Smithsonian American Art Museum

​The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., is an extraordinary destination where history, biography, and art converge. Housed in the historic Old Patent Office Building—a stunning example of Greek Revival architecture—the museum offers a profound look at the individuals who have shaped American culture, from activists and scientists to actors and poets. ​The crown jewel of the interior is the "America’s Presidents" exhibition. It features the nation’s only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House, including Gilbert Stuart’s iconic "Lansdowne" portrait of George Washington and Kehinde Wiley’s vibrant, contemporary depiction of Barack Obama. The galleries are thoughtfully curated, making the transition from 18th-century oils to modern photography feel like a seamless walk through time. ​The experience is anchored by the magnificent Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard. This "outdoor-indoor" space features an undulating glass canopy designed by Norman Foster, allowing natural light to flood the area while protecting visitors from the elements. It is the perfect spot to reflect on the art over a coffee. Whether you are a history buff or an art enthusiast, this museum is a masterpiece of storytelling that shouldn't be missed.

Visited the absolutely massive Smithsonian American Art Museum and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The collection offers a rich and thoughtful journey through American history and creativity, with beautifully curated exhibits that are both inspiring and educational. A must-visit if you’re interested in art, culture, and history.

First time I was there and it was great. I got to see The DaVinci painting that was on exhibit. There's actually four different buildings or what's nice is that you could travel underground through the cost to travel between the East and West buildings. They have gelato too. There's also a cafe in each building.

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.

I think the Smithsonian American Art Museum has a little bit of everything for everyone, so skip what does not interest you and go peak at the paintings and sculptures that peak your interest. Find Edison's portrait and watch his eyes follow you as you walk from one side of the room to the other. This museum is downtown and less than a block from the Capital One Arena so parking is hit or miss, but if you do find a parking spot, do pay the meter; it will be less than a parking ticket. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is just a brief walk from a metro stop. DO NOT order anything from the café (unless you just have money to spare). I had to stop at the café because my blood sugar was dropping and we spent $30 on a pretzel bite box and half a turkey wrap. For $30, you could get 2 whole meals in a restaurant just a block or two away. Enjoy your visit, come back for a solo walk, and enjoy all the nooks and corners of both museums.

A hidden gem in the heart of DC’s Chinatown , right across from Chick Fil A, the Smithsonian American Art Museum blends history, creativity, and culture under one roof. From classic American masters to bold contemporary works, every corner feels like a conversation with the soul of America. And yes, it’s FREE! Id recommend using public transport to get there, also you cant bring in food from outside. They have a cafe and a beautiful courtyard which has a lots of sun lighting. Staff is friendly and so is security. Met this fantastic officer from Trinidad, she was so helpful during our tour. They have a café too but I was hungry so. Their elevators can be confusing as they sometimes dont light up when you press the button . They have stairs options tho. Saw the famous Obama Painting there and Golden globes which I had never seen in real life before. I was impressed to say the list. Some of these painters are truly talented. Its a unique museum ! Smithsonian rocks

Sep 2025: Fine art a bit farther from the DC mall. It is less crowded here. Nice paintings, at least the classics. The building itself exhibits great architecture.

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.

One of my favorites of the nearly 20 Smithsonian's in the area. This one is conveniently located near the Gallery Place and Metro Center stops and surrounded by great restaurants, activities, and is right across from the Capital One Arena. It is an absolutely beautiful building with ornate ceilings, marble floors, and of course amazing art with frequently changing of exhibits. The art is stunning and offers an array of paintings, sculptures, and other thought-provoking art. As an added bonus, the Portrait Gallery also shares the building and one of the best kept secrets is the Kogod Atrium in the center of the building which provides a beautiful space for events, relaxing, or getting lunch. This museum is one of the best and most underrated in the city.

I would describe the American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery as one of my comfort spots in DC. There's always less people than you expect inside, there's a great variety of art pieces indoors, and it's quiet. I sometimes sit indoors and listen to music while I'm walking around. Although this place is not a hidden gem, I can always appreciate the calm environment this place offers relative to other places in DC

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.

A lesser visited Smithsonian that is filled with such great content. An amazing array of American art that spans United States history. Well worth a visit if you have the time.

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 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.

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.

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!

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.

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 have visited Washington DC many times but never stopped into this museum. It is a quieter spot which was perfect for a Sunday afternoon. There is a large variety of American art including a nice folk art collection as well as housing many modern pieces. This museum is housed inside the same building as The National Portrait Gallery. Between the two museums, we spent about 5 hours visiting. Don't forget to spend a few minutes in the large glass domed courtyard.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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!

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.

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!

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!

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...

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)

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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!

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.

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