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Visit the Renwick Gallery

This is a photograph of the interior of the Renwick Gallery.

Hours and Location

Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. 

Free; No Timed-Entry Passes

Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20006

 

The Renwick Gallery is located steps from the White House in the heart of historic federal Washington. The closest Metro stations are Farragut West (Blue, Orange, and Silver lines) and Farragut North (Red line). Barrier-free ramp access is available at the 17th Street entrance.

There is limited on-street parking at meters; several paid parking garages are available in the neighborhood.

Links

Planning Your Visit

We’re delighted to welcome visitors back into our galleries. To keep us all safe, and to support efforts to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, we have limited capacity and have implemented new safety measures in the museum.

At the Renwick Gallery, we are limiting the number of visitors permitted in the galleries to accommodate safe crowd management and implement safe social distancing. Visitors to the Renwick are not required to obtain timed-entry passes at this time but may experience wait times outside if the galleries reach capacity. Please review the important information below as you plan your visit.  

When you visit us, you’ll experience some new policies and changes in the galleries.

As a health and safety precaution, we are not offering printed floor plans at this time, but you may use the museums’ free Wi-Fi to access a Renwick Gallery Map [PDF] to find your way around.

Bringing in outside food is not permitted. Closed water bottles are allowed in designated areas. The Renwick Gallery Store is closed temporarily, please check back for store updates or shop online.

The first floor of the Renwick is closed until October 16 when Forces of Nature: Renwick Invitational 2020 opens to the public.

Know Before You Go: Guidelines for Visiting

If Sick, Stay Home

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We’re asking all visitors who are sick or feel unwell to please stay home. If you are at increased risk of severe illness, you may also want to consider staying home.

Face Coverings

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Visitors ages six and older are required to wear a face covering during their visit. Face coverings are also strongly recommended for visitors between the ages of two and six. Face shields or any kind of face covering or mask with an exhalation valve are not permitted. Face coverings should be worn over the nose and mouth. Face coverings may be removed while drinking in designated spaces.

Personal Belongings

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We encourage you to limit the number of personal belongings and bags you bring to SAAM and the Renwick Gallery. Suitcases, large umbrellas, and backpacks are not allowed in the galleries. Security officers may ask you to hand-carry smaller backpacks, or wear them on your front, to protect the artworks. Please note that we do not offer coat check or bag storage at this time. Strollers are permitted in the galleries.

Social Distancing

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Please maintain a safe social distance of six feet or more between households or groups at all times. There will be social-distancing signage and directions throughout the museum.

Hygiene

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Please wash and sanitize hands frequently during your visit and practice good hygiene. Hand-sanitizing stations will be available throughout the museum.

Enhanced Cleaning

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Bathrooms, door handles and high-touch surfaces are being cleaned more frequently.

Exhibitions at Renwick

Links

Visiting With Young Children

Strollers are permitted inside the galleries. Stroller parking is available at the 17th Street accessible entrance, if needed. A changing table is available in the accessible restroom stall on each floor.

Accessibility

Barrier-free access to the museum is available at the 17th Street entrance. All areas of the building are served by elevators. Accessible restrooms are located throughout the museum. More information about accessibility at the museum, including services for visitors who have vision and/or hearing loss.

Service Animal Policy

Service animals are welcome at Smithsonian museums. Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are dogs trained to do work or perform specific tasks for a guest with a disability.

Aira

The Smithsonian Washington, D.C.-metropolitan area museums and the National Zoo are Aira access sites. Visitors who are blind or low-vision can download the Aira app free of charge onto a smart phone. The Aira app uses the phone’s camera to take in the user’s surroundings, and a live Aira agent will describe the environment, including reading of exhibit labels and instructions. This service is free of charge on the museum premises. Visit Aira Access. 

Telephone Numbers

Museum Information (recorded): (202) 633-7970
General Smithsonian Visitor Information: (202) 633-1000

COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that is believed to mainly spread from person-to-person contact. The Smithsonian is doing its part to mitigate transmission intensity, and we ask you, our visitors, to do the same and help us reduce the spread of COVID-19. You must follow all posted instructions while visiting the Smithsonian, including instructions about wearing face coverings and social distancing. Despite these measures, the risk of contracting COVID-19 could increase by visiting the Smithsonian. By visiting the Smithsonian, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. 

The Smithsonian reserves the right to modify its hours of operations, capacity, or visitor guidelines as circumstances require and to deny entry or access to any person who fails to follow these guidelines or whose conduct puts Smithsonian staff, visitors, or property at risk.

Renwick FAQ

Visitors to the Renwick Gallery are not required to obtain timed-entry passes. We can accommodate safe crowd management and implement safe social distancing for the limited number of visitors allowed at this time.

Yes, visitors ages six and older are required to wear a face covering during their visit. Face coverings are also strongly recommended for visitors between the ages of two and six. Face shields or any kind of face covering or mask with an exhalation valve are not permitted. Face coverings should be worn over the nose and mouth and may be removed while drinking in designated spaces.

The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday, from 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

The Renwick Gallery is the home to one of the most significant and most inclusive collections of American craft art in the world. Search the collection to see which artworks are currently on view.

The Renwick Gallery is located at Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th St NW. The closest Metro stations are Farragut West (Blue, Orange, and Silver lines) and Farragut North (Red line).

The Renwick Gallery is free and open to the public, with no entry passes required.

Exhibitions rotate regularly at the Renwick Gallery. To check what’s currently on view, see current exhibitions.

All on-site public tours and programs are currently suspended.

We are not currently offering in-person school tours, but we are able to provide interactive,free videoconference optionsfor K-12 students.

All of our teacher professional development programs are online for the 2020-21 school year.

Yes. Contact us to inquire about hosting your special event, wedding, birthday, or corporate party at the Renwick.

The museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and all Smithsonian facilities are closed on December 25.

There is no coat check or bag storage at the museum.

We encourage you to limit the number of personal belongings and bags you bring into our facilities. Suitcases, large umbrellas, and backpacks are not allowed in the galleries. Security officers may ask you to hand-carry smaller backpacks, or wear them on your front, to protect the artworks.

Yes, although we have limitations to protect the artwork. Suitcases, large umbrellas, and large backpacks are not allowed in the galleries. Security officers may ask visitors to hand-carry smaller backpacks, or wear them on the front of their bodies. Please note that we do not offer coat or bag storage.

The main entrance to the Renwick Gallery, accessible by a set of stairs and wide double-doors, is located on Pennsylvania Avenue. Access via an accessible ramp is available at the 17th Street entrance.

At the Renwick Gallery, accessible restrooms are located on all levels with unisex accessible restrooms on the first floor and basement level.

All mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any space that is open to the public. There are no designated areas for breastfeeding at the museum.

You may not bring any outside food or drink to consume in the museum; no smoking, eating, or drinking is allowed in museum galleries. Catering is not permitted unless coordinated withSAAM Special Events staff or Restaurant Associates.

Yes, water bottles are allowed if closed. Water fountains are available on the first and second floors, directly opposite the elevator.

Service animals are welcome. Please leave your pets at home.

Handheld photography and video for personal use is generally encouraged throughout the museum. Sometimes, photography of particular artworks may not be allowed in selected special exhibitions; please check the wall signage to confirm. No tripods, selfie sticks, or similar long tools are permitted in the galleries to protect the artworks.

Handheld photography and video for personal use is generally permitted throughout the museum. Sometimes, photography of particular artworks may not be allowed in selected special exhibitions; please check the wall signage to confirm. No tripods, selfie sticks, or similar long tools are permitted in the galleries to protect the artworks. Commercial and documentary filming requests must be submitted through the Smithsonian’s film request form.

Yes, please use the ramp on 17th Street to enter. Occasionally, special exhibitions may limit stroller access during busy times.