The National Archives MuseumvsNational Portrait Gallery
Both National Portrait Gallery and The National Archives Museum are rated very highly by writers. On balance, The National Archives Museum ranks marginally higher than National Portrait Gallery. The National Archives Museum comes in at 87 with praise from 8 reviewers including Fodor's, Frommer's and Frommer's.
The National Archives Museum
Concierge
Frommer's
Travel + Leisure
Time Out Frommer's
Michelin Guide
Where
Atlas Obscura
U.S. News & World Report
Fodor's Show All Reviews
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC, DC 20408
From $0/night
Concierge "In the public vaults, visitors can research their genealogy, view original patent drawings (like the pencil), and listen to recordings of White House conversations during the Cuban Missile Crisis."
Frommer's "The Rotunda of the National Archives displays the country's most important original documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Seeing the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Magna Carta all under one roof (in the main rotunda) is impressive." Full review
Time Out "The vast collection of the National Archive & Record Administration (NARA) represents the physical record of the birth and growth of a nation in original documents." Full review
Frommer's "The Rotunda of the National Archives displays the country’s most important original documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights." Full review
Michelin Guide 0 Stars
"This Classical Revival "temple" just off the Mall holds the nation's documentary treasures, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights." Full review
Where "See the “Charters of Freedom”—the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Theater with free films. " Full review
Atlas Obscura "An atomic bomb-proof strongbox protects the U.S. Constitution from terrorists and thieves. " Full review
U.S. News & World Report13.0
"A treasure trove of the United States' founding documents, the National Archives Museum is high on travelers' to-do lists and almost always has long entrance lines." Full review
Fodor's "The National Archives is at once monument, museum, and the nation's memory." 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"
