National Gallery of Art, American Art & Portrait Gallery Highlights
Explore the vast collections of DC’s premier art institutions without getting lost in the crowd. Select our 'Highlights' package for an efficient 3-hour journey through the top masterpieces, or explore the American Art Museum. Want more depth? Choose a private tour option and customize the itinerary for an exclusive, tailored experience.
$79
3 Hours
Tour Description
Optional Add Ons
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Starting Location:
400 7th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, USA
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Highlights
See the Only Da Vinci in the Americas
Three Museums in One Tour
Works by Picasso, Whistler, Monet, Raphael, Dali
Presidential Portraits
View a Functioning Art Restoration Lab
Custom Tour Option
Things to Know
Tour begins at Unscripted Tours' Guided Tours DC Welcome Center
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About the Tour
500 Years of Masterpieces: National Gallery & Smithsonian Art Tour
Experience the evolution of art and the American story through the eyes of history’s greatest geniuses.
Join an expert art historian for an unforgettable, 3-hour journey through Washington D.C.’s premier art institutions: the National Gallery of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This exclusive, small-group walking tour bypasses the overwhelming mazes of these massive museums, taking you straight to the most iconic masterpieces that defined their eras.
From the flawless harmony of the Italian Renaissance to the flashing neon of modern America, you will discover how art doesn't just record history—it shapes it.
The Tour Highlights:
The Only Da Vinci in the Americas: Stand face-to-face with Leonardo da Vinci’s Ginevra de' Benci, marveling at the brushstrokes and actual fingerprints of the Renaissance master.
The Masters of Light & Emotion: Trace the evolution of expression through the moody, realistic portraits of Rembrandt, the fleeting, sun-drenched strokes of Monet, and the thick, vibrant passions of Vincent van Gogh’s Roses.
The Faces of Power: Walk the stunning halls of the Old Patent Office Building to view the only complete collection of Presidential Portraits outside the White House. Decode the hidden symbols in Gilbert Stuart’s foundational George Washington, and see the striking, modern depictions of Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama.
The American Identity: Discover how the American story is told through art, from massive, romanticized Western landscapes that fueled the National Parks to Nam June Paik’s dazzling Electronic Superhighway.
The Experience:This is not a dry art history lecture. It is a conversational, immersive exploration of why humans create. Capped at a small group size, you’ll have plenty of time to ask questions, take photos, and discover which era of art truly moves you.