Smithsonian American Art Museum

The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) is a national museum in Washington, D.C., that collects, preserves and exhibits American art from colonial times to the present. The museum’s main galleries occupy the historic Old Patent Office Building in the Penn Quarter near the National Mall.

Exhibits cover painting, sculpture, works on paper, and a growing representation of modern and contemporary art; the museum also administers the Renwick Gallery, a branch focused on craft and decorative arts. The building itself is a significant 19th-century federal structure shared with the National Portrait Gallery.

SAAM’s collections and rotating exhibitions document a wide range of American artistic traditions and movements and support research and education programs. The Renwick Gallery provides a distinct venue for contemporary craft, often featuring immersive installations.

Located in downtown Washington, D.C., the museum sits a short walk from the National Mall, the White House and other Smithsonian institutions, making it easy to include in a central D.C. cultural itinerary.

• Admission: Free general admission is standard for Smithsonian museums; special exhibitions or programs may carry fees or timed-entry requirements.

What to See #

• Main Galleries (Old Patent Office Building): Main museum galleries housed in the Old Patent Office Building showcasing American paintings, sculpture and works on paper from the colonial period to the present.
• Renwick Gallery: A nearby branch dedicated to contemporary craft, decorative arts and small-scale works, located near the White House and known for rotating thematic exhibitions.