National Museum of Asian Art
National Mall—sample rating
AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About National Museum of Asian Art
The National Museum of Asian Art, formerly known as the Freer|Sackler, comprises the Freer Gallery of Art (opened 1923) and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (opened 1987), the Smithsonian's dedicated museums for the arts of Asia and the Islamic world. Its collection spans thousands of years, including Japanese folding screens, Chinese bronzes and jades, Buddhist sculpture, and one of the world's most important collections of art by James McNeill Whistler, including his famous Peacock Room. The two connected buildings sit at the southwest corner of the National Mall near the Smithsonian Castle, offering rotating exhibitions alongside their deep permanent holdings of South, Southeast, and East Asian art. Admission is free and no tickets are needed to enter, consistent with other Smithsonian museums on the Mall.
Why visit
It houses one of the world's premier collections of Asian art, including Whistler's famed Peacock Room, entirely free.
Best time to visit
Visit on a weekday for a quiet experience; the underground connection to the Sackler makes it easy to combine with the Castle and Haupt Garden.
Recommended duration
Allow about 1 hours (60 minutes).
Opening hours
- Every day
- 10:00-17:30
Free; no tickets needed; closed December 25.
Information may change — verify details before visiting.
Location
1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560
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Nearby attractions
National Mall
A vast open-air national park stretching between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, lined with iconic monuments and Smithsonian museums.
Washington Monument
A 555-foot marble obelisk honoring George Washington, offering sweeping views of DC from its observation level.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A domed neoclassical monument on the Tidal Basin honoring Thomas Jefferson, surrounded by famous cherry blossom trees.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
A granite memorial on the Tidal Basin featuring a colossal carved likeness of Dr. King emerging from a 'Stone of Hope.'
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
A sprawling outdoor memorial along the Tidal Basin divided into four outdoor 'rooms' representing FDR's four terms in office.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
A stark black granite wall inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 U.S. service members who died or went missing in the Vietnam War.
Nearby restaurants
Zaytinya
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Mi Vida
Mexican · $$ · Navy Yard / Waterfront
Ambar Capitol Hill
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Centrolina
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Maketto
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