Group Size
Max 8
Tour Duration
2.5 Hours
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Free Cancellation up to 24 hrs
Highlights generally include (but are not limited to):
• 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!
• Civil War Generals— see striking portraits of key Civil War figures, including Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and George McClellan.
• Pocahontas Portrait — this 17th-century portrait is one of the earliest known depictions of a Native American in European art.
• Experience America: WPA Art from Roosevelt's New Deal— discover artwork commissioned under the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a bold initiative of the New Deal that provided employment to artists while documenting American life in the 1930s.
• Masterpieces by Whistler, Sargent, Hopper, Cassatt & Hockney— admire iconic works by some of America's greatest painters, from Whistler's moody portraits to Edward Hopper's cinematic urban scenes and Mary Cassatt's intimate depictions of family life.
Join us on a 2.5-hour private tour of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum, where the faces and artistic movements that defined the United States come to life.
Our expert guide will lead you through two of Washington, D.C.'s most fascinating collections, offering an in-depth look at the figures and moments that shaped the nation.
Begin your tour at the National Portrait Gallery, housed in the stunning Old Patent Office Building, and come face-to-face with America's most influential figures. Examine commanding portraits of presidents, Civil War generals, and pioneering figures like Pocahontas, and explore how leadership, identity, and activism have evolved over the centuries.
At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, admire New Deal WPA murals, bold portraits by Whistler and Sargent, and modern masterpieces by Hopper, Cassatt, and Hockney. From colonial works to contemporary innovations, this museum captures the evolution of American creativity.
By the end of this tour, you'll have traced America's story through its most compelling portraits and groundbreaking artwork, gaining a deeper appreciation for the country's cultural identity and the artists who captured it.
• PRIVATE MUSEUM TOUR (with reserved entry)
• PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE
• DURATION 2.5 HOURS
Anne Marie was great - very knowledgeable and made sure we saw everything we wanted. We didn’t feel rushed and the tour flew by!
26 June 2023
Annemarie was an absolute pleasure having as our tour guide. We booked this tour for the portraits of the presidents which she covered with interesting tidbits of history. It was the first part curating what to spend time seeing in the art portion that makes her stand a part as a guide. I highly recommend booking with her.
15 July 2023
Richard Robinson III is very knowledgeable about all the paintings and artifacts. I am extremely impressed with the tour he gave us.
15 August 2023
Stephen was a superb tour guide and a joy to spend 2+ hours with. These two conjoining galleries are completely fantastic and historically relevant up until today. My personal favorite parts were the individual Presidential paintings, each having their own distinct style and flair. Stephen showed us many highights throughout both these extraordinary galleries. Great tour, rich and interesting. Highly recommend.
01 October 2023
Anne Marie was so nice and very informative. She was able to answer any questions we may have had. It was longer than I originally thought but was still very enjoyable.
24 May 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Tour guide Rebecca was awesome. She knew her history but it was not presented like the dry facts from history class. Lots of interesting stories about the artwork. Presidential portraits were the highlight. Highly recommend a tour to fully appreciate this wonderful museum.
11 June 2024
Maribeth was AWESOME! Opened to questions and a font of knowledge. Rebecca also was energetic and provided interesting Presidential details along with extensive art history.
18 September 2024
Donna is an amazing tour guide. She is also a talented artist. I highly recommend this tour with Donna as your tour guide.
05 December 2024
Annemarie was a very engaging tour guide and we not only were able to appreciate the various artworks, but learnt a heck of a lot of history as well in the process. This is a great tour to do if you want to learn some American history through art. Annemarie provided fascinating stories and history to go along with the art and we learnt so much and got so much out of the tour. In addition, the history of the building was fascinating and the beautiful courtyard a lovely space to visit/rest. Highly recommended!
15 December 2024
Knowledgeable, entertaining, and engaging. Paul was an excellent tour guide and shared some amazing background on the portraits. His passion for art elevated the experience.
12 June 2025
Annemarie was a great tour guide. She is super friendly and knowledgeable. We highly recommend her!
15 July 2023
We had a wonderful private tour of the portrait Gallery and American Art Museum. Our tour guide was Annmarie and she was fantastic. We had a wonderful afternoon and learned a lot.
11 August 2023
Annemarie was amazing with both the adults and the kids in our group! She was highly knowledgeable, not only informing us about aspects/context of the art we were viewing, but also asked compelling questions to make us think about what we were perceiving too. She made sure to show us the highlights we were looking forward to AND the interesting/important pieces we would’ve have missed without her expertise and guidance.
10 October 2023
Ann Marie was fabulous! We loved our tour very much. She pointed out things we never would have seen on our own! A five star private tour!
08 March 2024
Annemarie was amazing! She knew so much about both history and art and tailored the tour to our interests. Such a great storyteller and conversationalist.
08 March 2024
Annemarie Voss gave us a fabulous, informative, educational tour of the National Potrait Gallery & American Museum. We were thrilled with the facts she gave us during our time together. 10 Stars!!!!
01 May 2024
Annemarie was the perfect guide! She was super easy to ask questions of, was very knowledgeable, and told great stories and information that we never would’ve never known had we gone on our own. We highly recommend Ann-Marie for any tour! So glad we got to enjoy the afternoon with her.
05 May 2024
I had Rebecca and she was terrific- illuminating and enjoyable. It’s the only way to do a tour and to know what you are seeing- I really loved it!
17 May 2024
Aside from having a cold, I had a great time with my guide Annamarie. She was very knowledgeable and kept our small group engaged. And I even learned a thing or two. Thanks again.
25 May 2024
We got great information from our guide. She was responsive to our questions and interests. We received information that we had not heard or read previously. We highly recommend Annmarie.
30 March 2025
