I enjoyed this gallery but was disappointed that Michele Obama portrait wasnt available to see. It will be on display November 13, 2020. It was taken down so they can relocate it since its the main attraction. But overall, this gallery is a wonderful place especially if you love art like I do!

Lovely museum filled with beautiful art and sculptures. Theres so much history here. Everyone was friendly and I would love to come back one day.

Only saw a few of the exhibits, but well worth a visit. The Americas Presidents is a must to visit. The temporary exhibit Her Story was also very good.

This place is so big with so many rooms and pieces of art. Suggest taking a few days to go through the whole thing.

The art is great. Mostly for the story behind those depicted. A large number of Hudson River School painters and the largest collection of prephotograph Native American portraiture on the surface of the earth.

The diverse collection spans several centuries to modern art. Even non art fans will find something interesting. The history of the pieces and links to history are amazing. Spend some time, and don’t forget it is free to get in.

Goodness, gracious, we have to return.Spent 4 hours on first floor -- where portraits of the Presidents are. Numbered in order.Simply a fantastic time.

Loved it!! An inspiration for even a mild art fan.

We love spending an afternoon looking at the portraits on one side of the building and the American Artist on the other side. Great collection of folk art and current working artist.The architectures amazing, it feels like a musee in Paris. The tile, strained glass work and lighting are photo worthy themselves.Atrium that separates the two sides is a great place to hang out and have a snack ... Just dont bring open containers into the building.The museum is open until 7 pm. Which is later than most of the others, which closer at 5. So its a nice place to meet friends before dinner.... Speaking of dinner, there are many lovely options within the block or two. City Center, China Town, etc.Its free! ️

Really great. Except ... lost one star for the modern art section, none of it was art, and it took up a lot of space.

One of my favorite museums in DC, the National Portrait Gallery has an interesting and intelligently put together art collection. From the Presidents portrait gallery to a relevant contemporary art selection, it proposes a variety of mini exhibitions, all set up in an incredible building.Dont forget to stop in the covered patio, a beautiful place where to rest and relax after the visit.

Beautiful! Will return.

A must! All good stuff is here!

Id recommend wearing a comfortable pair of shoes and planning to spend at least 3 hours if you want to see everything there is to offer.

Large museum with many exhibits. All types of art. Catch the presidents portraits while they arent on tour. They also got a model car exhibit.The atrium is beautiful.

Great experience. A lot to be seen and I will definitely go back

Wonderful museum, great portraits. The building is also cool in and of itself. Dont miss!

This museum is more than just portraits. It hosts very interesting exhibitions on American art and history.I come almost every time Im in DC. Most recently because I wanted to see the Obamas portrait. President Obamas is especially breath taking in my opinion. The colors are stunning and arent done justice in the digital photography Ive seen in the media.If youre into architecture, definitely check out the third floor great hall and Luce foundation.

Come here with time!!!! Definitely do not rush through here! There is so many things to look at and there seats so that you can just sit and take it all in!!! Art is something that is lost now a days - this is a great way to keep it alive!

This museum was a nice surprise because of few things.The architecture of the museum is beautiful.I loved the 20th century gallery which shows portrait of amazing people like Toni Morrison or Mrs Obama.The presidents hall is also very good and the explanations are just perfect.The contemporary part is also interesting and shows amazing pieces of work.Finally, there was an exhibition on feminism which looked nice and very detailed but I didnt have time to go through.

Beautiful structure, huge collections, loved the presidents portraits. Need for at least 3-4 hours.

Wonderful that the museum is open again. You will need a timed entry free ticket however, so plan ahead with Covid.

With so much to see in Washington, I suspect that this location is often overlooked. It would be a real shame. This gallery has mastered the display of portraits such that it never felt crowded, viewing seemed intimate and private. After touring the exhibits, take some time to enjoy the atrium, a breath of fresh air in a very open setting.

Magnificent portraits of past presidents, Americans with major accomplishments and stunning American Indian portraits makes this one of my favorites of the Smithsonian museums. See Barack and Michelle Obamas portraits now on display.

Experience was absolutely wonderful though was really complicated to get to an actuall entrance. But regardless a must see when youre in the area, I mean its free.

Great gallery - good variety and excellent exhibits. Open later which is awesome and lots of room even when crowded. DC is very lucky to have such amazing art so easily accessible to all.

Portraits arent my thing, but they were still nice

It’s a beautiful art museum. A lot to explore, learn and see. You just need to have a few hours to spent and go through all galleries.Also there is an indoor cafe and performance area where you can attend different events if available and have a cup of coffee with friends or set and do your work. It’s quite and a nice place

Excellent gallery to visit when in Washington. If you read all small information signs with each display, its an outstanding lesson in history. Someone would need to explain the modern art section. Highly recommended.

I love the variety at this gallery, and everything is so well presented. They are thoughtful about each room. Also, they often have new exhibits.

I like the portrait gallery for the single focused thematic element of thre art- all portraits! The catalog of president portraits is expansive filled with portraits and information on this countrys political history.They also have visiting exhibits - a small tribute to Kobe Bryant and a world portrait from Denmark - maybe my only surprise was that the special exhibits were only one painting each.

You should plan your visit for 4 or 5 hours. It has a lot interesting stuff

One of the greatest museums in the country. Home to one of the greatest art collections in the world.

It is a good place to learn about American history through arts. They do have other exhibits but I would recommend the civil war section and the president portraits.The portraits of Obama, Clinton, and JFK are must-sees for art lovers. They stand out from the other portraits. There is usually a line in front of the Obamas portrait but it moves pretty quickly.

Obviously you cannot rate this place anything less than a full 5 stars. Its a beautiful, welcoming, and inspiring museum.The portrait gallery section was awesome and the suffragette display they had open is great to inspire students and women all around the country to fight for equal rights.Of course, the presidential portrait are the best. President Obama, Clinton and Kennedys are the best.10/10 would go again.

The modern art section has some great pieces to see. Of course the portraits of famous people are outstanding too. And a mixture of classic and modern sculptures rounded out our visit. The atrium is great to take a break and relax.

Love this place. The courtyard/atrium is great place to read a book, draw, enjoy a cup of coffee. They have a coffee shop with decent pastries. Check out if they have events. Those could be fun, but crowded and noisy. Mr. Obama portrait is on your right on the second floor (F street entrance). Ms Obama is on your right on the third floor.

One of the very best art museums Ive ever been to. Period. Absolutely wonderful!Thank you Smithsonian!

As a Washington native, the portrait gallery is an old friend. But the exhibit of contemporary work was full of new names and intriguing work. I thoroughly enjoyed an hour there. Far more enriching than a latte at Starbucks. Here are a few photos.

The American Presidents exhibit was wonderful, its a great collection of artwork as well as an informative historic story of national politics. I didnt have time to explore the entire museum but it has so much to offer! Fun mix of history and art as well as contemporary and historical material.

Very interesting gallery to visit. The creativity behind each of the arts displayed is exceptional.P.s The museum also has excellent background and lighting for memorable pictures.

Always glorious. One of my favorite places in the city to just come and hang out for a minute. This last time we were there they were having an orchid exhibit.

Had an absolutely amazing time! Had not been in a couple of years, so slight changes and additions since then. The Bloom was beautifully crafted and my partner and I enjoyed the ode to nature. Shout out to the Hall for Women, an educational and cultural must see. Hall of Champions upstairs also is a must see. The Obama portraits are not together anymore, Michelle is on the 2nd floor while Barack is in the Hall of Presidents. Which also features new plaques next to each portraits, indicating their number, in order. Stop by and enjoy!

Great place 2 take the wife or a sophisticated woman!

This is one of my favorite museums in DC! The atrium is so peaceful and beautiful. I dont know if its the way the ceiling is built or what exactly but it absorbs sound so well that even if there are a lot of people milling about and talking there is an almost eerie quietness to the place. Many people bring their laptops in and just sit at a table in the atrium to work. The gallery itself is also beautiful and features many amazing works of art from the last couple of centuries. Even the kids loved spending a couple of hours wandering around here! I will always visit whenever I am in DC!

Best Smithsonian museum...innovative exhibitions; extensive descriptions in dual languages; fascinating juxtaposition of portraits from different eras and subjects; peaceful and inspiring space in immense Kogod Courtyard designed by Norman Foster. I could live there!

I came to see the portraits of the Classy, Loving and Highly Eloquent couple First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama and Im so grateful that I had that opportunity! I wish my battery hadnt started dying so fast otherwise I wouldve taken more pictures here.

We loved the buildings spacious galleries and historic architecture. Our favorite exhibit was the presidential portraits accompanied by well written history. Modern art exhibits and folk art are a matter of personal taste. Stop and have a treat at the cafeteria, a pleasant and relaxing segment to an otherwise busy day.

It is awesome! There are hidden 3rd floor. Go there and youll find treasures...

Really great gallery, tons of different types of works, not only portraits. The presidential wing was very interesting.Lots of details and thought provoking info is included for every work, you could spend days here reading all the accompanying notes let alone just viewing the art. With only half a day spent here, Ill definitely want to go back to see whats left.The courtyard in the middle is a great place to take a break, and they have beautiful flowers to see and plenty of seats.

COOLEST. MUSEUM. EVER. Learn about the people in the artwork, not just the artwork itself. Captions in English and Spanish. Sure to feature prominently the incredible stories of women, poc, people with disabilities. Make sure to check the third and fourth floors out to find a wing of publicly accessible art storage space & see art conservation labs & studios in action!! Im going back for a third visit today!

This is a good mix of art and artifacts. It is not very big but can easily take 3 hrs. If you have very limited time, go straight to the President Potrait gallery that has the potrait of every American president. I would also recommend finding the sculpture of the lady eating a sundae which is in the modern wing!

Lots of super cool portraits! I loved the Women in the Civil War exhibit, andi learned so much about some influential women Ive not heard of. I enjoyed the male Civil War portraits as well. I wasnt expecting to see so many authors in the museum! The presidential portrait gallery was great. They also had a small, but enjoyable section from before 1700. The suffragette section was intriguing. I wish I had more time to explore it.

Finally open, limited entry, reservation required. Middle courtyard closed,. Cafe closed. Bookstore and gift shop also closed. First floor north wing under renovation and is closed. Lots of purell.

Great collection of paintings, photos, and sculptures of famous Americans and landscapes. Gorgeous architecture and galleries, with a whole separate gallery for non-portrait art. Super fun!

One of my favorites. I always seem to notice something different that I may have missed each and every time I go. One of those museums where I feel there is something for everyone.

The Nation Portrait Gallery is a wonderful museum to visit. A must-see is the Third Floor which houses all of the Presidential Portraits. Among the most popular are Barack Obama, John F Kennedy and George Washington.

As this was my first time in the National Portrait Gallery, I was sort a guessing people would see portraits of mostly unknown people made by artists who had created semi-professional work. I also would have thought that the reference of the artwork would copiously monotone the caricature of the individuals being framed to make a grandiose biography of artists who framed them.To my surprise and delight, this gallery of the Smithsonian did none of that. I could tell that the curators of each department put careful thought into arranging the artwork and using the handcraft of many interns and SMEs to coif every word and nuance.My reason for coming was to seal a kiss to Toni Morrisons forehead in my mind on the portrait. It was a little hard finding her, but in the end, it was the aha! of a lifetime. The kiss would give Toni the seal of approval from My Benefactor, so that she would come back to life in real lovetime. Of course there were biographies about the human frames of references that other artists drew, stories of which I was unfamiliar about.My favorite artist was Ms Betsey Graves where she created George Washington Carver and the college girl who became the first commencement speaker for Univ of Georgia.My favorite painting was that of the very desirable Denyce Graves, the infamous opera singer. On top reads a coined term, Love is like a rebel bird, and shows her in a ruby red gown with every curve accentuating her percussionist octaves. Every nuance that the portrait bestowed, had her singing to me to get in the portrait with her.I would like to have seen different artwork from the references of many indigenous tribes made by people of color. There were at least three sets of the same indigenous man sheffling the wall of the Humboldt exhibit. That space could have been used much wiser to place portraits from different tribes of the Americas, but hey–I guess that is what the Smithsonian Museum of American Indian Art should be used for.Overall, my first time here had a lifeline of memories for me. I definitely recommend people coming here, given a chance to dream and discuss the detail, and create art on each persons personal level, like a Google rating, poetry, a sculpture, putting together furniture that ends procrastination, a photo or painting, whatever. In studio.

My favorite museum in DC. I always take a run through the Presidential Portrait Gallery (and I learn something new every single time), but my very very favorite is to sit in the small side gallery where the enormous Thomas Moran paintings hang upstairs. Im a national parks junkie, and his early works of Yellowstone remain some of the most astonishing pieces of art Ive ever seen. To contemplate them in their actual scale is to feel real awe.The two photos Ive attached are other works that particularly caught my eye on this trip. So much beauty in just a few hallways...

Well there is more art here than you can imagine. As part of the national mall area there are a multitude of museums and art galleries. This is a more traditional art gallery and I think the building is as much worth a visit as the art itself. More for adults than children but worth a visit

Not only because im working here during the pandemic but parts of the building Ive never got to see before when i worked here i appreciate even more that i get to see them now while im patrolling the building. All of the Smithsonian buildings as a whole are wonderful.

Amazing, one of a kind place! Historically significant building adds to the ambiance. See the beautiful art and special exhibit. We really enjoyed the Obamas portraits, and the orchid exhibit. The Vietnam war exhibit was very touching, too.

Worth seeing. Wish I had more time. Only saw about half. Still was worth it and plan to make it a priority next time.

So much great history located in one space is truly incredible! Had a wonderful tour of this great museum and loved every minute of it. Highly recommended when youre in D.C.

The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. is a beautiful walk through all the meanders of our memory. The Presidential Gallery and the American Origins Gallery are galleries not to be missed.Housed in the old Patent Office building, the National Portrait Gallery is connected to another gallery, the Gallery of American Art. Although separated from the rest of the Smithsonian museums, this is one of the best museums in D.C.Here are photos I took in galleries where photography was allowed.

Wonderful Alexander von Humboldt exhibition. Dont miss!!!

Fantastic place for youngsters and adults enjoy the beauty of Art.Something from almost each art discipline.Plenty of places to rest draw at Myer or even eat and have a cup of coffee.This is one of the third oldest building in Washington DC.

Im not an art person. I usually find it either confusing or boring, but the National Portrait Gallery and the attached art museum are of a different calliber than the modern art museums Im used to. You can see so clearly the cracks from age, the individual brush strokes, the color blending. For even the most staunch art museum hater (as I myself have been known to be) this is a great place to visit.

I love this place!! Especially the recent exhibit on the Japanese artist, 2nd floor in special exhibits, was my friend and Is favorite (lots of pictures below). Good escape from cold DC weather and props to being open later than other museums (thank you). However, Chinatown nearby is really really subpar and I would really eat elsewhere and be careful near the metro, esp at night

Had a company event. Amazing. I dont know if its the location or the catering itself. But everything held together very impressively. I didnt have anything to complain about. Except exhibits being closed off. But it was after hours. I was glad we got to see some art at all.

This place is HUGE. It cannot be fully explored in a day unless you run around. So much different types of art and approximately a third takes up actual portraits. The presidents portraits are nice and landscape paintings are also beautiful. The center court is also worth a visit even if you cant see the galleries.

This Museum was so nice and wonderful. The huge building is so large that it has several large exhibitions at once. It took me so long to explore that my phone died.

I love seeing American art from each period of time. Its beautiful! You can lose track of time going through the time periods. I enjoyed the past Presidents portraits and seeing their history - this is a fascinating place!

This free museum will surprise you! Hosting not only the portraits of all American presidents, there is also a large collection of portraits of other famous Americans and a large collection of other American art over 3 floors. Theres a small Cafe that serves wine and snacks on the first floor. Could spend between 1 hour and 2 or 3 hours in the museum.

This museum is definitely louder, busier, and more laid-back than the others we visited in Washington. This is where the famous portraits of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hang. Very impressive....and theres a line to see each one with people taking selfies, family photos, and getting a close-up look at each portrait. There are many famous people featured in the museum, as well as many historical figures. Interesting, they post historical information about the subject of each portrait next to them and the artist at the very bottom. Very interesting reading. A gorgeous building...three floors of wonderful!

Lots to see here if youre into art. Presidential portrait gallery is very well done. Also have a nice garden area,with lots of different orchids.

Doesn’t have coat check and the staff was Very Rude.

Do not miss this. I thought it would just be boring portraits of the presidents. But it is so much more! Art, history, architecture, politics, intrigue....all rolled into one national treasure. Definitely time your visit to take advantage of a docent tour. Made my visit so much more informative and interesting! the cafe is small, but prices are reasonable and food is yummy. Grab a table in the covered courtyard and youre in for a treat.

I had a great experience and i will be back to see the rest of the art gallery

The Presidential portraits are amazing. They are so unique and tell a story about each President, his heritage, his personality, etc. The styles and techniques are all so interesting. You can’t help but compare them to each other.

We spent several hours in this gallery and also enjoyed the courtyard. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL! It was a nice place to enjoy a snack and drink while resting in between the exhibits. The portraits were captivating!

Wonderful collection of portraits and art. Easy to get to by metro.. Must see for someone in DC!

A MUST DO ! GORGEOUS PIECES AND TRULY FANTASTIC ART!

This is an awesome art museum! The presidential portrait gallery really is amazing! It’s right by the gallery place metro stop and is by china town which has lots of great eating options for before/after.It also has extended Smithsonian hours and is open later.If you’re visiting DC or just need a quiet place to study the portrait gallery is a great stop!

Huge variety, well curated exhibits. I feel like this is not on a lot of peoples radar when they visit DC. Absolutely worth a visit

The National Portrait Gallery has been on my travel bucket list for some time, and it was absolutely worth the trip to D.C.! One of their most popular exhibits, of course, are the official presidential portraits. However, the other exhibitions are wonderful as well -- I especially enjoyed seeing the diversity of artistic styles and mediums represented. Im sure theres always room for improvement in that area, but it has certainly been taken into consideration from what I could see in my unfortunately somewhat short visit (2 hours was not enough but sadly all we could fit in.) Although a destination in its own right, if you dont quite have time for the main art museum in D.C. or its sheer size is overwhelming, be sure to pop into this gallery for a slightly more intimate look at American history through art.

Love it because I am working there for right now.

Very educational place! Nice to see the presidents and outstanding women of American history. The Obamas were my fav pics.

What a beautiful museum to go to for an afternoon. Definitely except to spend sometime checking out the artwork. Loved spending time here. Just don’t take a big bag with you,you’ll need to put it in a pay locker. Free coat room too!!!

Really neat gallery and very convenient to the mall and metro. We went to see the presidential portraits but ended up seeing a whole lot more. Found some remarkable art and enjoyed the diverse rooms. The presidential portraits portion of the place was a bit crowded but plenty of space to move around. I recommend taking the detour around the gallery before finding the presidential portraits. Well worth the trip.

Super fun gallery to visit. I wish they added a bit more info about the portraits though.

Fantastic! Beautiful American decorative arts and paintings of Americas movers and shakers.

I truly enjoyed my visit here! I couldve spent hours upon hours here, but time didnt allow. Theres so much to see. My advice; try to have in mind what areas of art that you value most, therefore, you can visit those areas of the museum first.

This is a must go in D.C. I loved specially the President’s Hall.

Well worth a visit. Seeing some historically significant portraits is amazing. Amazing art in the attached art gallery too.

The Presidential portraits are a must see! Each portrait is completely different because the President picks their own artist. There are also other exhibits that showcase Americana. Lastly, theres a beautiful indoor arboretum when you need a break from walking the museum.

There is so much more here than you expect. I was absolutely astonished by the depth and variety and vastness of knowledge and art here. Wish I could have spent more time!

Very impressive! Loved the Civil War and Presidential sections especially. Some truly beautiful paintings and sculptures. This place is HUGE!! Dedicate some time to see it all.

By far the best museum in Washington DC. In the name puts you off, the museum goes beyond the portraits. They have some excellent exhibition, which have been really thoughtfully curated. We spent two days in the museum and felt that we could have spent another two easily. The staff working at the museum are exceptional and very helpful.

It’s clean and beautiful with plenty to see. Once a month the have Young Portrait explorers where children can learn about different people and their backgrounds, the also do storytelling and drawing.