Back to museums

National Portrait Gallery

ArtHistoryPhotographyClosed · Opens 11:30amFreeGallery Place–Chinatown (Metro Red, Yellow, Green lines)

The only museum in the United States devoted solely to portraiture, opened in 1968 in the Old Patent Office Building — a National Historic Landmark begun in 1836 that it shares with the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Its second-floor "America's Presidents" holds the only complete set of presidential portraits outside the White House, anchored by Gilbert Stuart's Lansdowne portrait of George Washington and Kehinde Wiley's 2018 painting of Barack Obama. Elsewhere the collection runs from colonial-era sitters to contemporary commissions, and the glass-canopied Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard works as a free public living room between galleries. Note: select first-floor galleries remain closed for renovation until further notice, so check the museum's site before you go.

What's On

Now
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States

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

Show on map

Hours

Mon11:30–19:00
Tue11:30–19:00
Wed11:30–19:00
ThuToday11:30–19:00
Fri11:30–19:00
Sat11:30–19:00
Sun11:30–19:00

Admission

Free

Free admission for all; no tickets or timed entry required.

Nearby

Smithsonian American Art Museum

ArtFree1 min walk

National Building Museum

Architecture5 min walk

National Archives Museum

HistoryFree7 min walk

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Art7 min walk

Visitor Information

Is National Portrait Gallery free to visit?
Yes, general admission to National Portrait Gallery is free. Free admission for all; no tickets or timed entry required.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of National Portrait Gallery?
National Portrait Gallery is open Open daily 11:30–19:00. Closed 25 December. Select first-floor galleries are closed for renovation until further notice.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is National Portrait Gallery?
National Portrait Gallery is located at 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States, in the Penn Quarter / Chinatown area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are Gallery Place–Chinatown (Metro Red, Yellow, Green lines), Metro Center (Metro Red, Orange, Blue, Silver lines), Archives–Navy Memorial–Penn Quarter (Metro Yellow, Green lines).
What can I see at National Portrait Gallery?
Every U.S. president under one roof, plus Wiley's Obama, in the Greek Revival pile that was once the nation's Patent Office. Current highlights include Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood's Golden Age by George Hurrell (A Sequel), Portrait of a Nation: 2025 Honorees, Photographic Memory: Fifty Years of Collecting.
Do I need to book National Portrait Gallery in advance?
National Portrait Gallery is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Free admission for all; no tickets or timed entry required.. 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 National Portrait Gallery?
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.

Difference engine, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

DirectionsVisit Website