This gorgeous building houses both the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum. During my recent visit, I decided to focus only on the portrait section as I had limited time. As someone who enjoys modern art, I personally preferred the more modern portraits. However, there are paintings for everyone, as you can find works that cover all periods in the history of the United States. I plan to not only come back to the portrait gallery, but also to visit in the future the American Art Museum.

The National Portrait Gallery takes up about half of each of the three floor of the old Patent Office Building. (The other half is the Smithsonian American Art Museum.) One of my favorite exhibits features the entries in the Outwin Bouvecher Portrait Competition. In addition, you can see historic figures as well as contemporary Americans. Unlike the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall, this museum is open until 7 p.m. every day.

This is still one of the best places to visit in town, and very popular. Special exhibits on now include American entertainers and sports people, in addition to the great artwork and president's gallery. As with many DC spaces, do the exhibits and then just take a lap to enjoy the building's decorative details and the preservation that goes into keep it up.

I am not an avid l art lover but this place is amazing. Like all the Smithsonian's, it is free and it was not crowded at all. The place is huge and has thousands of paintings. I am not sure they do guided tours but I would recommend that if available. You can spend as much or little time as you want. To see most everything it would take at least a half a day. If you are tight for time make sure to see the President portrait gallery. Also, the inside courtyard is very nice and it is enclosed. You can take a rest and get some drinks and snacks there.

I always seem to be drawn to the portrait galleries in every major city I visit around the world, so I had to stop in here as well. Of course, my main reason was to see both Barack and Michelle Obama's painting. But, I also enjoyed the section with all the presidents' paintings as well. One thing, please offer a coat check. I could not stay as long as I might have otherwise if I could have put my heavy backpack and puffer coat away some where.

What I love about visiting the National Portrait Gallery is going to the Hall of Presidents portraits and hearing everyone's opinions on the Presidents by their portraits. There are some serious debates going on especially by the President Trump, Reagan and Nixon portraits. I guess everyone has their faults. It is interesting to look at each of their lives and wonder what it must have been like for the Vice-Presidents who were trust into the limelight when they became President. It must have been a jolt. Still there is a certain level of respect that you have to have for someone who has given up their lives to serve their country. I also liked the portrait of Pocahontas in the other gallery and think about how her life changed when she moved to England. Don't miss the museum.

I could spend all day in this museum. I am particularly interested in folk and outsider art and this is really the only option for that in the city but it’s a fantastic collection. In particular I could spend 3 hours alone at The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly. The portrait half of the museum is lovely too, but I am more interested in the American art side until you get to the higher levels of the portraits. The building itself is also a work of art. It’s just so stunning. And the room with the…I don’t know what to call it, it’s not archives but there are shelves and shelves and drawers of things to look at and explore with miniatures and sculptures and small paintings. It’s an incredibly intimate chance to interact with art.

We had a tour that began an hour before opening time. But that hardly mattered: soon the gallery was filled with others enjoying the same space and exhibits. My favorite was the room with portraits and busts of Washington and Lincoln that I'd never seen before.

Love this place, I have been to Washington four times and I have gone each time. A good portion is rotating exhibits and some of the collection feels like visiting an old friend. I love the courtyard in the middle although it is most special on a cold day. I like the variety and I like what the portraits make me think about. If I can describe a msueum as confident I would do so. A change to my eye was the inclusion of many more Indigenous pieces since my last visit, a welcome addition!

Fine museum. Well worth taking a few hours to visit - the special exhibitions can be riveting. One note of caution: the cafe is astonishingly expensive and the food poor quality for the cost. Museum of Art cafeteria is a fantastic alternative - highly recommended.