Renwick Gallery

Overview

The Renwick Gallery is the Smithsonian American Art Museum's branch for contemporary craft and decorative arts, housed in a distinguished Second Empire–style building a block from the White House. Admission is free.

Highlights

• Grand Salon: A soaring 19th-century gallery hung floor-to-ceiling with paintings, restored to its 1860s appearance.
• WONDER Exhibition Legacy: The gallery gained viral fame with its 2015–2016 WONDER exhibition and continues to mount large-scale immersive installations.
• Craft Mastery: Rotating exhibitions showcasing wood, glass, fiber, metal, and ceramic artistry.

History

Designed by James Renwick Jr. (who also designed the Smithsonian Castle) and completed in 1859, it was originally built to house the art collection of William Wilson Corcoran. It became part of the Smithsonian in 1972 after a campaign to save it from demolition.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: The Grand Salon is best appreciated on a quiet weekday when you can sit on the period furniture and absorb the atmosphere.
• Tip 2: The building's proximity to the White House makes it easy to combine with a presidential photo opportunity.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes.