The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery is located in Washington, DC’s Chinatown. Once the Patent Office Building, the National Portrait Gallery has been transformed into a architectural must-see that houses paintings, sculpture, photographs and drawings of some of America’s most influential historical, literary, political, iconic and entertaining citizens. Among the 19,400 works of art, included in this extensive collection, are portraits of all of the U.S. presidents and even Stephen Colbert had his portrait in the gallery at one point.
Why Go?
The National Portrait Gallery not only has wonderful art, but there are free-docent led tours at certain times of the day (check website for times) and visitors can even watch a piece of artwork being restored and/or preserved.
Location
The National Portrait Gallery is located in the Donald W. Reynolds Center, which is shared with the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Cross Streets: Eighth and F Streets, NW, D.C., 20001
Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily Closed December 25Admission: Free
Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro Station on the Red, Yellow and Green Lines.
Visit the official website of the National Portrait Gallery