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Smithsonian American Art Museum

ArtHistoryClosed · Opens 11:30amFreeGallery Place–Chinatown (Red, Yellow, Green lines) — directly beneath the museum

Das SAAM beherbergt eine der weltweit größten und vielfältigsten Sammlungen von Kunst aus den Vereinigten Staaten – von Porträts der Kolonialzeit über die international umfangreichste Kollektion an New-Deal-Kunst und Werken der Folk- und Outsider-Art bis hin zu Nam June Paiks neonleuchtendem Electronic Superhighway. Es befindet sich im Old Patent Office Building, dessen Bau 1836 begann und das zu den ältesten öffentlichen Gebäuden von Washington zählt. Das Haus teilt sich die Räumlichkeiten im Donald W. Reynolds Center mit der National Portrait Gallery. Das Luce Foundation Center präsentiert auf der dritten und vierten Etage mehr als 3.000 Exponate in einem frei einsehbaren Schaudepot. Die Galerien sind an jedem Tag des Jahres bis 19:00 Uhr geöffnet. Hinweis: Die Ausstellungsräume für die Kunst des 18. bis frühen 20. Jahrhunderts sind wegen Renovierungsarbeiten bis Herbst 2026 geschlossen; die übrigen Bereiche des Museums sind regulär zugänglich.

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Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004

Nearest station: Gallery Place–Chinatown (Red, Yellow, Green lines) — directly beneath the museum, Metro Center (Red, Orange, Blue, Silver lines), Archives–Navy Memorial–Penn Quarter (Green, Yellow lines)

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Hours

Mon11:30–19:00
Tue11:30–19:00
Wed11:30–19:00
Thu11:30–19:00
Fri11:30–19:00
SatToday11:30–19:00
Sun11:30–19:00

Admission

Free

Free admission, no tickets required. Some workshops and special events are ticketed.

Accessibility

Barrier-free access via ramps on both sides of the 8th and G Streets NW entrance. MetroAccess Paratransit should use 800 G Street NW. Free audio guides in English, Spanish, ASL and Descriptive Audio; ASL, verbal-description and dementia-friendly tours are offered.

Nearby

National Portrait Gallery

ArtFree1 min walk

National Building Museum

Architecture5 min walk

National Archives Museum

ArchitectureFree7 min walk

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Design7 min walk

Visitor Information

Is Smithsonian American Art Museum free to visit?
Yes, general admission to Smithsonian American Art Museum is free. Free admission, no tickets required. Some workshops and special events are ticketed.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of Smithsonian American Art Museum?
Smithsonian American Art Museum is open Daily 11:30–19:00. Closed 25 December. The galleries for 18th to early 20th century art are closed for renovation until autumn 2026.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Smithsonian American Art Museum?
Smithsonian American Art Museum is located at 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004, in the Penn Quarter area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are Gallery Place–Chinatown (Red, Yellow, Green lines) — directly beneath the museum, Metro Center (Red, Orange, Blue, Silver lines), Archives–Navy Memorial–Penn Quarter (Green, Yellow lines).
What can I see at Smithsonian American Art Museum?
Drei Jahrhunderte amerikanischer Kunst in einem klassizistischen Baudenkmal, in dem Lincoln einst seinen zweiten Inaugurationsball feierte. Current highlights include Nick Cave: Mammoth, Shahzia Sikander: The Last Post, Much Here Is Beautiful: Fotoerhebungen zur Zweihundertjahrfeier der USA (Much Here Is Beautiful: Photography Surveys of the U.S. Bicentennial).
Do I need to book Smithsonian American Art Museum in advance?
Smithsonian American Art Museum is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Free admission, no tickets required. Some workshops and special events are ticketed.. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.
When is the best time to visit Smithsonian American Art Museum?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.
Is Smithsonian American Art Museum accessible?
Barrier-free access via ramps on both sides of the 8th and G Streets NW entrance. MetroAccess Paratransit should use 800 G Street NW. Free audio guides in English, Spanish, ASL and Descriptive Audio; ASL, verbal-description and dementia-friendly tours are offered.

Frogvixen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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