Smithsonian American Art Museum

This museum (donation base) entry fee is absolutely incredibly spectacular. Each art exhibit uniquely impressionable & mind blowing! A must see while you’re in the DC area and if you love ART in general, truly a nice day out and about looking at each piece in this museum, memorable for sure. The museum itself is beautiful inside & out.

This is a beautiful art museum. The architecture creates a wonderful first impression. The art inside also tells a story and has a variety of artists represented. I really enjoyed the special rotating exhibits. Open until 7pm, this museum is one I highly recommend.

I'm not really a person who enjoys looking at art in a museum, but the American Art Museum (which shares the building with the National Portrait Gallery) was spectacular. It was interesting to see the different perspectives on historical American events in the form of art. This museum closes at 7pm, in contrast to most closing at 5pm, making this a great end-of-the-day stop. Two hours is a good amount of time to cover everything in this museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Also just a notice for visitors with backpacks: you're supposed to wear it so that the backpack is in front of you so that there are any accidents of your backpack brushing/knocking any art. There isn't any signage of this policy so I wasn't informed of this until a friendly staff member kindly told me.

Amongst this wide collection are some national treasures like portraits of our early presidents and their families. The section of paintings with landscapes is like walking through a dream. The gallery contains a wide variety of art from sculptures, metal reliefs, china dishes, furniture, coins, tapestries, fountains....not to mention the architecture of the building itself. Beautiful!

Beautiful artworks. Simple setup, and self paced tours are amazing. Tour Groups are allowed to be noisy. Also I was shocked by the lack of context provided on almost all of the art. For my first Smithsonian I was disappointed that I had to Google things I wanted to learn about the art after I left.

This is a fantastic museum. If you like art and lot's of different kinds, you will love this place. Our friend is a docent at the museum, so we got a personal tour. The displays are great and I can see where you could spend many days at this museum and still not see it all. As with all Smithsonians, there is no entry fee. Did I say I loved this museum. You really need to check it out. We were there on a Sunday and it was not too crowded.

I’ve always wanted to visit this museum, so when my best friend came to town we made a little weekday girls date out of it. I loved the mix of both art and American history. The AC was also a much needed luxury from DC’s summer heat.

My time here at the SMITHSONIAN was GRAND. I’d felt a little more closer to my ancestors and CULTURE. Seeing all of the ARTIST creativity and struggles the helped pave the roads for me ,was INSPIRING. It gave me courage to allow my creative mind FLOURISH outward and CONFIDENCE to allow others to see it. Might I add, the visit was FREE ADMISSION. Not like my town, we have to pay to visit our museums.

I saw the "The Shapes of Power: Stories of Race & American Culture," a sculptural exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in DC that was installed shortly after the presidential election. Within the introduction of the exhibit, there is a statement that says, "The Smithsonian Institution acknowledges that language around race is constantly evolving including racial terms and their capitalization." Sadly, the NYT wrote an article about Trump's executive order against the exhibit. Quoting Trump's stance, ""promotes the view that race is not a biological reality but a social construct, stating 'Race is a human invention.'" The NYT interviewed a scholar who said, ""the executive order is troubling and out of step with the current consensus." He added that pseudoscientific attempts to create a hierarchy of races with white people at the top were seen "in places like Nazi Germany or within the eugenics movement."" The political climate is chilling and I don't want to see our nation without the liberties and freedoms of untainted education and art. Therefore, I'd like highlight a piece from the exhibit by a Puerto Rican artist that was powerful and thought provoking titled, "Mangual & Las Twines" by Pepon Osorio. The message is one about colorism and prejudice against darker skinned members of the same racialize group. Be sure to peep other notable Latine pieces like, "Bridge," "Pa-lan-te," & "María Guabancex."

The security at the front was very rude. We had water in a fountain drink container with a closed lid, which was allowed in all of the other Smithsonian museums we went to. While trying to explain that, he just kept saying "finish your water outside", "FINISH IT OUTSIDE!!"interrupting us, and raised his voice very aggressively. My fiancé went out with the drink, and I was still going to enter and he rudely asked me "are you still going in?" to step aside to check my bag. If it is the policy to not have any drinks inside, that's fine, but it can be communicated calmly. He needs some training on communication and service. This was very embarrassing and could have been avoided. The other guy threatened us saying there are officers everywhere. Will not recommend the staff here.

ABSOLUTLEY BEAUTIFUL. A MUST VISIT. There is too much stuff to mention. Visit the Smithsonian website and know that the building hosts both the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum. Spans the lifetime of the USA. Beautiful courtyard. Great cafe. Free wifi. Metro stop just outside.

This museum is set in a very central and convenient location. We went on a Wednesday afternoon and it wasn't crowded. They let me bring my water bottle into the museum which was nice. The inside was pretty easy to navigate with a map and we had no issues looking at everything in about an hour and a half. There's a lot of more classic art and more interesting contemporary ones as well, including a couple of exhibits where you can eat the candy that's part of the display! For the cost of zero dollars, it's worth a visit.

The last time that we visited, the museum was closed for a special gala, so we decided to add it to the list again. The museum has free admission. Though the museum's location is in the middle of a busy area, there were many convenient parking options within close proximity. In addition to about five levels of art, there was also a souvenir shop and cafe located on the museum's main level. We had a great time visiting every floor. My favorite floor featured all contemporary art. The art was so colorful, lively and quite creative. Overall, there was so much to see on every level, but we spent most of the time intrigued by the vast contemporary collection. I also liked that they welcomed picture taking unlike some other museums, where photos were prohibited. I would like to visit again when they change or add to the collections.

I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed the Smithsonian American Art Museum before now; I've been so many times! It shares the Old Patent Office Building with the National Portrait Gallery (half of the building is the Portrait Gallery and half of the building is SAAM; sometimes I'm not sure which half I'm in). I visited today with some friends. Its collections are extensive (contemporary art, modern art, folk art, Western art, and more). Some of my favorite pieces from my visit today were by: Audrey Flack, Bob Thompson, Isamu Noguchi, Kerry James Marshall, Tom Nakashima, William H. Johnson, and Jacob Lawrence. It has a beautiful courtyard, where you can enjoy a glass of wine and people watch, too. Another great free Smithsonian museum. Definitely visit it (and the Portrait Gallery) if you're in DC and enjoy American art!

An amazing experience. I had the opportunity to visit with my daughter for her elementary school field trip and am I glad! It was not as busy, but it was opened earlier for our trip. The collection is amazing with an abundance of history. The guide was excellent and made it funny engaging for a bunch of 2nd graders. Will definitely be back again. Enjoy!

I enjoyed my time here this time more than last time. Last time I went, I attended for a James Baldwin exhibit that I found disappointing and lacking. James Baldwin is my #1 dead or alive party guest, larger than life, so I felt he wasn't given the flowers he deserved. This time I returned to view "The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture." This exhibit was extremely well done, the way I wish Baldwin's had been. It did a great job of examining how race and racial stereotypes affect art, all the way back to Biblical and Greek times. How those ideas affect the feelings of the marginalized. How art ideas have aged through the years. Many colorful, poignant, sometime rage-inducing or withering pieces. Some pieces that were absolutely heartbreaking. I am so impressed at how much I learned, was pushed to think and reflect. This is peak museum behavior for me.

An amazing display of human creativity and artistic expression through paint, sound, objects and imagination. The experience was truly incredible. To be able to walk through different eras of time, transported me in a way that is indescribable. It also deepened my connection to people, if that makes sense. This museum has three floors that you can view artwork, which includes special exhibits of artists, as well as traditional artwork that describes a theme throughout American history. I learned so much, and the staff was very knowledgeable of the layout of the museum. There are floor maps online and at the information desk. I only wish there were better signage throughout the building to help coordinate on the map. I got turned around a couple of times. That's the only reason it's not 5 stars. Entrance into the museum is free, and you can enter by two ways, either from G St. or F St. The F st. side has a coat room and lockers to the right after going through the detectors. There is also an indoor court yard in the center of the museum that has a cafe on the G st side. I completed the walk-through in just over two hours, but you can stay a lot longer if you read all of the descriptions of the artwork and leisurely walk through. They also have some displays that you can connect to through audio to listen and learn that way. The pictures I attached did the work no justice. I would have taken more, but I just wanted to be in the experience versus taking a lot of pictures. However, they do encourage that you take pictures and that you post and tag to share your experience. Just remember not to touch anything. Enjoy!

Amazing art on display and easy navigation through galleries. Delightful museum! Art by all Americans, including a significant collection by Native American artists.

This museum has a large collection of paintings and other art. The historical collection on the first floor is wonderful for anyone interested in American history. The top floor is one of my favorites. The sculpture collection was my favorite, but honestly everything else was also great. Another cool thing about this museum is the courtyard in the middle of the square building. It is both covered and temperature controlled, making it a perfect place to be out of the elements. It features a ton of tables and a cafe that has both coffee items and wine. My go to however was the hot chocolate. I added a bit of cinnamon to my drink to make it a Mexican style hot chocolate. The staff was very helpful and had a great attitude. Sometimes museum workers can seem uptight and stuffy but that was not the case here. Everyone we spoke to was polite and friendly.

I'm Amenah who's also an aspiring artist. My little sister and I went yesterday for a couple of hours and the artwork was so beautiful there. It was my 1st time going there.

I forget how amazing this museum is. I typically just go to the Kogod Courtyard or parts of the Portrait Gallery. It's kind of confusing navigating between the American Art Museum and the Portrait Gallery since they both take up areas on all floors. The third floor modern art section is definitely worth a visit.

I love this museum! The newly renovated contemporary gallery is outrageously cool. I love the multimedia exhibits! This is perhaps the nicest building in DC; you never know when you are steps away from entering the most gorgeously designed atrium or gallery you've ever seen. The docents are extraordinary. The art is mesmerizing! Check it out!

Amazon!! By far one of the highlights of our day. Time spent, learning, watching and exploring.

Awesome spot to check out art! I wouldn't consider myself an art expert, or even a fan, but walking around the halls of the American Art Museum was a great way to spend an afternoon. It's attached to the portrait gallery so the experience as a whole can be very lengthy, but since it's free entry and right by a metro, it's really easy to go visit for a little bit and come back again later to check other exhibits out.

American painting and sculptures primarily from 1850-1950. One of the best collections I've seen of late 19th and early 20th century American west paintings. Didn't mean to come here but visited the National Portrait Gallery next door. Some prominent paintings: mountain lions in front of Half Dome Yosemite, American Indian crossing a rapid stream, brown bear with two cubs in the mountains, cowboys being ambushed, American Indians in canoe hunting moose, sailing ships dueling with cannon fire, majestic mountains over a lake, settlers opening up the old West, American Indians hunting buffalo, and famous photographer Dorothea Lange with old style camera atop a 1934 Ford Model 40, with suicide rear doors. There was also a collection of automobile miniatures. Close proximity of Washington DC's Chinatown. Visting the museum is free and didn't lose my shirt as kept the wife on a short leash from the jewelry and gems in the museum store.

Among all of the Smithsonian museums, this one is my very favorite. I like it so much, I became a member. The diversity of art in the museum and the frequent new exhibitions make it worthwhile to come here frequently. The curators scour the nation to find sources of art that you wouldn't even think of. The ability to present American history through art, and their dedication to presenting the history accurately (not the white wash that we learned in school) is such a service to the nation. For example: there was an entire exhibit of amazing artists who did not receive formal training, yet produced incredible works. Art produced during The Depression by artists supported by the WPA. The photography exhibits I've seen are absolutely first rate. The current multi-media presentation of Frederick Douglass is really amazing. And opening soon will be a collection of quilts from the Amish community. The building that houses all of this amazing art is a work of architectural art itself. And the atrium, OMG, an amazing place to chill. Just don't consider buying food or coffee from the cafe-meh. If you have just a few hours in DC, I highly recommend this museum. It's at Gallery Place, right next to the Metro stop.

Loved coming to view the orchid exhibit with all different varieties. Stayed to view the paintings and artwork. Highly recommend. Not too far from the metro and super nice facility. Entry is free.

American Art Museum can stand on its own even if it wasn't in the same Greek Revival building as the National Portrait Gallery. Located in Chinatown, it's in the old patent building and free for all to enter. Here are the highlights: 1) Art: Gallery after gallery showcase paintings and sculptures through the ages. More popular pieces come wit benches nearby for visitors to soak it in. 2) Courtyard: The Kogod Courtyard is stunning and connects the two museums. There's wifi, tables and gardens. 3) Store: It's large and has a lot of gems, perfect for gifts. 4) Fun: If you want to explore the museum through a scavenger hunt, ask the front desk for a map!

There are tons of museums to visit in D.C. and I actually just came across this one while walking around the area. We saw that it was free entry so we decided to check it out. There weren't too many people inside so it was easy to move around and look at the different artworks. There was a lot to see as well and also a huge courtyard that's really nice. The courtyard was calm and quiet but had several tables too if you wanted to relax for a bit.

A lot of different styles of art throughout four floors, great to leisurely explore at your own pace

I don't know why this Smithsonian institution is not more crowded. But I'm glad. It's one of my favorite museums, outranked only by the co-located Portrait Gallery. But in addition to seeing the art, stop into the atrium. It is an architectural masterpiece by Norman Foster, humane modernism at its best, with the steel and the glass being used with elegance and the opposite of brutality/brutalism. More than once, I have popped in and spent an hour working. It has been discovered by families for this purpose, with kids traipsing through the water feature.

The cafeteria has many choices and the tamales were delicious. I will stop there again

Came with the kiddies Beautiful painting and sculptures to view. Impossible to see everything in one day. The girls enjoyed and so did the adults. Plenty of spaces to take a seat and relax, didn't get photos of the music or car exhibits but they were interactive and cool.

My coworkers and I had a great experience at the Smithsonian art museum! The staff was nice and helpful. The artwork is truly beautiful and the cafe has a good snack for if you get hungry. For a bottle of water and a turkey sandwich it came out to $18! It's free so this would make a great date or hang out with friends.

This place is amazing! If you are at all interested in history and art then this is place to visit! It's massive inside. So much well persevered portraits and artwork inside. It is quite the walk to see the amount of art work on multiple stories and from one side of the building to another. It is free entry. Your cameras are allowed. The museum is located next to the Capital One arena and within a few walks away from China Town. I don't think it is good for younger kids maybe teenager and up. For those who have at least taken highschool history and/or art history classes.

The museum has really cool art pieces. The only bad thing was the security guards had a bad power trip and yelled at us for no reason. It makes us feel uncomfortable. We were just coming through the door. Please adjust the attitude!

Wow, this museum is so large and a wide variety of paint aims and different art pieces all around! I came here because I saw the reviews and also it just recently reopened to the public from Covid. It was very quiet inside and people were not that close to each other. You can spend literally a long time looking at many wonderful pieces around! This is an awesome place for family and friends to mingle around and there are descriptions for each of the artwork. I would totally recommend this place and you can eat around the surrounding area, no problem!

Was is cool to see all the famous art and then to h was r they tire works right after it made me think about ent I really like the art show maybe the Dallas Maine lf art was bigger but I had fun explore ing

Another great Smithsonian museum to keep you busy for a few hours. You could easily spend the day here if you take the time to look through all the exhibits. The contemporary art/Modernism exhibit on the 3rd floor was my favorite and I wish I had started with it.

So...after my meetings ended at 6, I thought I'd scoot over quickly to the Portrait Gallery since I knew that was open until 7 and after looking at an exhibit there I wandered a bit and found I was now in the American Art Museum which is also open until 7. I'm not sure how I missed that on previous trips! Anyway, I didn't have a ton of time, but there seemed to be a great mix of older and more contemporary works here, and I definitely want to come back to visit again when I have more time. Heads up that, like all museums in DC, closing is actually 15 minutes before the posted time; they start moving everyone out at 6:45 which I'm assuming is so doors can be locked promptly at 7. Really nice though that they are open later than vast majority of the other museums!

Great special exhibition on little know artists in the Robinson Family collection. Is quite an eclectic display of what I would call FolkArt. I found most of it quite intriguing, and the background on the artists were very helpful and enlightening.

Oh, this is a really beautiful gallery. One of the best i ever visited. The courtyard is perfect place - air conditioned, a lot of natural light (softened) , fro wifi, and cafe!

This was a fabulous museum and off the beaten path of the "mall museums." The crowds are commensurately light, yet the collection is just as inspiring as the larger more crowded museums. They have several carefully curated collections and also have seating strategically placed to some reflection or resting of legs. The gift shop was nice. Certainly a highlight was the exterior but covered patio. It has a carefully tended garden and the museum has a vendor that provides coffee, wine, and light snacks to enjoy while outside ($7.50 for a glass of box wine on the day we visited; in line or cheaper than restaurant prices). The other food/beverages were DC-priced more than $3 for a bottle of water but to enjoy this space, we were happy to pay a little more...

I am so happy that museums are opening up again. Covid has greatly decreased our opportunities to explore the city. I miss the arts. The Smithsonian American Art Museum shares an entrance with the National Portrait Gallery. Since both museums overlap each other, my photos will too. I reserved tickets online. It wasn't crowded. The staff was nice. I felt like I had most of the building to myself. This is a photographer's dream. You don't have to wait for people to move out of your photo. I loved being in an empty courtyard in the middle of both museums. I have attended crowded events in this space. It was weird not having noise from conversations. There were some pretty plants. The museum store and gift shop was closed. The museum is beautiful. The tiled floors are incredible. The staircase itself should be an exhibit. The floors are divided by exhibit. Some areas were closed due to covid. The sculptures are amazing. The paintings and artwork are incredible. My favorite exhibit is The Throne of the Third Heaven of Nations' Millennium General Assembly. Parking is hit or miss. Metro is across the street by China town. Wear comfy shoes.

I visited here during the 2022 Sakura Cherry blossom festival. The good thing is everything was free. I found a locker. I stored my bags. I walked around but didn't have time. I checked only Japanese-related exhibitions. I saw a lot of pictures from the Edo period. Many people talked about American history. But, please check here!

This was a great low key FREE date day or evening. Definitely wear comfortable shoes because you will be walking. There are benches to sit on inside all over the museum. Takes about 1 1/2 hour or 2 hours to see most of the art. You can record videos and take pictures, just not in the places it says "no photography" obviously. Pros: - amazing sculptures - they had art info wall plates - indoor covered terrace (you can hang out in there, people were reading, eating and relaxing) Cons: - would have liked more abstract art - the workersss (they were on the younger side and on they're phones having spicy convos) ( a few areas for more professionalism)

Entrance is free, just make sure Such an awesome museum, kids will love to learn about history here. As an adult I really enjoyed all the displays, you can really spend hours here. I felt like a kid in a candy store especially in the dinosaur area. Definitely recommend this place to bring the family there's something for everyone. My phone died and couldn't take more pictures.

Absolutely incredible museum. What else would you expect from the Smithsonian? This museum focuses on American art. It does a great job of showcasing pieces that transport you to various times in the country's history, as well as places from sea to shining sea. This is going to be a go-to recommendation of mine for tourists now, as it's in a great location and is just downstairs from the National Portrait Gallery! Even though we only checked out half of the museum due to timeboxing, we loved what we saw. The folk art was incredible. It was beautiful, awe-inspring, shocking, and just plain cool.

Very much appreciated the new exhibit that focused partially on Japanese American art. Love the contemporary pieces on Serena and Venus Williams. As a healthcare provider, also really appreciated the art focused on the epidemic, which is a defining part of my career in medicine.

Bottom Line: An interesting collection of art in a historic building that captures life in the United States of America from its beginning, curated by the Smithsonian Institution. Thanks to Yelp haphazardly rearranging Yelp pages, my old review for the American Art Museum is now stuffed under the page for the Renwick Gallery. Super frustrating but at least not as egregious as the combining of pages for a few war memorials. Oh, how quickly I digress. Moving on . . . The Smithsonian American Art Museum is housed in the The Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture building. This building primarily houses two museums run by the Smithsonian - the American Art Museum and the the Portrait Gallery. A third museum also associated with the Reynolds Center is the Archives of American Art. This review is specifically for the American Art Museum. As part of the Smithsonian Institution, this is a wonderfully curated museum that provides a neat representation of life in America. The collection captures the American landscape and the experiences of Americans dating back to the start of America. The art consists of paintings, carvings, sculptures, models and other mediums. Admission is free and there are never long entry lines so this museum is a good candidate for a quick pop-in but don't be surprised if even as a non-art enthusiast you find yourself unexpectedly immersed in the exhibits. Most exhibits are permanent but some are temporary. I drop in from time to time to see what is new and on my most recent visit I really enjoyed the circa 1930s art work, many pieces which were the result of Depression-era Works Progress Administration and Public Works of Art Project. Aside from the great collection of American art, I also really like the building itself. The building is historic and was completed in the 1860s to serve as the Patent Office Building. In fact, some of the models that inventors had to submit with their patent application are still on display. The building is designed in the Greek Revival style and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1965, about 100s years after it was completed. There are a lot of art museums in Washington DC and many of them are run by the Smithsonian Institution. Here is a run down of the eight Smithsonian-run art museums in DC: 1. African Art Museum (traditional and contemporary art from Africa) 2. American Art Museum (American art from the beginning of America to today) 3. Archives of American Art (documentation associated with American visual arts) 4. Freer Gallery (Asian art) 5. Hirshorn Museum & Sculpture Garden (modern art and sculptures) 6. Portrait Gallery (Portraits of people significant to America) 7. Renwick Gallery (crafty contemporary art and "decorative arts) 8. Sackler Gallery (Asian art too)

When I lived in NYC, I took the bus to visit Washington DC museums frequently throughout the year. However, since living in LA, it's been quite a while since I've been to the American Art Museum. In so many respects, many of the modern works are constrained by the architecture: there's not enough room for many pieces to breathe and be presented in a compelling way. Sculpture, for sure, gets short shrift in some of the galleries; harsh lighting and shadows don't often highlight the artistic merits. For me, the most compelling work in the museum is Edward and Nancy Keinholz' 'Sollie 17,' a 1979-80 mixed media installation. Its appearance is deceiving as it looks like a hallway entrance to a closet instead of a work of art. Step through the the worn door and you have a glimpse into a tenement apartment from Spokane, Washington. The items were collected from that place. It's a depressing and incredibly lonely view into a derelict and isolated world. Sure, it's from another time but the conditions displayed in this installation still exist today; perhaps, even more so as an increasing number of people live in poverty and without emotional support. There but by the grace of the gods go I. The museum does a much better job displaying art before 1950: more richly appointed and better lighted galleries. There's a lot to see between this museum and the Portrait Museum which hug each other so tightly that its easy to lose track of which museum you are actually in.

This museum has something for everyone. They had a good balance of art with art history which I love learning about. We went right when they opened and started in the top level which is always the best idea because then you feel like you have the whole museum to yourself.

We had so much fun here when I came to visit my sister! My baby loved all the colorful exhibits and there was an amazing variety of things to look at. They were great at enforcing the mask mandate and I also love that it was totally free!

Huge museum. Amazing masterpieces. Modern art as well. Jaw dropping work. Free. There's nothing not to love about this museum. Just another stop while visiting DC. The fact that it's free, great for admiring some of the world-renowned masterpieces and perfect for some picturesque art lovers is a no brainer that you definitely have to add this to a must do while in town. Grab your cameras, leave your kids and pets and come spend a day or just a few hours in here. I was kidding about leaving your kids, they can come. However, they might not love this place as much as you will. Huge backpacks are not allowed. No outside drinks or food. Nice spot to spend a few hours in.

My new favorite place in DC. I thought the National Gallery was the best place in the world. I might be rethinking that. I loved this place so much, we visited twice and found new things on each trip. My favorite part might be the Luce Foundation area, a place devoted to the archives and restoration (and they have an art-o-matic). It's more than adjacent to the National Portrait Gallery. (One afternoon there was a pretty extensive Farmers Market out front.)

An awesome collection of art! Quiet. Spacious. Apparently I need 38 characters. Not sure what else to say here.

The Renwick Gallery originally wasn't on my radar as a must-see museum in DC, but I'm so glad I came! I had a few extra hours before my flight, and the Burning Man exhibit sounded pretty cool. I went on a weekday right around lunchtime, and it wasn't very busy. I think the Renwick changes exhibits every few months, so the Burning Man exhibit may not be there anymore. The museum is definitely smaller than all of the other Smithsonian museums, but I still spent a good while just admiring the different artifacts from the experience. My favorites were the VR exhibit, where you were literally exploring the festival! I also loved the interactive light-up mushrooms and the balsam wood temple. The exhibits were pretty magical and made me want to visit Burning Man someday.