National Museum of Asian Art on Postcard

"The Sackler Gallery Together, the Freer Gallery and the Sackler make up the Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art. In 1987, the Sackler launched with a 1,000-piece collection and funds donated by Dr. Arthur Sackler, a research physician and medical publisher. Early Chinese jades and bronzes, Chinese paintings and lacquerware, Near Eastern ceramics and metalware dating from the 4th to 7th centuries, and Hindu and Buddhist sculpture from the 10th to the 18th centuries constitute the bulk of his gift. Accompanying the permanent collection are special rotating exhibitions showcasing various aspects of ancient and contemporary Asian art."

The Best Museums in Washington, D.C.

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"Whistler's Peacock Room Once a dining room belonging to wealthy shipbuilder Frederick Leyland from Liverpool, then a private exhibition space at the mansion of wealthy Detroit industrialist Charles Lang Freer, American artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler's Peacock Room is now a treasure of the Freer Gallery of Art. Adorned with oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, and wood, the room is filled with Freer's collection of over 250 ceramics from Egypt, Iran, China, Japan, and Korea as well as Buddhist sculpture and two parchment Bibles: a codex of the Old Testament books of Deuteronomy and Joshua, and the third-oldest manuscript of the Gospels in the world dubbed the "Codex Washingtonensis." Truly a blend of East and West."

The Best Museums in Washington, D.C.

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Luke Nam

Google

I visited the National Museum of Asian Art for Solstice Saturday 2024, when it was open until midnight. All the other museums around the National Mall (except for the African Art Museum right by) were closed, so it was incredibly packed inside the building. No in-advance tickets need to be purchased, and just like other Smithsonian museums, it's free to enter. I spent about an hour touring the entire museum, as it's quite small compared to the other museums at the mall. Still, the museum boasts a historical collection of paintings, artifacts, and fabrics from China, Korea, and Japan. Detailed captions provide context and tell stories that pair nicely with the art collection. The center of the museum hosts a patio with a beautiful fountain and lush greenery. It was hot and crowded with the heat wave and Solstice Saturday ongoing, so make sure to stay hydrated!

T. Farris

Google

Not my cup of tea. The museum wasn't busy. We were able to walk right inside on a weekday afternoon. The exhibits were straight forward and traditional. I was able to get some good photos. But it was attention grabbing, we left pretty quick.

Henry Zhang

Google

I mainly went to the exhibition halls display Chinese collections. There are few visitors on weekdays and it is very quiet. All the collections are very exquisite, representative and with great artistic value. If you want to have a complete and detailed tour may take several days.

Rebecca Leser

Google

The National Museum of Asian Art has an extensive collection of art, including pottery, sculptures, and paintings, from nations across Asia. I entered the museum through the east wing. Be sure to visit the west wing side (accessible inside via only one floor on the east wing or outside through the west side entrance).

Sam Waterman

Google

It's definitely a hidden gem, especially considering the Smithsonian really only has an Asian American center rather than a museum - which is so odd. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the galleries were pretty cool, but the one's which really stole the spotlight were the Japanese galleries on handmade metal work and staging the supernatural. Extremely beautiful pieces of timeless art!

Eric Zheng

Google

Great free museum, definitely the highlight of all the exhibitions was the Peacock Room, it is beautiful. There are various exhibits showing different Asian countries, with the main exhibits focusing on Japan, India, and China.

Katrina W

Google

The least interesting of all the Smithsonian Museums. And if you compare it with the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, it becomes even less significant. I felt that I spent more time trying to navigate stairs and empty corridors than enjoying the artefacts or learning anything.

Hillary Cook

Google

I am much more of a science person, so I wouldn't have chosen to come here on our trip to DC, but two of our teens wanted to come, and I'm so glad we did! The art was beautiful, and helped me to understand some of the Asian cultures a little bit more. The entire museum was beautiful and serene.

Luke Nam

Google

I visited the National Museum of Asian Art for Solstice Saturday 2024, when it was open until midnight. All the other museums around the National Mall (except for the African Art Museum right by) were closed, so it was incredibly packed inside the building. No in-advance tickets need to be purchased, and just like other Smithsonian museums, it's free to enter. I spent about an hour touring the entire museum, as it's quite small compared to the other museums at the mall. Still, the museum boasts a historical collection of paintings, artifacts, and fabrics from China, Korea, and Japan. Detailed captions provide context and tell stories that pair nicely with the art collection. The center of the museum hosts a patio with a beautiful fountain and lush greenery. It was hot and crowded with the heat wave and Solstice Saturday ongoing, so make sure to stay hydrated!

T. Farris

Google

Not my cup of tea. The museum wasn't busy. We were able to walk right inside on a weekday afternoon. The exhibits were straight forward and traditional. I was able to get some good photos. But it was attention grabbing, we left pretty quick.

Henry Zhang

Google

I mainly went to the exhibition halls display Chinese collections. There are few visitors on weekdays and it is very quiet. All the collections are very exquisite, representative and with great artistic value. If you want to have a complete and detailed tour may take several days.

Rebecca Leser

Google

The National Museum of Asian Art has an extensive collection of art, including pottery, sculptures, and paintings, from nations across Asia. I entered the museum through the east wing. Be sure to visit the west wing side (accessible inside via only one floor on the east wing or outside through the west side entrance).

Sam Waterman

Google

It's definitely a hidden gem, especially considering the Smithsonian really only has an Asian American center rather than a museum - which is so odd. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the galleries were pretty cool, but the one's which really stole the spotlight were the Japanese galleries on handmade metal work and staging the supernatural. Extremely beautiful pieces of timeless art!

Eric Zheng

Google

Great free museum, definitely the highlight of all the exhibitions was the Peacock Room, it is beautiful. There are various exhibits showing different Asian countries, with the main exhibits focusing on Japan, India, and China.

Katrina W

Google

The least interesting of all the Smithsonian Museums. And if you compare it with the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, it becomes even less significant. I felt that I spent more time trying to navigate stairs and empty corridors than enjoying the artefacts or learning anything.

Hillary Cook

Google

I am much more of a science person, so I wouldn't have chosen to come here on our trip to DC, but two of our teens wanted to come, and I'm so glad we did! The art was beautiful, and helped me to understand some of the Asian cultures a little bit more. The entire museum was beautiful and serene.

National Museum of Asian Art

National Museum of Asian Art

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