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Visit the Smithsonian American Art Museum

This is an image inside the Lincoln Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Hours and Location

Wednesday through Sunday 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Holiday Hours: Closed September 6 and December 25, 2021

8th and G Streets, NW
Washington, DC 20004 

SAAM is located at 8th and G streets NW, above the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metrorail station and is accessible from Green, Yellow, and Red metro lines. At SAAM, ramps are located on both sides of the 8th and G Streets NW entrance.

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

Links

Planning Your Visit

We ask that all visitors, including those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, follow these safety measures to protect everyone’s health. Visitors who do not adhere to safety policies and guidelines may be asked to leave.

All visitors ages two (2) and older are required to wear a mask while visiting Smithsonian museums and indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth. Face shields or any kind of face covering or mask with an exhalation valve are not permitted. 

We encourage visitors to maintain a safe social distance of six feet or more between households or groups.

All children (under the age of 18) must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. At least one (1) adult chaperone is required to accompany up to five (5) children.

As a health and safety precaution, we are not offering printed floor plans at this time. To find your way around you may use the museum’s free Wi-Fi to access a digital Smithsonian American Art Museum Map [PDF].

The museum stores are open for in-person shopping, and our stores are always open online!

The Courtyard Café is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors are permitted to bring in food and beverages to be consumed in designated spaces in the Kogod Courtyard only; alcoholic beverages and food for groups is not permitted. 

 

Know Before You Go: Guidelines for Visiting

Personal Belongings

A graphic of bags

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. 

If Sick, Stay Home

A graphic of a blue house

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

A graphic of a face mask

All visitors ages two (2) and older are required to wear a mask while visiting Smithsonian museums and indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth. Face shields or any kind of face covering or mask with an exhalation valve are not permitted.

Exhibitions at SAAM

Links

Visiting with Young Children

All visitors ages two (2) and older are required to wear a mask while visiting Smithsonian museums and indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. 

For activities for all ages, see Family Activities. There are elevators and ramps throughout the museum to accommodate strollers.  Changing stations are available in all of the museum’s restrooms.

Accessibility

An access ramp is located at the museum’s G Street entrance. All visitors will be directed to enter and exit through this entrance at 8th and G Streets NW. The museum’s F Street entrance is closed. If you are using MetroAccess Paratransit, please use 800 G Street NW as the address for our building. Barrier-free access and restrooms are available. View more information on accessibility at the museums.

Service Animals

Service animals are welcome at Smithsonian museums. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. Pets are not permitted.

Aira

SAAM is an Aira access site. 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 exhibition 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 by person-to-person contact. The Smithsonian is doing its part to mitigate transmission, and we ask you, our visitors, to do the same and help us reduce the spread of COVID-19. Despite our best efforts, 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.

SAAM FAQ

No, tickets are not required to visit the Smithsonian American Art Museum or its Renwick Gallery. As of July 20, 2021, passes are no longer required to visit. All passes issued for July 21–August 15 will be canceled and will not be scanned at entry.

Yes, all visitors ages two (2) and older are required to wear a mask while visiting Smithsonian museums and indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth. Face shields or any kind of face covering or mask with an exhalation valve are not permitted.

 

The Smithsonian American Art Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

SAAM is located at Eighth and G streets NW in the Penn Quarter neighborhood in Washington, DC. The museum is above the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metrorail station, which serves the Green, Yellow, and Red Metro lines

SAAM is located at Eighth and G streets NW, above the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metrorail station and is accessible from Green, Yellow, and Red Metro lines. 

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 options for K-12 students.  
 

All of our teacher professional development programs are online for the 2020 – 2021 school year.

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

There is no coat check or bag storage at the museum and the small lockers in each lobby are not available at this time.   

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. Please note that we do not offer coat check or bag storage at this time. Strollers are permitted in the galleries. 

Yes, backpacks are permitted 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.

At SAAM, two accessible ramps are located on Eighth and G Streets NW.

Accessible restrooms are located on all floors of SAAM.

SAAM is not located on the National Mall. It is located at Eighth and G streets NW, above the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metrorail station and is accessible from Green, Yellow, and Red metro lines.

SAAM is a fifteen minute walk on 9th Street NW, directly north of the National Mall.

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

The Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery share a building but are two separate museums with separate collections and staff; both are part of the Smithsonian.

The Luce Foundation Center for American Art is located on the third floor mezzanine of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It is the first visible art storage and study center in Washington, DC, and allows visitors to browse thousands of artworks from the collection.

The Lunder Conservation Center is located on the third floor mezzanine of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Shared with the National Portrait Gallery, it is the first art conservation facility to allow the public permanent behind-the-scenes views of the preservation work of museums.

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

Sketching is permitted only in permanent collection galleries and the Luce Foundation Center, not in special exhibitions. Please be extremely careful with your drawing tools; show respect for the artwork and your fellow visitors. Check our website before you visit for a list of permitted media.

Visitors are permitted to bring in food and beverages to be consumed in designated spaces in the Kogod Courtyard only; alcoholic beverages and food for groups is not permitted. The Courtyard Café in SAAM's main building is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Yes, water bottles are allowed if closed. Water fountains are available as well.

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 or documentary filming requests must be submitted through the Smithsonian’s film request form.

Yes, you are welcome to bring your computer to the museum. Wi-Fi is available throughout the building, but seating and tables have been removed from the Kogod Courtyard and from the Luce Foundation Center to allow for safe social distancing.

Yes, strollers are permitted in the galleries. Occasionally, special exhibitions may limit stroller access during busy times.