Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Museum Asian art gallery within the Smithsonian Institution

On the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery focuses on Asian art-ceramics, sculpture and paintings-complementing the Freer Gallery with rotating exhibitions and study collections.

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The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery is a Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C. dedicated to Asian art and part of the National Museum of Asian Art alongside the Freer Gallery. It houses collections and temporary exhibitions covering a wide geographic range of Asian cultures.

Exhibition rooms present works from South, Southeast and East Asia as well as Islamic art, with galleries that rotate temporary shows alongside selected works from the permanent collection. The gallery is used for thematic exhibitions, loans and scholarly displays and is often visited together with the Freer.

Established in the late 20th century as a Smithsonian gallery for Asian art, the Sackler was endowed and named after Arthur M. Sackler; it has since functioned as the modern exhibition wing complementing the Freer’s historic holdings. The two institutions operate jointly under the National Museum of Asian Art.

Situated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the gallery faces the central Mall and is within walking distance of other Smithsonian museums and the Washington Monument.

  • Museum complex: Part of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art complex on the National Mall and physically linked with the Freer Gallery, allowing combined visits.

What to See #

  • Main galleries: Galleries devoted to South, Southeast, South Asian, East Asian and Islamic collections, laid out across multiple exhibition rooms connected to the Freer Gallery as part of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC
38.8880, -77.0265
Tue-Sun 10:00am-5:30pm, closed Monday
Free

How to Get to Arthur M. Sackler Gallery #

The Sackler Gallery is on the National Mall at 1050 Independence Ave SW, adjacent to the Freer Gallery. Use Smithsonian Metro station (Blue/Orange/Silver lines) or Metro Center and a short walk; many bus routes and plentiful pedestrian routes across the Mall make it accessible from downtown D.C.

Tips for Visiting Arthur M. Sackler Gallery #

  • Combine a visit with the Freer Gallery of Art next door - they share curatorial resources and the Sackler's galleries complement the Freer's collection.
  • Check for special talks and performances; the museums host frequent scholar lectures that illuminate works in the galleries.
  • Enter through the Mall side of the complex to see the modernist Sackler architecture set against the leafy Smithsonian gardens.

Best Time to Visit Arthur M. Sackler Gallery #

Smithsonian-affiliated galleries are open year-round and are especially pleasant outside peak spring tourist surges.

Spring
March-May · 8-22°C (46-72°F)
Cherry-blossom season brings crowds to the Mall; visit early or late in the day to avoid the heaviest traffic.
Autumn
September-November · 8-22°C (46-72°F)
Mild weather and manageable crowd levels; good for pairing museum time with outdoor walks.
Winter
December-February · -2-10°C (28-50°F)
Quieter in the galleries; indoor programming increases during the colder months.

Weather & Climate near Arthur M. Sackler Gallery #

Climate

Arthur M. Sackler Gallery's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1041 mm/year), wettest in May, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
32°
Warmest Month
-4°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-4°

Weather

79 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

February

February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-2°

Weather

69 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

March

March is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (91 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
13°

Weather

91 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

April

April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm).

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
20°

Weather

78 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

May

May is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (103 mm).

Comfort

19°
Feels Like Mild
19°C
Temperature
12° 25°

Weather

103 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

June

June is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm).

Comfort

23°
Feels Like Mild
23°C
Temperature
17° 29°

Weather

87 mm
Rainfall
3.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 32°C and lows of 20°C. Significant rainfall (101 mm).

Comfort

26°
Feels Like Warm
26°C
Temperature
20° 32°

Weather

101 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm

August

August is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 19°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm).

Comfort

25°
Feels Like Warm
25°C
Temperature
19° 31°

Weather

95 mm
Rainfall
2.6 m/s
Wind
Calm

September

September is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm).

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
15° 27°

Weather

94 mm
Rainfall
2.9 m/s
Wind
Calm

October

October is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
21°

Weather

82 mm
Rainfall
2.9 m/s
Wind
Calm

November

November is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
15°

Weather

82 mm
Rainfall
3.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

December

December is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-1°

Weather

80 mm
Rainfall
3.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

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