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Renwick Gallery

ArchitectureDesignArtClosed todayFreeFarragut West (Blue, Orange, Silver lines)

Installée sur Lafayette Square, à un pâté de maisons de la Maison-Blanche, la Renwick Gallery est l'antenne du Smithsonian American Art Museum consacrée à l'artisanat d'art contemporain et aux arts décoratifs. Conçu en 1859 par James Renwick Jr. pour le banquier William Wilson Corcoran, le bâtiment adopte le style Second Empire que l'architecte admirait au Louvre, devenant ainsi le premier édifice expressément pensé comme musée d'art aux États-Unis. L'inscription « Dedicated to Art » orne toujours son fronton, et le sénateur Charles Sumner le qualifiait de « Louvre américain ». Sauvé de la démolition en 1962 grâce à une campagne menée par Jacqueline Kennedy, puis rouvert par la Smithsonian Institution en 1972, le lieu déploie sur deux étages des créations d'artisans d'art américains mêlant textile, céramique, verre, métal et bois, articulées autour du spectaculaire Grand Salon. L'entrée est gratuite. Remarque : le bâtiment est temporairement fermé au public jusqu'au 13 novembre 2026 pour le réaménagement de ses salles en vue de l'exposition « Travail de la main : Les métiers d'art contemporains à 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?
L'espace dédié aux métiers d'art du Smithsonian dans le « Louvre américain », tout premier édifice des États-Unis conçu pour abriter un musée d'art, à deux pas de la Maison-Blanche. Current highlights include The Grand Salon, Le travail de la main : l'artisanat contemporain à 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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