Discover the nation’s first collection of American art and its home for contemporary craft at these free DC museums.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) in Washington, DC is one of the largest and most expansive collections of American art in the world, representing thousands of artists and craftspeople spanning hundreds of years.
Between its two locations – one in Penn Quarter (which also houses the National Portrait Gallery) and its Renwick Gallery near the White House – it provides a comprehensive journey through permanent and rotating exhibits.
What is the Smithsonian American Art Museum?
Journey through America’s artistic development by viewing 17th- and 18th-century paintings from from the colonies of New Spain and New England, then make your way through the 19th century art collection, which highlights the Western migration, impressionism and the Gilded Age.
Admission is always free and tickets are not required. Both facilities are handicap accessible.
Where is SAAM? When is it open?
The Smithsonian American Art Museum's primary location can be found at 8th and F Streets NW. It's open Monday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. – one of the only Smithsonian museums to stay open until this hour. The building is across the street from the Gallery Place Metro stop (Red, Yellow and Green lines) and a short walk from the Metro Center stop (Red, Orange, Silver and Blue lines).
The Renwick Gallery can be found at Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street NW, near the White House, and its hours are Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Metro has two stations within blocks of the museum: Farragut North (Red line) and Farragut West (Orange, Silver and Blue lines).
What’s inside the Smithsonian American Art Museum's 8th Street location?
SAAM's vision is to be "a place to picture yourself in American art." Here, you'll not only find America’s most revered artists from the 17th century to today, you'll explore a wider representation of American visual culture, including modern folk and self-taught art, African American art, Latino art, photography, craft and modern media. Explore current exhibits across both locations.
Among the most famous works at SAAM are abstract and realist works from the museum’s large collection of New Deal art and murals. The Lunder Conservation Center is another under-the-radar attraction within the museum, where visitors can watch conservationists at work.
What's inside the Renwick?
The Renwick Gallery is the museum’s free-to-enter home for contemporary craft and decorative art, displaying the finest in American craft and decorative art in its beautiful, state-of-the-art building just steps from the White House. The Renwick is known for its groundbreaking interactive exhibits, including the fan-favorite Rubenstein Grand Salon (pictured above), so make sure to check out what's happening there before you go.
Are there tours available?
Free tours at SAAM's main building start at 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. every day. Tours are on a walk-in basis and last approximately one hour, which are subject to volunteer docent availability.
What's the Kogod Courtyard? How can I access it?
If your march through the annals of American art history has you feeling both amazed and a bit tired, enjoy the Kogod Courtyard, set in the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Here you can relax and gear your mind back toward the present via free Wi-Fi. The Courtyard Café offers casual dining. Enjoy a featured selection of baked goods, sandwiches, salads, desserts and beverages.
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