift. Accompanying the permanent collection are special rotating exhibitions showcasing various aspects of ancient and contemporary Asian art."

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@afar

"Whistler's Peacock Room Once a dining room belonging to wealthy shipbuilder Frederick Leyland from Liverpool, then a private exhibition space at the mansion of wealthy Detroit industrialist Charles Lang Freer, American artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler's Peacock Room is now a treasure of the Freer Gallery of Art. Adorned with oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, and wood, the room is filled with Freer's collection of over 250 ceramics from Egypt, Iran, China, Japan, and Korea as well as Buddhist sculpture and two parchment Bibles: a codex of the Old Testament books of Deuteronomy and Joshua, and the third-oldest manuscript of the Gospels in the world dubbed the "Codex Washingtonensis." Truly a blend of East and West."

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JESUS PR

Google

Peaceful, beautiful, and full of stunning pieces. From ancient sculptures to delicate ceramics, every room feels like a calm escape. The layout is easy to follow, and it’s never too crowded. A hidden gem on the Mall — free, elegant, and totally worth your time.

Hung Thai

Google

Are you tired of children running around and screaming at the national museum of natural History? Well you're in luck... Introducing the quiet and reserved museum of Asian art. It is very quiet, almost eerily so. And the layout is very confusing with the collections actually going down into the earth instead of up into the skies. But because it's like a maze and is more discreet, you can take your time to enjoy the collections. We didn't have enough time but would love to come back here to see the rest of the art some day.

Sandra Abella

Google

This is a beautiful museum, small and full of treasures. The peacock room is wonderful and the story behind it, fascinating. It is a quiet museum, perfect to escape the craziness of the more popular Smithsonian museums. The gift shop has a nice jewelry collection.

Mireille Basselin

Google

Free museum. Must see it. Fantastic collection with unique artwork from Japan, Korea, Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, India, etc . The souvenir shop is also great with different items and variety of prices. Staff are friendly.

R Nair

Google

I had a few minutes so headed here. Beautiful and peaceful with artifacts from around the world beautifully displayed. The building itself is amazing to see. Special treat was the peacock room was empty which can be over run at times.

Nuha Anwar

Google

This museum has to be one of my favorite museums because it shows a representation of art from different Asian countries, and gives an insight into different cultures. I also appreciate that the museum continues to change its exhibitions quite often to allow for new perspectives in Asian history. However, I will say that my favorite is the little temple exhibit. I encourage checking that out. I also like the Center of the World exhibit. I first came here for their rainbow exhibit which is now gone, but I hope this shows the beauty of the asian art at this museum. If I had one critique, it would be that the museum can be difficult to navigate, but the staff are friendly and always willing to help you navigate. This helped me make sure I didn’t miss any art while walking by, and made my experience better.

Becca Joy

Google

Excellent artifacts and information about the history of the items. The staff were very knowledgeable and told me alot about different pieces that wasn't on the placards for the items. It wasn't crowded, which was fabulous!

HOV

Google

Great selection of gems from China, Japan, and Korea, and even the Middle East. Not as spectacular as the Met but you can definitely see things that are interesting and things you have not seen elsewhere.