National Portrait Gallery & Smithsonian American Art Museum Building, Washington, DC Photos

The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) & Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC share an integrated museum building which displays paintings and sculptures tracing the history of the United States and American art. The building started as the U.S. Patent Office, with its Great Hall (redecorated 1877) which served as America's first national museum. Originally patent models and documents like the Declaration of Independence resided there. This massive hall also served as part of the second inauguration functions for Abraham Lincoln.

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Former U.S. Patent Office building now Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.	Smithsonian Institution Center for American Art Museum & Portraiture. Washington, DC.	Glass covered courtyard of Smithsonian Institution Center for American Art Museum & Portraiture. Washington, DC.	Glass covered courtyard of Smithsonian Institution Center for American Art Museum & Portraiture. Washington, DC.

Glass courtyard roof of Smithsonian Institution Center for American Art Museum & Portraiture. Washington, DC.	Great Hall (style of 1877) of former U.S. Patent Office building now Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.	Ceiling of Great Hall of former U.S. Patent Office building now Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.	Decorative details of Great Hall of former U.S. Patent Office building, space which served as 1st National Museum & is now Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.

Great Hall of former U.S. Patent Office building was used for Lincoln's 2nd Inauguration is now Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.	Floor of Great Hall of former U.S. Patent Office building now Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.	Plaque to inventor Eli Whitney in Great Hall of former U.S. Patent Office building. Washington, DC.	Stairway ceiling of Great Hall of former U.S. Patent Office building now Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.

Ceiling detail off Great Hall of former U.S. Patent Office building now Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.	Collection of patent models in former U.S. Patent Office building which now houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.	Gallery of Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.	Gallery of Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.

Gallery off Great Hall of former U.S. Patent Office building now Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.	Sculpture collection at Smithsonian American Art Museum. Washington, DC.	Gallery at National Portrait Gallery. Washington, DC.