National Portrait Gallery
Every face that shaped America — politicians, scientists, activists, inventors, performers — collected in one building.
Coming soon on iOS — be first to walk Washington offline.
Opened in 1968 as part of the Smithsonian, the NPG collects portraits exclusively of Americans who contributed to the nation's history and culture. It shares the historic Old Patent Office Building with the Smithsonian American Art Museum, so one visit covers two major collections. The gallery's nucleus traces to WWI leader portraits commissioned in 1919 and first shown publicly in 1921.
What to look for
- The Old Patent Office Building itself, the historic structure both museums share
- The breadth of subjects — the museum defines contribution broadly, from artists and inventors to activists and performers
- The collection's origin story: WWI leader portraits commissioned in 1919, first exhibited at the National Museum of Natural History in May 1921
Part of the Smithsonian Institution; the same building holds the Smithsonian American Art Museum, so plan time for both.
National Portrait Gallery is one of 37 sights worth the detour in Washington, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Washington pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Washington
- White HouseBritish forces torched it in 1814. It has been the U.S. president's home and office ever since.
- The PentagonDesigned and built in 16 months during World War II — 17.5 miles of corridors, a five-acre central courtyard, and a 9/11 memorial at the exact point of impact.
- United States CapitolEvery street address in Washington DC radiates outward from this building — it is literally the zero point of the city.
- Washington MonumentThe faint color seam partway up the shaft marks where construction stopped for 23 years.
- Smithsonian InstitutionBritish scientist James Smithson left a bequest that became 157 million objects, 21 museums, and a zoo — almost all free to walk into.
- Arlington National CemeteryThe ground holding 400,000 graves was seized from Robert E. Lee's own family over an unpaid tax bill in 1864.