Washington DC is a top destination for culture enthusiasts – with over 70 museums and counting. DC is home to the World’s Largest Museum Complex – The Smithsonian Institute, which has seventeen museums (and a zoo) in America’s Capital City alone.

Today I wanted to shine a light on five AMAZING Art Museums in DC…I’ve linked to a few previous blogs I’ve written as well as museum resources.

We’ll be diving into each of thes unique museums in the coming months.

Before we begin…Our ‘cover image’ today is from one of my favorite Renaissance artists – Jan van Eyck. I fell in love with his work when I took an art course at Belmont University. Van Eyck’s attention to detail and ability to capture symbolism and human emotion is unrivaled.

This painting of ‘The Annunciation’ is found in DC’s National Gallery and is NOT to be missed. Learn more about the painting on their website.

1. The National Gallery – America’s National Museum of Art
   • Every art lover needs to visit The National Gallery at least once (and hopefully countless times) in their lifetime. It is the third largest art museum in the US and one of the largest in the world.
   • The collection spans thousands of years of history with strong focuses on:
     • Sculpture
     • Early-American Decorative Arts
     • American Collection
     • European Renaissance to 20th-century
     • Modern Art (mostly in the newer West Building)
   • My mom and I spent two full days at the museum and while I think we saw most everything, we could have gone back for a third day…
   • Pro Tip: When touring an art museum, don’t feel as though you need to see everything at once! Sometimes it’s good to break up the visit over several days or even two separate trips (if feasible).
     • I always go on the art museum website in advance of my trip to see: what exhibits are on, which art periods/artists they specialize in and research their audio tours/itineraries.
     • Often times museums have free tours with a docent/curator…never hurts to check in advance.
     • We’ll discuss pro tips for touring museums again soon, but keep in mind you don’t want to get so tired you look at a Monet and say ‘just another waterlily’
   • We focused the first day on seeing the highlights of every wing and then went back to see The Impressionism Wing again.
   • Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne are heavily featured.
   • The modern wing is a must stop for additional Matisse, Picasso, Bonnard, Vuillard and Calder works…
   • Read my adventures here

2. Smithsonian American Art Museum

Explore the best of American art in this museum, which is interconnected with The National Portrait Gallery. The museum features a variety of American artists from old masters like Stuart and Coplety to the grand landscapes of Thomas Moran, Frederic Edwin Church and Albert Bierstadt…

I recommend at least four hours in the museum (I could spend a week there looking at Moran’s larger than life painting of Yellowstone.)

• Fun fact: Thomas Moran traveled with The Hayden Expedition to Yellowstone National Park – his paintings of Yellowstone helped inspire to create YNP as the world’s first national park on March 1st 1872

For information about the museum click here

3. Smithsonian – National Portrait Gallery

Connected to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, The National Portrait Gallery tells the story of America’s diverse history and culture through portraits.

• see official Presidential portraits including the famed Lansdowne Portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart

Read about my adventure here

Check out the latest exhibits and visitor info here.

4. The Phillips Gallery

Home to arguably the most iconic Renoir painting in the world – ‘Luncheon of the Boating Party’, The Phillip’s Collection is the first museum of modern art in the world. (Even older than the MOMA)

Founded in 1921 by art collector Duncan Phillips and his wife, artist, Marjorie – the collection is astounding – featuring:

Cezanne, Daumier, Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Braque, Klee, Vuillard, Matisse and so many more!

I was blessed to visit the museum in person and at their traveling show at the NCMA in Raleigh.

Hands down one of my favorite museums.

• Fun fact – it is in The Dupont Circle neighborhood of DC in the Phillip’s former home.
• They have a great coffee shop on site

5. Hirshorn Museum of Art

Modern and interactive there is always something new and innovative to see at the Smithsonian museum by The National Air and Space Museum.

The building is an architectural work of art – modern and bulky, but inside open and inviting

New installations are constantly being added, but for those who are a bit conservative in art tastes (pre-1950s art) they do have Rodin and Matisse.

Timed tickets are required.

We can’t just stop with 5…

This is just a primer list – DC is full of ART…a few other great museums:

• Renwick Gallery
• National Museum of Asian Art…
• stay posted we’ll have a complete guide to DC art museums on our Museum List soon!