This place is HUGE! I would highly recommend stopping by the volunteer desk on your way in for a map and to hear about some highlights. The woman at the desk gave me her opinion on where to start, what I couldn't miss, etc. This was super helpful when I was an hour in and starting to have museum-fatigue, so I just hit some of her favorites that she had circled for me. I loved getting to see some of the presidential portraits, but this was only a small part of the museum. So many incredible things to see, and so much diversity. I found the upper floors to have much cooler architecture than lower ones, so make sure you look up there. There was some construction happening when I was there, so some staircases led to locked doors and some hallways led nowhere. I am sure this is common, and was all part of the adventure. read more

I came here specifically to visit the Portrait Gallery. It is a smaller museum and is currently undergoing some construction, so not all of the galleries and exhibits were open during my visit. I was able to explore the first and third floors and enjoyed seeing the variety of paintings and portraits on display. I especially enjoyed the presidential exhibit, which was very interesting and worth taking the time to walk through. The museum itself could use a little sprucing up in some areas, although the ongoing construction may address some of that. Overall, it was an enjoyable museum to visit, and I'm glad I took the time to stop in. read more

(written through the lenses of a kids' experience) I had visited the Portrait Gallery over the years but this last visit was my first time with kids. i've been told they have some great storytime/kiddo activations but that didn't quite time out for our visit.  We appreciated the hours of the museum and bopped by towards the end of the day before dinner at a nearby Ethiopian restaurant.  We worked our way through some of the more popular rooms (Presidential portraits, etc.) given our tight timeline and paid a visit to the kids art room. I was suprised the kids art room wasn't more developed or interactive based on what I've seen at other reputable art museums. It felt a little off in a corner and forgotten.  Otherwise, it was another fabulous visit to the museum. Five stars for adults, four stars for kiddos. I understand not every museum has to cater to kids but I do feel like more and more are evolving to reach all age audiences. read more

I went all the way downtown in the 96 degree weather only to find that the two Edmonia Lewis pieces were not on display. Thank God I did not come from out of town. National Portrait Gallery should be well aware that Lewis's work and life's story have regained motion and interest from a new community of art enthusiasts. Mary Edmonia Lewis, also called "Wildfire", was an American sculptor. Born in Upstate New York of mixed African American and Native American heritage. Born a free woman, she still had a very challenging but rewarding life. Her brother struck gold and was able to provide for her. Edmonia's art secured her a place at Oberlin University, where she faced a lot of mistreatment and discrimination. They accused her of poisoning two female students, never proven, however, she was dragged into the woods by a group of men and brutally assaulted. She was tough, hanging in there at Oberlin for one additional year only to be accused of stealing art supplies. After this final accusation she finally left without finishing her degree. She is known for her Neoclassical marble sculptures and the two that were supposed to be on site at the National Portrait Gallery were "Young Octavian" and "Poor Cupid". No one believed that Edomonia was making these amazing pieces, so often times she would sculpt in public to prove nay-sayers wrong. One of her most striking pieces, "The Death of Cleopatra" created in 1876, a massive work that portrayed the Egyptian Queen dead, slouched down with her mouth open on her throne. No one could deny that this work wasn't conversation worthy. Many of her contemporaries had created Cleopatra, but not like this! As a great artist never truly getting her just due, somehow, "Blind John" Condon, a gambler purchased this piece from a saloon to mark the grave of a racehorse named "Cleopatra". Located in the Chicago suburb of Forest Park, found muddy and smeared with graffiti, the piece remained there unknown for nearly a century. She lived and sculpted in Rome, Paris, and finished the last of her days in London. She died of chronic kidney failure (Bright's disease) in 1907. It's only in recent years that Edmonia has been given her flowers many years after her death, Oberlin College made the decision to award the trailblazing sculptor a posthumous diploma instead of an honorary degree. National Portrait Gallery,like many others, I just want to see the pieces. I saw empty spaces on the 3rd floor of row section 20a, my heart sank, because I knew this is where Edmonia's works should have been. Highly disappointed; until then I'll be waiting. read more

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We came for one portrait, we were on a mission. We wanted to see Juliette Gordon Low's portrait. The museum is beautiful and well organized. The lady at the front desk, saw us and said, I think I know what you want. We giggled and she handed up a map. We were here right before closing and enjoyed the museum, at least what we saw of it. It was easy to navigate and had some amazing pieces. read more

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We had a great time at the National Portrait Gallery. We brought our stroller with our 2.5 week-old baby. We found that the museum was stroller-friendly. And the women's bathroom had a changing table. We enjoyed looking at the exhibits. I especially liked the Grandma Moses collection of paintings and the presidents portraits. read more

This is a must see when in DC. Though they have other exhibits within the museum seeing the portraits of the presidents is always worth a visit. read more

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One of the most underrated Smithsonian's for many reasons. More centrally located near Gallery Place and Metro Center and across from the Capital One Arena, it offers access to a lot of great restaurants and activities. While staring at Portraits doesn't initially sound intriguing, the Portrait Gallery is a history museum by housing presidential portraits with information of their terms, has sections (currently under renovation) for athletes , artists, and popular culture figures, and has a wing broken down by important periods in American History. As an added bonus, the museum also houses the American Art Museum and the Kogod Atrium is a fantastic place to get lunch, lounge, or host events. The building is beautiful and elegant inside. As with the Smithsonian's, this is also a free museum. read more

National Portrait Gallery - Kogod Atrium - Art Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I tend to forgot that we have these types of museums available to us for free in the area! It's always a lovely experience to go to the National Portrait Gallery and such a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon! read more

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The stated mission of the National Portrait Gallery is "to tell the story of America by portraying the people who shape the nation's history, development and culture." I think there may be no higher calling than that for a national museum. I've been here numerous times and never tire of it. It's a special place. A jewel of the Smithsonian. read more

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This is one of my favorite Smithsonian museums. They are off the beaten path. They are open late. Their collections are awesome. They have great rotating exhibitions. Whoever chooses their rotation exhibits is doing an amazing job. Their atrium is fantastic. Just go there and hang out. It's wonderful read more

One of my favorite places to bring my laptop and work is the atrium at the portrait gallery. Tons of natural light and white noise, a nice view with lots of greenery, solid WiFi, lots of places to plugin, and a nearby cafe but not one where you feel obligated to buy something in order to hangout. For the museum itself, their exhibits are a great mix where you can find something that appeals to everyone. And seeing all the presidential portraits is fun too read more

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I loved it!! This is free and the best part is that it's open through 7:30pm whereas other museums are closed by 5pm. Official portraits of the US presidents are here. There is another museum adjacent to it where I saw more modern art and photography. Lovely art museum. I'll be back. read more

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Lovely museum with an amazing enclosed courtyard. I recommend starting on the top floor and work your way down. The crowds might be better this way and the first floor you enter on can be confusing to navigate (might need a map). It's definitely not as overwhelming as the National Art Gallery. The gift shop is small but good. read more

National Portrait Gallery - Inner courtyard enclosed - Art Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun my family and I had at the National Portrait Gallery! This underrated museum is a hidden gem, and I can't believe it's free to enter. The space is clean and well-maintained, making for a great visit. While finding parking in the DC area can be a bit of a challenge, it's definitely worth the effort. Overall, we had a fantastic time exploring the exhibits together! read more

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An artistic person and a non-artistic person (like me) would greatly appreciate this gallery. This is not only a gallery of portraits, it has many art pieces with informative descriptions on each piece of beauty. The gallery is beautifully curated. The layout and organization are immaculate. The rich history in this gallery is definitely worth the hours of exploration. There are 3 levels and they are easily accessible via stairs or elevator. read more

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I had a day off and I decided that I would take advantage of that and get out and attempt to explore more of the city. It has been a couple of years since I moved here and I need to spread out and take more of it in. Unfortunately for me, I just happened to do so on a federal holiday. Which holiday you ask? President's Day. I think you know where I am going with this. I am kind of glad that I explored this spot right as it opened for the day. I am also glad that I discovered the hours of this place. I can visit this place after my day is done and if I wanted to avoid the evening rush hour. This place stays open until 7 p.m. Which I am glad, there is so much to discover here and I would like to take more time viewing the pieces. When I came I went directly to the America's President exhibit area and tried to get this section in before it got busy for the day. I went directly to the end of the exhibit and moved forward. I know, but with just opening, everyone was at the beginning and I would go where there was currently no one. I walked about and took pictures as I went. I did have one question and I asked an employee...must of not been a morning person as it looked like I was annoying them. After I finished with this exhibit I continued on in the direction right outside the president section. I did the whole of second floor and I then went up to the third floor and attempted to take in the mezzanine on the third floor. However, other people here decided that it was time for their own personal photoshoot and I had to backtrack. By this time I had had my fill of this place and did a real quick walkthrough of the first level. I hit the gift shop before heading out. I purposedly left things unseen so that I would have a reason to come back at a later date. It should be known too that this place is a two for one. It may be labeled as the National Portrait Gallery, but don't overlook the fact that this place also houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum as well. Tired of the portraits, go over and check out the other types of art and exhibits. It is truly a great place to expand your culture. read more

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It's America's 250th birthday and most of the major museums in Washington DC are free this summer (maybe all year?). I have never been to this one and the exhibits were surprisingly honest and sort of woke....What other museum would put on an exhibit of presidential portraits alongside a career retrospective of Grandma Moses's self taught landscape painting next to photography and oil paintings of disenfranchised Sioux Indians and former African slaves. Maybe America is controversial and that was the point. But America also loves old Hollywood and that exhibit was pretty interesting too. Getting through this building in one day felt like a crash course in all things America - lol. Congratulations America on making it to 250 was my takeaway. I really enjoyed the courtyard cafe. read more

The concierge at my hotel steered me in the right direction when I mentioned I was headed to the National Art Gallery. He indicated that in addition to that visit, the National Portrait Gallery was a treat, not just the contents, but also the building itself. Like many other Smithsonian museums, the collection is housed in an ornate building, and admission is free. As I roamed from room to room and floor to floor, I was impressed by the courageous Americans who shaped our country through battle and thought leadership. I loved the portraits from 1600-1900 and, of course, the American Presidents. I learned more than I expected of each President across the different eras. I also eavesdropped on a tour where a guide provided more information about the various presidential portraits, including the placement of each picture. The building, as my concierge mentioned, included a now-enclosed courtyard. There, I noticed students with laptops enjoying the tranquil atmosphere, people meeting up, and those (me!) needing a break after walking over 10,000 steps in one afternoon. I was in DC for only a few short days, and I considered this visit to be the highlight of my trip. read more

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To be really honest with you a lot of this gallery is boring, but it's a lot more interesting if you take a tour and you get the background and history. We had a tour guide that was really really great and she created stories to help us really understand what was going on in some of these photos. But a lot of it was boring without context And it is a lot of photos. I wish that I had more time to go through and properly walk through every single image and read the plaques, but I didn't. Overall, I do think they have a nice mix of history throughout the years and some really cool modern stuff. The modern exhibits were one of my favorites and there was an exhibit with candy that was actually an exhibit you could participate in and take candy away. Its a really interesting thing to participate in and also see how it impacted the art too. I think overall you should absolutely go to this museum for the experience, but also note that some parts of the museum are gonna be more riveting than others, but that is true for every museum out there. The cost is completely free, which is great. And when I went, there was not long lines so it was really easy to get into the building too. read more

National Portrait Gallery - President Obama painting - Art Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had an incredible time visiting the museum. I started on the first floor, where I admired portraits of classic Hollywood stars. I was so intrigued that I decided to have a movie marathon featuring the stars I learned about during the gallery visit. The museum was quite large, and I managed to explore it in under two hours, as it stays open later than most museums--until 7 PM. I saw portraits of historic figures, including presidents, as well as beautiful art pieces and sculptures. I encourage visitors to allocate enough time to sit, read, and truly appreciate the portraits and art. There is a lovely courtyard in the middle of the museum where people can relax. It was such a wonderful experience that I would love to return and spend more time there. read more

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Experienced a wonderful tour with McGuinness as our guide. She was engaging, thorough, enthusiastic, and so very knowledgeable. It was a pleasure to tour as a group, and I was very glad to take in a variety of work across the galleries read more

I was touched by my visit to the Portrait Gallery. I went with my mom during our stay in DC and I wish I lived closer because I could see myself coming in multiple times a week. The building was beautiful and the collection of pieces was nothing less than impressive. There was a particular portrait that stood out to me. It was an oil painting I believe of the late actress Tallulah Bankhead. She reminded me so much of myself with the style of her hair, the expression in her eyes, and the wise, delicate, and melancholy vibe. This painting encouraged me to look her up. She was a tough woman who braved through Hollywood and a difficult life through grit, perseverance, and courage. Traits I also see in myself. This is a valuable piece in the collection, though I feel it is also underrated. I believe they need to have merchandise with this painting on it. I would buy it! I loved all of the other galleries in the museum as well including the presidential portraits and even the indoor flower garden. The reason why we needed to leave was to catch a train back to New York. I wouldn't have left until closing otherwise. One thing I noticed that needed to change was that they were charging money for sanitary products in the bathroom. If men had periods they would be free. What if someone doesn't have change? Would they just have to suffer through it? Other than that it was a great trip and I enjoyed myself. read more

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This is yet another great free museum in DC. The presidents portraits exhibit is a very cool abbreviated American history lesson with insightful placards reminding you of the times, accomplishments and challenges of every president dating back to George Washington. The Hollywood portraits exhibit was a fun add on after the gravity of presidential power and responsibility. read more

National Portrait Gallery - Obama! - Art Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We visited the National Portrait Gallery on Day of the Dead. The celebration itself seemed catered to young children, with lots of activities. The gallery itself has a variety of art. Paintings, sculptures and photographs from different time periods. It's one of my favorite places to visit in DC. read more

National Portrait Gallery - Painting and sculpture - Art Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A beautiful museum to walk around with many different portraits to admire. Open later than most museums so it's easier to spend some time at later in the day. read more

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One of the lesser known art museums, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery was larger than I thought with a beautiful atrium that connected to the two walkways allowing a transition from streets F and G. I saw the Grandma Moses exhibit comfortably! It was such a pleasant and whimsical exhibition that helped erased the grueling office work earlier! They open later from 11:30 - 7:00pm. I for one was glad for the later hours allowing me to enjoy this museum when most are closed at 5:00 pm. There were people but the museum was big enough that you can walk and view the exhibits without being on top of others! Most people are respectful! The presidential portraits were also fun to see! The license plates pieced together was such a clever piece of work! One of the best! There are also other exhibits including photos of Hollywood stars and an area that included many more art pieces and busts that I didn't get a chance to look at due to a special event closing off this section of the museum on the second evening I came back. Oh no! I didn't have enough for a press penny so I will definitely come back here! read more

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My family or art enthusiasts were visiting DC for a few days, and when looking for things to do while they were here - I knew the National Portrait Gallery would be a definite 'must see' for them while they were here! The National Portrait Gallery did not disappoint. We spent over 3hrs walking through the various sections of the gallery, admiring works from painters, sculptors and artists from various other mediums. You could easily spend the entire day here - and likely, to see the entire gallery, you will need several visits. We were all super impressed and influenced by all of the beautiful paintings on display; and this has become one of my favourite galleries in the DMV area. Parking can be a little tricky, so you may want to take the metro in. Alternatively there is limited street parking and a bunch of parking garages nearby to choose from. read more

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Stunning. Do yourself a favor and start at the top and work yourself down. The mezzanine was an experience I'll never forget. Each floor felt like an entirely different museum it was amazing. Not to mention the atrium patio that is fully enclosed with the most stunning garden beds. Stunning. No notes. read more

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The National Portrait Gallery is exactly what it sounds like . . . a HUGE collection of portraits. The thing that makes this great is that it's directly connected to the Smithsonian American Art Museum . . . so you can go up and down, across, and back . . . and break up your viewing. See some portraits here, check out some American art there . . . some realism, some creative pieces. Black and white photography, mixed with brilliant colors. I enjoyed the performing arts section, which included everyone from jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie to hiphop legend LL Cool J. From John Wayne to Elvis. Folk legends, opera singers. There is also a "champions" section, which covers athletic stars over the years. There are various galleries on war heroes, authors, choreographers, scientific pioneers, woman leaders, Black leaders/heroes, indigenous people, and a whole gallery on presidents. It's free, easy to enter . . . again, you get two museums in one place . . . and a nice cafe/outdoor area between the two. read more

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I have visited Washington DC many times but never this museum. "The mission of the National Portrait Gallery is to tell the story of America by portraying the people who shape the nation's history, development and culture." This museum accomplishes its goal magnificiently. The space is so perfectly planned. I did not expect to to enjoy this museum as much as I did. Ever wonder why the Smithsonian Institute exists? You would find that answer on the walls of The National Portrait Gallery! Who knew?! The Presidential Portraits area was especially nice. There is a huge beautiful glass domed courtyard where you can reflect on your visit, enjoy a lunch, relax or read a book. Another note, we saw only a few families with very young children enjoying this spot, so if you are looking for a quiet, peaceful spot to visit, this is it. read more

Lovely Gallery with some great portraits and information on each individual. Free to enter. No advanced reservations required. Conveniently located in the Penn Quarter area...only a 15 minute walk to the White House and a 15 minute walk to the National Mall. There is a large center area where the Orchid show currently is. Huge space with lots of tables and seating. There is also a small cafe selling Starbucks-like items there. The Gallery is separated into a few areas including American Presidents, 20th Century Americans, Champions (Sports) and Portraits from 1600-1900. Lots to see and learn...and of course, some awesome portaits. I loved the variety is art styles they covered throughout the Gallery. They realy did try to mix it up...which made it interesting. Great experience...highly recommended. read more

National Portrait Gallery - Art Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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On Aug 6th 2026 the elevators to the Luce Foundation stacks were not operating. Otherwise the visit was nice.

Beautiful museum with fantastic portraits! The building itself is really incredible and worth wandering on its own. The third and fourth floors are especially cool and unique! There's also a lovely atrium area with a cafe that serves some tasty coffee and snacks! There are many unique exhibits. It's a fun place to wander and rest! read more

They're VERY specific here about closing at 7pm. Even if you've just finished the first floor and are getting to the second floor where the good stuff is, they won't let you look at anything else. So we were told to leave without being able to finish the museum. So be prepared to be done by closing time. Update: After going the next night to finish the museum out, we walked by a guard who was talking to another guard and as we walked between them to enter a new exhibit, the male was talking about a previous job and said "s***" in his sentence as we walked by. Very unprofessional and there are kids around as well. Didn't like that at all. And at 6:50, the staff kept saying "5 minutes to closure". Just trying to get people out the door. Maybe that's what they're supposed to do, but since we weren't asked to leave until 7pm the night before, just seemed like the staff this night wanted us all gone and didn't care if they did it early or not. Not a fan of the staff here, but the museum is fine. The only part we liked though was the President wing. read more

I love art! I love art displayed in great spaces. My favorite is street art like graffiti, but this gallery is amazingly fitting for what it houses. As a Smithsonian gallery, of course it is free! The huge building (multiple connected buildings) is the perfect place for displaying art. The various nooks, rooms, and spaces allows for enough space to ponder, reflect, and enjoy without being overly crowded. I would guess that the majority of people come to see the portraits of U.S. Presidents. Of course that wing of the gallery was the most crowded. Still, patrons were respectful enough to take turns enjoying the portraits without crowding or rushing you. The Kehinde Wiley portrait of Obama is more than phenomenal and iconoclastic. Black artist's rendition of the first Black President all in a style that is unlike all that preceded it, speaks volumes. Even though I have seen it many times in pictures or media, seeing it in person is just grand! Also, I was struck by two unlikely Presidential portraits for this ultra liberal Democrat. The Richard Milhous Nixon and the Dwight Eisenhower portraits were outstanding. The Nixon portrait is by Norman Rockwell so it makes sense because I leave an affinity for his work ("The Problem we all live with." Of Ruby Bridges being escorted into a segregated school flanked by U.S. Marshals is one of my favorites by him). The Norman Rockwell signature on the portrait is the most iconic part for me; check it out. The gallery's curators do a wonderful job of mixing artists and mediums. Of note, too, is that space and importance is also reserved for underrepresented perspectives of women, African Americans, and other underrepresented groups. The Henry O. Tanner room houses several of his works. On my most recent visit there was a James Baldwin photo exhibition that was remarkably moving. Perhaps my favorite pieces were two sculptures and one painting. The first sculpture is named "The Death of Cleopatra." She is seated on a marble throne that has two Sphinx men carved into the chair's arms. Against a. Lack background and intensely lit, it moves me. The other sculpture is of a black man and it is striking in its detail. The piece is called "Portrait bust of an African man" by May Howard Johnson. He just is stirring into your soul. It is made of bronze so the skin tone is perfect! Look into the eyes and become mesmerized! The other piece is a 1936 oil painting by the Black artist Allan Rohan Crite titled "School's Out." The color and composition will amaze you and looking at it closely you will see that every subject is a woman teacher or school girl. I have seen other works by Crite, but this one is my favorite and he is climbing up my favorite 20th century artist list! Whether you are an art connoisseur or novice, you will be at home here. Not stuffy, free, and photographs are encouraged!!! The gallery is beautiful and filled with GREAT art. Restrooms are plentiful and in the middle of the gallery is a covered courtyard where you can enjoy food and drinks. I could spend a whole weekend just exploring and enjoying the art. Five stars. read more

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It is the National Portrait Gallery and is nicely done. I loved the Presidents exhibit it was like going back to school. This is a wonderful way to burn some free time and learn. read more

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Gorgeous museum with amazing portraits (and other art). Free admission like the rest of the Smithsonian. Conveniently located right on top of a metro stop. An awesome stop if you're a tourist or a local! read more

So impressed by the study areas here and the space itself had a lot to offer. We enjoyed the art differences on each floor, especially since the co-working areas vary. Will for sure stop by again. read more

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