Sight guide · Washington, D.C. · United States
Visiting National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum
Two free Smithsonian museums share the Greek Revival Old Patent Office Building.
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Quick answer
National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum is a gallery in Penn Quarter, Washington, D.C.. Allow 2 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Gallery
- Area
- Penn Quarter
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- art, free, rainy day and off the beaten path
- Best months
- March–May
About National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum
Two free Smithsonian museums share the Greek Revival Old Patent Office Building. The Portrait Gallery's America's Presidents hall includes Gilbert Stuart's Lansdowne portrait of Washington and Kehinde Wiley's portrait of Barack Obama, while the American Art Museum covers everything from folk art to Nam June Paik's neon map of the US. The glass-roofed Kogod Courtyard is a calm place to rest.
Tip: Go up to the third-floor Lunder Conservation Center, where you can watch conservators at work through the glass.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Penn Quarter.
Best time to visit National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum
National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- March: 14°C (57°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
- May: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
- April: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, very busy crowds.
When to visit Washington, D.C. has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen National Mall and Lincoln Memorial.
- No. 17 of the 20 sights in our Washington, D.C. things-to-do list.
- Listed in free things to do in Washington, D.C..
- One of the picks in museums in Washington, D.C..
Near National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum
Also in Penn Quarter, so you can walk between them:
- Ford's Theatre — 1.5 hours, low cost
If you like National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum
- United States Capitol — Capitol Hill, 1.5–2 hours
- National Air and Space Museum — National Mall, 2–3 hours
- National Museum of Natural History — National Mall, 2–3 hours
- National Museum of African American History and Culture — National Mall, 4–5 hours
Staying near National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum
Where to stay in Washington, D.C. compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum?
Plan 2 hours. With Ford's Theatre nearby, it fits a half-day in Penn Quarter.
+Is National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum?
March–May, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Go up to the third-floor Lunder Conservation Center, where you can watch conservators at work through the glass.
+Do I need to book National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.