Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery Review

FOLK ART COLLECTION. YOU NEED TO SEE IT.

Free to public. Open extended hours compared to other Smithsonian muesuams. Win. Win.

Free, incredible pieces of art. Well sectioned by themes and the rooms are well curated

Backpacks go on your backs.. we're adults, we won't bump into thing and just leave....

Must see portraits of ex president Mr. BARACK OBAMA & FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA.

This is a wonderful Art gallery. We went back to it several days in a row to see sections we missed prior. They close early at 5:30 evry day (well the days we went anyway).

Nice museum, open late, peaceful atrium, & good cafe.

Great works of art and very informative write-ups. The exhibit about David Levinthal was particularly interesting. I was especially impressed with the great job the curators did compressing the subject's life into a small plaque beside the art. Highly recommended when you're in D.C.

Unique collection of portraits of famous people. Open late until 7:00 PM unlike other Smithsonian museums that close at 5:30 PM.
If you have seen the popular museums (art gallery, air&space and natural history museum) give this museum an try. Then go visit the national archives and the library of Congress. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the treasure trove of history and American ideas and ideals.

Recommend taking a guided tour to maximize experience.

Amazing! Had only one and a half hour to go though it but I loved it! Looking forward to go again when I have the opportunity and more time!

Amazing pieces throughout, but I like to visit as a place to relax, sit down when I'm in Chinatown. Love the atrium in the middle to hang out, study, get some work done. Also a nice little area on the second floor, east side of the building by the library.

Beautiful building with great pace, small crowds and the coolest indoor atrium in DC!

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!

Interesting and very enjoyable and hope to return to spend more time...Especially found interesting that of Toni Morrison.

Love this place! Great collections that tell the story of the USA. Wonderful place to come in the evening, after all the other museums have closed.

Amazing portraits. Clean. Ample restrooms. Gift shop. Informative people.

Another gem in the long list of fabulous free entry Museums and Galleries this Capital has to offer to its residents and visitors alike.
3 floors jam packed with past and present glories of different centuries as well as local/national talent plus many more stellar distinguished characters of varied fields in the arts from further afield.
However exhausted you may feel make an effort to visit this remarkable collection.

This shouldn't need reviews. It's a must see when in DC, and the name is self explanatory.

Art - history. Impossible to miss, a must see in America!

An oft overlooked museum, but it should definitely not be missed. Come to see the Obama portrait and stay for the survey of the breadth of American artistic and social history. Make sure to stand reverently in front of The Justices on the second floor.

This is a place not to miss. Visit more than once to enjoy the entire museum. I especially loved the early portraits.

Amazing, free, relaxing and enjoyable. The open center space is room temperature so you get to enjoy seeing the exterior design of the building with some warm coffee, lots of seats too.

I didn't know the American Art Museum shared each floor with the National Portrait Gallery. We went for the stunning architecture of the pavilion, realized the Patent Office Building was where Whitman worked, and spent a stunning two hours wandering the museum seeing in person what I had only enjoyed and seen before in books. You must go if you are any kind of an Americanist.

Many items of USA historical value to view - there are recent official US Presidential portraits on display here too.

I loved the art work of all the President portrays. The athletic art was well organized. The art was very well detailed and life like. The bathrooms were clean and the floors were very clean.

Full of historical portraits, with interesting exhibits to complement the mainstays. Worth spending maybe 1-2 hours reading the stories behind the paintings.

So much more than just all the portraits of the US Presidents. Great artwork to be viewed and great indoor patio to be enjoyed for a break.

Love this museum. Lots of amazing art like president Obama s portrait.

This is such a great gallery and really fun to visit. Can not believe admission is free. I d estimate 3-4 hours to get through it all.

Interesting mix of art and portraits. Very unique design for a museum that has a lot to offer and explore. Presidential portrait gallery is fascinating.

This is why I liked this destination:

1. Beautiful building with a lot of history
2. Centrally located in nice neighborhood
3. Beautiful portraits wirh opportunity to learn about our history

Good place to get a taste of American art. Has a good collection of portraits including Kevin Spacy as a president :-)

Amazing art - could be here for hours and keep coming back. Very moving

Very interesting! Loved looking at the portraits of the presidents

I had been walking around DC all afternoon and I stopped in here on my way home. I ll definitely have to come back and devote a few more hours. I fell in love with this museum and if the portraits aren t enough to draw me back, the courtyard is beautiful.

Really nice and quiet place. Good to rest after a long walking day!. The history of America at this museum is so instructive and interesting. I recommend this place as a good stop while visiting Washington DC

Museum of North American history told through photographs

View the faces of historical figures from each president to pop culture sensations. Easy to spend hours exploring. Bathroom facilities are clean.

Love the fabric art by Do Ho Suh and the president portraits.

Amazing portraits and Americana. They always have unique exhibits to supplement their standing collection.

Don't waste your evening away. Visit this museum which closes later than usual

Great place for all ages! Free and worth repeat visits, something new everytime!

One of my favorite museums. Great location and atrium space.

Very interesting. Definitely a must to see museum in DC.

The Courtyard alone is worth the visit. It is a great place to see great art and enjoy a coffee, or wine

Beautiful historic building, expansive collection, something for everyone

Beautiful building to house a constantly changing and engaging collection including lectures and live performances. The surrounding neighborhood is lively, safe and fun for all ages

It was a great look at the people who helped make the history of this country. The quality of the art work is fantastic

Seeing the Obama s portraits in there is just magical.

Very interesting exhibitions, including paintings, photographs and installations.

Gallery and museum are really nice and well laid out. Entrance is free and there is a nice center area where you could sit and relax.

We only had about 20 minutes to explore the National Portrait Gallery but we were impressed at the vast collection. It was amazing how close you can get to the artwork. Equally amazing was the age of some of the art. Will definitely be back.

Amazing experience, you have to see the hall of Presidential portraits and also the champions wing.

If you like art, go here. If you aren't sure you like art and want to find out, go here. If you like history, go here. There are so many different styles of art on display as well as items of historical significance, there's no way you walk out of here without finding something that you like. And it's free. You can't beat that.

I love this place, particularly their atrium! Always interesting exhibits and a calm, relaxing atmosphere

Great collection. Very enlightening. The Obama portraits are only two of the beautiful works here.

Kind of cool a little too much politics a lot of walking

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

Awesome! There's nothing like it in America! I recommend taking your time through the exhibits - the presidential exhibit is an especially great lesson in history.

Great place to visit. New exhibits on a regular basis. Has a cafe and beautiful indoor courtyard.