Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery & American Art Museum
2.5
hour
guided
Group Size
Max 8
Tour Duration
2.5 Hours
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Free Cancellation up to 24 hrs
Highlights generally include (as long as items are not on loan or being restored):
Join us for a private tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, where the story of the United States' rise from a rebellious colony to a global power unfolds through its most treasured artifacts.
From the American Revolution to the Civil Rights Movement and wartime ingenuity during World War II, this museum brings America's history to life, On this 2.5-hour guided tour, our expert guide will lead you through this vast collection, ensuring you see all the museum's most important exhibits. Stand before the original Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired the national anthem. Explore presidential legacies with George Washington's sword and Abraham Lincoln's top hat, worn on the night of his assassination. Visit the Greensboro Lunch Counter, where a peaceful sit-in ignited the Civil Rights Movement, and admire the inaugural gowns of First Ladies, each reflecting a pivotal moment in history. You'll even step into pop culture history with Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. By the end of this tour, you'll have explored the milestones of American history, from revolution and reform to innovation and culture. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a first-time visitor, this experience offers a deeper understanding of the nation's past and what it means to be American today.
• GUIDED MUSEUM TOUR
• PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE
• DURATION 2.5 HOURS
• ALL ENTRANCE FEES
• 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
We had a great time with Leigh Jameson. She is very good at her job. I definitely would go through this company again. ??
16 April 2025
Very knowledgeable! They were also very tolerant of our super chatty and easily distracted child, very well done! We enjoyed it very much!
25 April 2025
Annemarie gave us a lovely tour, very informative! Highly recommend seeing the museum with a guide so you aren’t overwhelmed!
17 May 2025
LEIGH was phenomenal. We learned so much about history so we knew we didn’t, but she was amazing explaining everything we saw.
25 May 2025
Excellent informative tour with great sidebar information. Donna really knows the history of the museum and exhibits
30 May 2025
Rebecca was awesome. She had inside stories and incredible knowledge for each area. Answered each of our questions with no hesitation.
30 May 2025
Our guide, Anne Marie, was excellent! Highly knowledgeable and informative. Such a good teacher!! We strongly recommend her!
12 June 2025
What a great experience! Rebecca was just the best! She told us so many interesting facts, kept it interesting as she was so knowledgeable.
16 June 2025
My wife, myself and teenage daughters did a tour with Annemarie at the American History Museum today and easily gave 5 stars. She was very nice, engaging, thorough and well versed.Im a bit of a history nut so this doesn't come lightly. Highly recommend.
01 August 2025
We loved our tour with Annemarie! We are a family of 4 with two preteens and she did an amazing job engaging everyone in the group. She had a wealth of knowledge and expertise and a gift for answering questions on the fly, especially out of the box ones from our 10 year old. She really made the museum come alive for us and it was truly a great experience to walk through it with her guidance. I would highly recommend this tour experience.
09 August 2025
Rebecca was super knowledgeable and friendly. She knew the museum backwards and forwards and gave us a really great overview of the American History museum. He would definitely have her as a tour guide again!
04 January 2025
Annmarie was such a great guide, showing us all details from the civil war, and the history of presidency. She was very good at explaining and brought the stories to life! Would come again 100%!
16 February 2025
We had a great experience touring the Smithsonian with Maribeth. The museum is huge, so having a guide like her made all the difference. She was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also flexible, allowing us to focus on the exhibits we were most interested in while still giving us a well-rounded experience.She brought the exhibits to life with interesting stories and details that I wouldn't have noticed on my own. She made the tour both educational and entertaining, keeping everyone engaged with her enthusiasm and deep knowledge. It’s clear she loves what she does, and that energy made the tour...
31 March 2025
Anne-Marie was a great guide. She asked about our preferences and interests and customized the tour with exhibits that would be of most interest to our children. We also hit the highlights with some memorable stories that helped the exhibits come to life.
21 April 2025
Maribeth was an excellent and very well informed guide. I'm a history buff but Maribeth brought so much knowledge to the tour that I was unaware of. She brought fun to the learning experience.
22 April 2025
Maribeth was very pleasant and full of knowledge. I learned a lot from her, especially little details. I’d definitely recommend her.
04 May 2025
Annemarie was such a great tour guide! She was very pleasant and knowledgeable. My mom loves history and she catered the tour to what we were interested in. She answered any question we had. Had a lot of fun and would definitely recommend her!
14 May 2025
My family of 5 THOROUGHLY enjoyed our tour of the American History Musuem! Maureen was our guide, and not only was she knowledgeable and fun, she also catered the experience to my tired troop of young adults. This was our 4th tour in 2 days, and it was by far the best. We couldn't be more pleased!
26 June 2025
Ryan was great! Very informative. He had a great gen z history of how cherry blossom trees got to usa. Also did great in getting the kids excited at the different exhibits.
09 July 2025
Our tour guide Brenda was super! She knew how to navigate the museum and about everything in it. She tailored the tour to our four young children while educating the four adults with her vast knowledge of the displays. Everyone had a wonderful morning.
25 July 2025
