Smithsonian American Art Museum
Washington D.C. · United States · Founded 1829
Quick answer
Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C., United States — the Smithsonian American Art Museum (commonly known as SAAM) is a museum in Washington, D.C., part of the Smithsonian Institution. Open daily, 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM. Admission: free admission. Allow 2 hours.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Smithsonian American Art Museum at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Daily: 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Admission | Free admission |
| Free access | Always free — no admission charge |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 2 hours |
| Getting there | Metro: Gallery Place–Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow lines) — 2-minute walk |
| Address | 8th and G Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA |
| Official website | americanart.si.edu |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Smithsonian American Art Museum known for?
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (commonly known as SAAM) is a museum in Washington, D.C., part of the Smithsonian Institution. Together with its branch museum, the Renwick Gallery, SAAM holds one of the world's largest and most inclusive collections of art, from the colonial period to the present, made in the United States.
The museum has more than 7,000 artists represented in the collection. Most exhibitions take place in the museum's main building, the old Patent Office Building.
The museum provides electronic resources to schools and the public through its national education program. It maintains seven online research databases with more than 500,000 records.
The Kogod Courtyard, with its elegant glass canopy, connects the SAAM with the National Portrait Gallery, creating one of Washington's most beloved indoor public spaces.
Best for: Art Lovers · First-timers · Rainy-day visits
How long do you need at Smithsonian American Art Museum?
Allow 2 hours. A focused route through 2 must-see highlights at Smithsonian American Art Museum without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Nam June Paik's Electronic Superhighway
📍 Lincoln Gallery
A 15-metre-wide wall of 336 TV monitors showing video clips of all 50 US states.
- 2
Niagara
📍 Lincoln Gallery
Church's panoramic canvas of Niagara Falls — at the time the most celebrated American painting.
What are the must-see works at Smithsonian American Art Museum?
2 highlights that define the collection: Nam June Paik's Electronic Superhighway, Niagara.
Nam June Paik's Electronic Superhighway
Nam June Paik · 1995
📍 Lincoln Gallery
A 15-metre-wide wall of 336 TV monitors showing video clips of all 50 US states. One of the largest and most celebrated works of video art, prophetically depicting the internet age before most people had access to it.
Niagara
Frederic Edwin Church · 1857
📍 Lincoln Gallery
Church's panoramic canvas of Niagara Falls — at the time the most celebrated American painting. The horizontal format creates an almost photographic immersive effect, pulling viewers into the mist and roar of the falls.
Collections and highlights
- • Among the Sierra Nevada, California by Albert Bierstadt
- • Electronic Superhighway by Nam June Paik
- • The Adams Memorial
- • Kogod Courtyard
- • Extensive contemporary craft collection
How do you get to Smithsonian American Art Museum?
- metro Gallery Place–Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow lines) — 2-minute walk
- metro Archives–Navy Memorial (Green, Yellow lines) — 5-minute walk
- bus DC Circulator National Mall route · Multiple Metrobus lines to 8th & F St NW
Address: 8th and G Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA
Smithsonian American Art Museum: frequently asked questions
Is the Smithsonian American Art Museum free?
Yes — like all Smithsonian Institution museums in Washington D.C., admission to SAAM is entirely free. No tickets or reservations are required for general entry. The museum is open daily 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM. The Renwick Gallery, SAAM's branch museum dedicated to craft and decorative arts, is also free and located near the White House.
What is the most famous work in the SAAM collection?
Among the most celebrated works are Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii (1995) by Nam June Paik — a monumental installation of 51 television monitors arranged in the shape of the US, with channels showing local TV from each state; Among the Sierra Nevada, California (1868) by Albert Bierstadt — a vast, luminous landscape of the American West; and the Kogod Courtyard itself, whose glass-and-steel canopy by Foster + Partners is one of Washington's finest interior spaces.
What is the Kogod Courtyard at SAAM?
The Kogod Courtyard is a stunning glass-canopied public atrium connecting the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, both housed in the same building — the historic Old Patent Office Building. The canopy, designed by Sir Norman Foster and Partners and opened in 2007, covers 33,767 square feet of courtyard space. It is free to visit, open to the public independently of museum hours, and is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful indoor public spaces in Washington D.C.
What is the difference between SAAM and the National Portrait Gallery?
Both are housed in the same building (the Old Patent Office Building) and both are free Smithsonian museums, but they have distinct collections. SAAM focuses on American art of all media — painting, sculpture, photography, folk art, and contemporary work — spanning the colonial era to the present. The National Portrait Gallery focuses specifically on portraits of Americans who have shaped the nation's history: presidents, artists, scientists, activists, and athletes. Both can be visited in a single trip.
How long does a visit to the Smithsonian American Art Museum take?
SAAM occupies three floors of the Old Patent Office Building, with over 7,000 artists represented. A focused visit to the highlights — Paik's Electronic Superhighway, the Bierstadt landscapes, the Lunder Conservation Center (where visitors can watch conservators at work through glass), and the contemporary galleries — takes 1.5–2 hours. A thorough visit through the entire collection takes 3–4 hours.
How long should I spend at Smithsonian American Art Museum?
Plan 2 hours for the highlights of Smithsonian American Art Museum. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
Is Smithsonian American Art Museum open on Mondays?
Yes — Smithsonian American Art Museum is open every day of the week, including Mondays and Sundays: 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM. Check the official website for holiday hours.
What are Smithsonian American Art Museum's opening hours?
Smithsonian American Art Museum is open daily, 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
