American History MuseumvsNational Portrait Gallery
Both are endorsed by professional reviewers. On balance, National Museum of American History ranks slightly better than National Portrait Gallery. National Museum of American History scores 91 with approval from 6 publications like Lonely Planet, Travel + Leisure and Time Out.
American History Museum
Frommer's
Lonely Planet
Time Out
Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
Where Michelin Guide
Fodor's Frommer's
Constitution Ave. NW, Washington DC, DC 20560
From $0/night
Frommer's "As a bastion of U.S. culture and history, this museum tells America's story in terms of everyday life." Full review
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Be sure to visit the museum's gift shops and dining options, also revamped during the remodeling.
Lonely Planet "This institution has accented itself with the daily bric-a-brac of the American experience... along with icons such as Dorothy’s ruby slippers and Kermit the Frog." Full review
Time Out "Among the exhibitions, America on the Move chronicles the changing ways Americans have got around a large country and how different modes of transport have transformed the nation." Full review
Travel + Leisure "One of the most popular museums in the Smithsonian collection, The National Museum of American History tells the story of America through its politics, technology, wars, pop culture, and food." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"This unique museum captures the essence of America by presenting the objects and ideas that have figured prominently in the nation's material and social development." Full review
Where "With five million visitors annually, this museum is one of the Smithsonian’s most popular." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a staggering lesson on the journey and emancipation of Afro-Americans." Full review
Fodor's "The 3 million artifacts and archival materials in the country's largest American history museum explore America's cultural, political and scientific past." Full review
Frommer's "A visit to the National Museum of American History today is a more penetrating, fun, and interesting experience than it ever was before." Full review
National Portrait Gallery
Concierge Travel + Leisure Time Out
Afar Magazine Fodor's Michelin Guide Where Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
F Street NW, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, DC 20560
From $0/night
Concierge "There are portraits of every American president (including Gilbert Stuart's Lansdowne portrait of George Washington and Pat Oliphant's caricatures of Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon)."
Travel + Leisure "Traces the history of America through visual and performing arts that pay tribute to great American icons like Marilyn Monroe and Rosa Parks." Full review
Time Out "The National Portrait Gallery features people who played a role in the shaping of the nation and its culture." Full review
Afar Magazine "This gem is found in the busy Penn Quarter of downtown D.C. It is my favorite place to bring visitors." Full review
Fodor's "Devoted to the intersection of art, biography, and history, this museum has on view hundreds of images of men and women who have shaped U.S. history." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"Modeled after its namesake in London, the National Portrait Gallery conserves some 20,000 paintings sculptures, photographs, engravings and drawings." Full review
Where "Famed faces of U.S. history and culture. Only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House. Daily 11:30 am-7 pm. Gift shop, café." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The Portrait Gallery is a great addition to the more popular stops, especially for those interested in a history of art, and the variety of people who shaped American history."
Washington, D.C. Travel Guide
March 1, 2021
Travel + Leisure "Thousands of works at the National Portrait Gallery include visual, performance, and new media art depicting presidents, poets, film stars, scientists, and more"
15 Best Museums in Washington, D.C.
March 20, 2023
Travel + Leisure "You will view spectacular pieces here, including Barack and Michelle Obama's official portraits...enjoy the museum's modern courtyard as well, which features a "floating" canopy of glass and steel"
