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Smithsonian American Art Museum

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

El SAAM alberga una de las colecciones más amplias e inclusivas del mundo dedicadas al arte creado en Estados Unidos: desde retratos coloniales y el mayor fondo de arte del New Deal que existe, hasta creaciones populares y de artistas autodidactas, pasando por Electronic Superhighway, la célebre instalación de neón de Nam June Paik. La institución tiene su sede en el Old Patent Office Building —iniciado en 1836 y uno de los edificios públicos más antiguos de Washington—, que comparte con la National Portrait Gallery bajo el nombre de Donald W. Reynolds Center. El Luce Foundation Center exhibe más de 3.000 piezas en depósitos visitables repartidos entre las plantas tercera y cuarta, y las salas permanecen abiertas hasta las 19:00 todos los días del año. Nota: las salas dedicadas al arte desde el siglo XVIII hasta principios del XX están cerradas por obras de renovación hasta otoño de 2026; el resto del museo puede visitarse con normalidad.

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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?
Tres siglos de arte estadounidense en un emblemático edificio de estilo neogriego donde Lincoln celebró su segundo baile de investidura. Current highlights include Nick Cave: Mammoth (Nick Cave: Mammoth), Shahzia Sikander: The Last Post, Much Here Is Beautiful: Prospecciones fotográficas del bicentenario de EE. UU. (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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