National Portrait Gallery Museum

Address: National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA

Website: https://npg.si.edu

Hours: Daily 11:30am-7:00pm

Admission: Free (Smithsonian)

The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. is a Smithsonian museum dedicated to portraits of individuals important to American history and culture. It is housed in the historic Old Patent Office Building in downtown Washington.

Exhibitions present painted and photographic portraits, sculptures and multimedia works that document political leaders, artists, activists and other figures significant to the United States. The museum offers both permanent installations and rotating thematic exhibitions highlighting individuals and moments in American history.

Created by congressional act and brought under Smithsonian administration, the gallery’s collection and programs have grown since the late 20th century to become a major center for portraiture and American cultural interpretation. The museum occupies a restored 19th-century federal building shared with the American Art Museum.

The gallery sits on F Street NW in downtown Washington, within the broader Mall and museum district and easily reachable on foot or by public transit.

• Building and affiliation: Housed in the historic Old Patent Office Building, the museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution and shares the building with the American Art Museum.
• Collection focus: Focuses on portraits of Americans who have shaped the nation’s history and culture, shown in rotating and permanent exhibitions.

The National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian) is in downtown Washington, D.C., in the Old Patent Office Building near 8th and F Streets NW. Use the Metro - Metro Center (Red, Orange, Blue) or Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red, Yellow, Green) - and walk 2-5 minutes to the museum. Driving brings you to nearby streets such as F Street NW and Constitution Avenue; parking is limited and metered garages are common in the area.

• Use the shared Old Patent Office Building entrance (the Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery) and plan to visit both museums in one trip-there's no separate ticketing and many visitors miss works displayed across the connected floors.
• Go early in the morning to avoid school-group peak times and head to the presidential and historical portrait displays first, which are among the most visited sections and can get crowded later in the day.