National Portrait Gallery
Facility · District of Columbia ·
Managed by the Smithsonian Institution
- 81 ft
- Elevation
The National Portrait Gallery shares with the Smithsonian American Art Museum one of Washington's oldest public buildings, a National Historic Landmark that was begun in 1836 to house the U.S. Patent Office. One of the nation's finest examples of Greek Revival architecture, the building has undergone an extensive renovation that showcases its most dramatic architectural features, including skylights, a curving double staircase, porticos, and vaulted galleries illuminated by natural light. The Lunder Conservation Center, the only fine-art facility of its kind, is an innovative new space that allows visitors to look through floor-to-ceiling windows as conservators care for the national treasures entrusted to both museums.
Open 11:30am to 7:00pm.; closed December 25
Getting there
38.90980, -77.01810 · 38°54'35.3"N 77°1'5.2"W
Typical weather
Typically 90°F in Jul, down to 45°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 45 | 48 | 56 | 68 | 77 | 85 | 90 | 88 | 82 | 70 | 58 | 49 |
| Low °F | 28 | 30 | 37 | 46 | 57 | 66 | 71 | 69 | 62 | 49 | 39 | 32 |
| Precip in | 3.0 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.6 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Member photos
Common questions about National Portrait Gallery
- Can you reserve a site at National Portrait Gallery?
- No. National Portrait Gallery is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
Camping near National Portrait Gallery
- Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site Tours 0.3 mi · Tickets · we watch it
- National Archives 1.2 mi · Tickets · we watch it
- The Morrison-Clark Inn 0.6 mi · Facility
- Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery 0.9 mi · Facility
- National Music Center 1 mi · Facility
- National Postal Museum 1 mi · Facility
- The Willard InterContinental, Washington DC 1.2 mi · Facility
- National Archives Building 1.2 mi · Archives
- White House Visitor Center 1.3 mi · Facility
- National Museum of Natural History 1.3 mi · Facility
- The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection 1.4 mi · Facility
- Riggs Washington D.C. 1.4 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone (202) 633-1000
- Email npgnews@si.edu
- Info Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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