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Renwick Gallery

ArchitectureDesignArtClosed todayFreeFarragut West (Blue, Orange, Silver lines)

La Renwick Gallery es la sede del Smithsonian American Art Museum dedicada a la artesanía contemporánea y las artes decorativas, situada en Lafayette Square, a una manzana de la White House. James Renwick Jr. la diseñó en 1859 para el banquero William Wilson Corcoran siguiendo el estilo Segundo Imperio que tanto admiraba en el Louvre, lo que la convirtió en el primer edificio de Estados Unidos construido expresamente para albergar un museo de arte; sobre su entrada aún se puede leer la inscripción «Dedicated to Art», y el senador Charles Sumner la bautizó como «el Louvre americano». Tras salvarse de la demolición gracias a una campaña impulsada por Jacqueline Kennedy en 1962, reabrió sus puertas en 1972 como galería de artesanía del Smithsonian. A lo largo de dos plantas, con el Grand Salon como gran protagonista, exhibe obras en fibra textil, cerámica, vidrio, metal y madera creadas por autores estadounidenses. La entrada es gratuita. Nota: el edificio permanecerá cerrado temporalmente al público hasta el 13 de noviembre de 2026 debido a los trabajos de renovación para la exposición Handwork: Artesanía contemporánea en la Renwick Gallery (Handwork: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery).

What's On

Now
Nov
Dec
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Mar

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NW (Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW), Washington, DC 20006

Nearest station: Farragut West (Blue, Orange, Silver lines), Farragut North (Red line)

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Hours

Closed until 12 November

Closed to prepare for Handwork; reopens 13 November 2026

Mon10:00–17:30
Tue10:00–17:30
Wed10:00–17:30
Thu10:00–17:30
Fri10:00–17:30
SatToday10:00–17:30
Sun10:00–17:30

Admission

Free

Free admission, no tickets required.

Accessibility

Barrier-free ramp access at the 17th Street entrance; all areas of the building are served by elevators and accessible restrooms are located throughout. Strollers should also use the 17th Street ramp.

Nearby

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Design10 min walk

National Museum of African American History and Culture

ArtFree13 min walk

National Museum of American History

HistoryFree14 min walk

Smithsonian American Art Museum

ArtFree16 min walk

Visitor Information

Is Renwick Gallery free to visit?
Yes, general admission to Renwick Gallery is free. Free admission, no tickets required.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of Renwick Gallery?
Renwick Gallery is open Daily 10:00–17:30. Closed 25 December. Temporarily closed to the public until 13 November 2026 while the galleries are reinstalled for the exhibition Handwork: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Renwick Gallery?
Renwick Gallery is located at 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NW (Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW), Washington, DC 20006, in the Lafayette Square area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are Farragut West (Blue, Orange, Silver lines), Farragut North (Red line).
What can I see at Renwick Gallery?
El espacio del Smithsonian dedicado a la artesanía en el «Louvre americano», el primer edificio de EE. UU. erigido expresamente como museo de arte, junto a la White House. Current highlights include The Grand Salon, Trabajo manual: Artesanía contemporánea en la Renwick Gallery (Handwork: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery).
Do I need to book Renwick Gallery in advance?
Renwick Gallery is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Free admission, no tickets 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 Renwick 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.
Is Renwick Gallery accessible?
Barrier-free ramp access at the 17th Street entrance; all areas of the building are served by elevators and accessible restrooms are located throughout. Strollers should also use the 17th Street ramp.

Ingfbruno / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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