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. read more

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This place was pretty cool and also it was free. There is tons of security but there were quite a few rowdy teenagers running around that were super loud and I did not see anyone say anything. I was kind of surprised. There are some unusual installations here and I wasn't anticipating that. The bathrooms were clean and the overall museum was clean. They also stay open later than most of the art museums in town. read more

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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. read more

Smithsonian American Art Museum - I found this to be the neatest display. - Art Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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. read more

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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 read more

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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." read more

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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. read more

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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

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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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! read more

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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! read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

Smithsonian American Art Museum - Tapestry - Art Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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. read more

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

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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. read more

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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! read more

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

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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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. read 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. read more

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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! read more

Smithsonian American Art Museum - All made from foil - Art Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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... read more

Smithsonian American Art Museum - Relaxing enclosed courtyard with water feature - Art Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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) read more

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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. read more

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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) read more

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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. read more

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

Smithsonian American Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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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. read more

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