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National Portrait Gallery

Destinations

From presidents to pop stars, meet the icons who shaped a nation

The National Portrait Gallery invites you into history through the powerful medium of portraiture—featuring everyone from George Washington to Beyoncé.

Make thousands of new friends! Featuring the nation’s only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House. The museum includes scientists, statesmen, and film stars bringing you face to face with America.

Insider Insight

Don’t miss the striking portrait of President Obama by Kehinde Wiley—it’s a modern masterpiece that redefined presidential portraiture. Pro tip: visit on a weekday afternoon for a quieter, contemplative experience, and linger in the Kogod Courtyard—a peaceful oasis beneath a soaring glass ceiling.

Where every face tells America’s story.
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