Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture

Bottom Line: A beautiful, historic, 147 year old building that houses two museums — The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery
The history of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture is as interesting as the collection of art it holds. The building was built in the Greek Revival style over about a 30 year period and was finally finished in 1868. Since its completion, it has served as the Patent Office Building, home to Lincoln’s second Inaugural Ball and as a hospital during the Civil War. The building is located in DC’s Chinatown juxtaposition to the modern day Verizon Center. The Reynolds Center is listed on the national register of historic places.
For reviews of the two art museums the building houses, please see those Unilocal websites:
and

Seriously great museum. Let’s break that down a bit: it’s a SERIOUS museum and it’s a GREAT museum.
As one other reviewer commented, it’s very odd what one can take photos of and what one cannot. With no delineation between the two (unless I missed the signage?) other than a museum guard who will stop you. This did not detract from the overall experience, but is still odd.
Highly recommend but give yourself several hours or several visits. The staff at the first level information desk are excellent and the guards posted throughout are friendly. Would not recommend for children as I suspect they would be very bored and restless. One day when I was there, there was a very large group (300+) of pre-​teens and they were clearly bored and only enjoyed their ability to scream, yell and generally take-​over the covered courtyard. Would have been nice if a museum employee had said to their chaperones: «hey, not acceptable.» But never happened. And the chaperones were clearly not inclined to educate their charges (teachable moment lost!) as to acceptable behavior in a museum, but that’s certainly not a criticism of the museum and, unfortunately, normal behavior these days.
The café was above-​average and, as typical for a museum, very expensive.
One minor (but very annoying) complaint but with a suggested improvement: every single individual post card in the gift shop had a $ 1 sticker placed in the correspondence area. When removing the sticker, the writing area is both damaged and a gummy residue left-​behind. it’s not the specific placement of the sticker that’s a problem as peeling it off will damage wherever it was stuck but the presence of a price sticker at all. Suggestion: a sign on the rack simply stating: «Postcards $ 1/​each» and just inform employees working the registers of the price. Easy fix.
Highly recommend. Note: there are two museum entrances one on «F» Street NW and one on «G» Street NW, each of them mid-​block and at the intersection of 8^th St NW. No side-​street entry.

This place is powerful. From the entry way, to the various collections, to the courteous staff — it’s a gem in DC. I could spend a week here and not be able to soak it all up. Even outside on the museum steps, on nice days, people gather outside and enjoy the music and atmosphere. This is what a museum should be.
I probably enjoyed the self portrait competition they had on display the best. It takes some time to go through b/​c the material is so fascinating, but it’s enjoyable.
But if you only have thirty minutes to spare, though, just go to the courtyard in the middle. Robert and Arlene Kogod donated a beautiful courtyard with an enclosed, glass roof that has subtle waves to delight all who look up. The plants are carefully curated and off set the marble surrounding them nicely. The water scrims — thin ponds of water — add a second great, natural element to the enclosed space. Spend thirty minutes here and walk out refreshed.

Look, I’ve been here three times. For maybe 4 – 5 hours. And I’ve seen maybe two thirds of the museum. But seriously, Donald. Too much art. Not all of it is genius. Some of it is just old, and it’s like «Yay! We found it! Put it in!»
Too much walking, but I’d say it’s only interesting for… 30 minutes. And then you want to leave. Unless you love art as much as a dog-​lover loves dogs. As much as an art lover.

Only in Washington is the irony of being able to freely take photos of the work of Edward Hopper and Georgia O’Keefe but not the ubiquitous Obama hope portrait or Tony Hawk lost.
I’ve not been able to find the inspiration in the visual arts as I do in music because museums are generally placed in areas of high-​traffic and there are attendants breathing down your neck as opposed to a concert hall, and this museum is no exception.

I really love this place. I love the two museums in one. I love the occasional comfy seats in galleries. I love the courtyard (
). I love that it’s free and open until 7pm so I can go when I have an hour to kill after work.
I love that I brought my parents here and they were happy just watching kids play in the water in the courtyard.

UPDATED: 12÷30÷07
Museums serve many useful purposes in society.
1. Gathers many artifacts from past and present civilia\zations for academic study or just pure artistic appreciation
2. Organizes history to make it much more cogent to the average citizen.
3. Provides a quiet and sedate atmosphere for deep philosophical thought, academic analysis, reflection, and meditation
4. Enables one to take a mid afternoon nap.
I selected Option #4.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — –
Like a living organism needing oxygen, a government needs a bureaucracy and an org chart to thrive and flourish. American museums owned by the US government is quite healthy these days. There aren’t enough museums for the very rich to donate and get their names forever cast in stone. So the solution is to donate in one’s name, art works to a benefactor’s exhibit which is housed in a sponsored gallery which resides in a famous person’s foundation museum which is part of a über wealthy donor’s center The next step later in this millenium is to create a sovereign state to house these centers (Gates, Buffett, or any shiek of Saudi Arabia… you taking notes?)
So what is the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture? It is the building that houses the following art organizations and cultural entities supported by some very well endowed trusts…
1. The Smithsonian American Art Museum
2. The National Portrait Gallery
3. The Lunder Conservation Center,
4. The Luce Foundation Center for American Art,
5. The Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium
6. The Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard
This is important information because if you have a favorite work of art in this facility, you need to know which organization to which it belongs because if during another government reorganization, your favorite piece will move with the reorganization.
I spent an hour just touring the first floor which had parts of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery exhibits. Like most American museums, my reactions ranged from jaw dropping awe to «WTF?» Many different time ranges of American art are on display. You can see how our artistic culture has evolved.
I sat on a marble bench waiting for some of my family to come by so we can join up together again. 5 minutes passed. Then 10 minutes. Soon, I spent the remainder of the hour exercising Option #4.
My family awoke me amongst muffled laughter as we then headed across the street to the International Spy Museum to exercise our next option…
Hours: 11:30 a.m. — 7 p.m.
Closed: December 25
Telephone: 202−633−1000
Admission: Free
Metro: Gallery Place — Green, Yellow and Red Lines

I visited this recently opened museum to see the Joseph Cornell retrospective (five stars — amazing show — which will be in San Francisco in 2008).
The building is a restored landmark that actually houses two Smithsonian museums (The Reynolds Center — contemporary American art, and the National Portrait Gallery), and it’s not clear where one museum starts and the other ends.
The building is beautiful — a restored Federal style edifice, sky-​lit interior, beautifully lit interior — perfect for viewing art.
What’s most amazing about the museums in Washington is that they are all free. Beautifully curated, amazing collections — free.
This is a great country.