Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery & American Art Museum
2.5
hour
guided
Group Size
Max 6
Tour Duration
5.5 Hours
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Free Cancellation up to 24 hrs
Highlights generally include:
• The Founding Documents — stand before the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights, the texts that shaped the nation's government and guaranteed its core freedoms.
• The Magna Carta (1297)— view one of the rare surviving copies of this medieval English charter, a document that laid the foundation for constitutional law and individual rights.
• The Lansdowne Portrait of George Washington — this 1796 portrait by Gilbert Stuart not only shaped the public image of America's first president but also inspired the engraving on the U.S. dollar bill.
• The "Hope" Portrait of Barack Obama — Shepard Fairey's instantly recognizable artwork became an emblem of the 2008 presidential campaign!
Explore the words that built the nation and the faces that shaped its history on this 5.5-hour guided tour of two of Washington, D.C.'s most fascinating museums.
From the founding documents of the United States to the portraits of its most influential figures, this tour offers a unique perspective on America's past and present. At the National Archives Museum, stand before the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights, the texts that laid the foundation of American democracy. Examine a rare 1297 copy of the Magna Carta, see Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, and read personal letters from George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. These original documents offer firsthand insight into the defining moments of U.S. history, from revolution to civil rights. Then, step into the National Portrait Gallery, where history hangs on the walls. Stand before George Washington's Lansdowne Portrait, the image that inspired the dollar bill, and explore powerful depictions of Civil War generals, suffragettes, and modern presidents. See Shepard Fairey's "Hope" portrait of Barack Obama, an icon of contemporary political history, and explore how portraiture has captured the evolution of American leadership and identity.
By the end of this tour, you'll have explored the defining ideas, people, and struggles that shaped the nation, leaving with a deeper understanding of America's past and those who continue to shape its future.
• GUIDED COMBINATION MUSEUM TOUR (with Reserved Entry Tickets Included)
• PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE
• DURATION 5.5 HOURS (including break)
• SKIP-THE-LINE ACCESS TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
• TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE FOOD AND DRINKS
• TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE HOTEL PICKUP OR DROP-OFF (we recommend UBER or Taxi)
• TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE GRATUITIES (optional)
• TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE LUGGAGE OR COAT STORAGE
The tour was outstanding with a knowledgeable guide (Ann Marie). Covered all the high points. Well organized and personable. .
26 April 2024
Anna Marie did a fantastic job of describing the art and cultures in the museum. Highly recommend her for your next tour guide
25 May 2024
Annemarie was great and I really enjoyed the history of the building as well and the murals inside. Very nicely done! I would go again!
27 May 2024
despite only seeing a few documents and paintings, annemarie made the experience very worth while. upon arriving she already gave us a fun and welcoming energy, making us feel comfortable. we were able to make fun small talk with her even before the tour started, and she was chatting it up with the other members which made us all feel comfortable. not just that, she’s very knowledgeable on what was being displayed, especially the paintings, which was my favorite part!! i learned valuable facts which i definitely slept through back in my US history classes, she as well kept us...
20 June 2024
Excellent tour and very informative. asked what we were interested in and focused on that. Would certainly recommend! Kate was our tour guide - if you are interested in our American history ask for her you will not be disappointed.
05 August 2024
Annemarie was our guide through the 2 museums and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit with her. She was very knowledgeable and had interesting stories to share.
23 September 2024
The tour by Maribeth was fantastic! It was amazing to be able to enjoy the archives to the fullest thanks to her explanations. It is not the same to just look at them than to have the historic stories being told to you in a fun and interesting way. Totally recommend the tour, you’ll learn, enjoy, and have fun.
20 October 2024
AMAZING!!! Wow, I can’t express how much I loved this tour. It was my first time visiting D.C., and this experience was the perfect addition to my trip. Brenda, our tour guide, was absolutely fantastic—so knowledgeable and engaging.I’ll admit, I’ve never been much of a history buff and didn’t really enjoy it in school, but Brenda presented everything in such an interesting and approachable way. I not only understood the stories she shared but was completely engaged the entire time. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever enjoy learning this much!Brenda was patient and thorough when answering questions, making sure I...
16 December 2024
We learned and experienced more than I ever expected. Maribeth,our guide was excellent. She made history come to life!
26 January 2025
AnneMarie did a wonderful job giving history and context during our tour of the National Archives. She was so incredibly knowledgeable and patient and made the whole tour feel very relaxed and comfortable, often encouraging the only child on the tour to frequently contribute. She ensured it was a wonderful experience.
27 July 2025
Ann Marie was a great tour guide! Very knowledgeable and personable. I would definitely ask for her specifically for our next tour!
24 March 2025
Annmarie was fabulous and very knowledgeable in history and art. We had a great time and learned so much. Would definitely do again and highly recommend.
06 April 2025
Annemarie's knowledge and personal insights made this trip memorable. She made the history come to life and explained the reasons behind creating the documents.
23 April 2025
Annemarie was a superb guide. She added much context and did an exceptional job providing all sorts of insights — from who was included in paintings and why and where, to nuances of preservation of historical documents. We got so much more out of both locations — Archives & Portraits — than we would have on our own. Worth the money!
12 June 2025
Ryan was great! We had him for three separate tours. Knowledgeable and informative. It was a great choice using Babylon tours on our trip.
05 July 2025
Excellent tour guide....! What a pleasure to listen to a person with so much enthusiasm and knowledge ... Ask for Meghan
07 July 2025
I give Annemarie five stars. Wonderful tour guide for the National Portrait Gallery and National Archives. You can tell she loves art.
13 July 2025
Meghan is a scholar in this field.Absolutely awesome experience!! We never would have absorbed this much information without this tour.
25 July 2025
Our tour of the National Gallery of Art was outstanding! Annemarie took us through the many highlights starting with a painting by Leonardo Di Vinci! She had so much information about every piece that we visited....facts that we did not know about the creation of the art, stories about the artists life, and history that brought each work new meaning for us! She is so knowledgeable about so many parts of the city! We will definitely be scheduling tours with her on future trips.
28 August 2025
Annmarie was fantastic! Very knowledgeable and really did her best to give us the best bang for our buck with so many golden nuggets! I would highly recommend making a day out of one of her toys tours!
05 September 2025
