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The Old Patent Office Building, Washington, DC

No. 80 Top 100 Most Visited Art Museums 2025 · 937,716 visitors in 2025

Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery

Washington, D.C., United States · City guide: Washington, D.C.

Two free Smithsonian museums of American art and portraiture in one grand Greek Revival building.

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Photo: APK, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) are No. 80 in The Art Newspaper's survey of the world's most visited art museums, with 937,716 visitors in 2025, down 26% on 2024. The two Smithsonian museums share the historic Old Patent Office Building in the Penn Quarter of Washington, DC.

SAAM covers American art from colonial times to today, while the National Portrait Gallery tells the story of the United States through portraits of the people who shaped it, from artists and scientists to sports stars. Entry is free.

The Donald W. Reynolds Center, home of SAAM and the National Portrait Gallery
The Donald W. Reynolds Center, home of SAAM and the National Portrait Gallery. Photo: APK is gonna miss Jeffpw, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings are the quietest. The museums open late in the morning and stay open until early evening; check the official website.

Highlights & collections

  • 1

    Kogod Courtyard

    A courtyard under a wave-like glass roof by Foster and Partners, with a café.

  • 2

    American art

    Paintings by Winslow Homer, Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper and many others.

  • 3

    Luce Foundation Center

    A visible-storage gallery with thousands of artworks on display in glass cases.

  • 4

    Folk and self-taught art

    Including James Hampton's shimmering Throne of the Third Heaven.

  • 5

    Electronic Superhighway

    Nam June Paik's wall of televisions mapping the United States in neon.

  • 6

    Portraits

    Portraits of American artists, writers, performers and sports figures in the National Portrait Gallery.

Getting there

The museums are at 8th and F Streets NW. Gallery Place–Chinatown Metro station (Red, Green and Yellow lines) is next door.

Visiting tips

Tickets & hours
Entry is free. Check the official websites for hours.
Time needed
Two to four hours for both museums.
Currency
US dollar (USD). Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere. Tipping is customary: around 18–20% in sit-down restaurants and a dollar or two per drink in bars.
Visa & entry
Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries (including the UK, most EU countries, Australia and Japan) need an approved ESTA before they travel; most other visitors need a visa. Canadian citizens generally need neither for a short visit. Apply only on the official site esta.cbp.dhs.gov and check travel.state.gov for the current rules.

Official information: Smithsonian American Art Museum (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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