National Portrait Gallery

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery is a distinct and specific museum, dedicated to honoring those who contributed to the United States. It’s a distinguished place, where presidents, first ladies, politicians, philanthropists, artists, writers, and American influencers dwell. In 2008, the National Portrait Gallery made headlines when news comedian Stephen Colbert actually succeeded in having his portrait hanging above the bathroom on the second floor of the museum, outside the American Presidents’ exhibit (but today lives at the American History Museum down the street).

The Gallery opened in 1968 and is home to some prominent works of art, including the painting of Benjamin Franklin which appears on the $100 bill, a portrait of George Washington, a print of Charlie Chaplin, the Degas painting of Mary Cassatt, and a painting of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. The museum also houses more than 5,400 glass-plate negatives from the studios of 19th century photojournalist Mathew Brady and original artwork from more than 1,600 TIME magazine covers.

“American Presidents” is the most popular exhibit in the museum, featuring multiple portraits of 42 presidents, including formal portraits, drawings, photos and even caricatures. “American Origins” literally illustrates American history through paintings showing the interaction with Native Americans and Europeans to modern day photographs. The exhibit includes paintings and daguerreotypes, including that of Pocahontas and Chief Alexander, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Harriet Beecher Stowe, and moments from the Civil War.

The Portrait Gallery also pays tribute to non-politicians who influenced American culture. Champions displays American sports figures who have done more for American culture than play their game. Portraits, artifacts and memorabilia and video accompany the exhibit. Bravo! brings entertainers, performers and composers who contributed to culture, including Aaron Copeland, Leonard Bernstein, John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn.

Twentieth Century Americans discusses scientific, cultural and political figures of the 20th century. It highlights major movements in social justice and civil rights in the 1950s through the 1970s, the Great Depression, Vietnam Era and more. Jo Davidson: Biographer in Bronz is a series of 14 portraits in bronze and terracotta by American sculptor Jo Davidson, during the years 1908 and 1946. The portraits include Gertrude Stine, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John Marin and Lincoln Steffens.

- by Rin-rin Yu, Washington Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Rin-rin Yu

Rin-rin is an award-winning writer and journalist based in the Baltimore-Washington area. Her work has appeared in China Daily, DAYSPA magazine, Luxury Home Design, Aquatics International, Not For Tourists and other publications. Rin-rin has also worked for ABC News, WHDH-TV (NBC) in Boston and Hanley Wood Business Media. She has a master's degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She is an avid world traveler and maintains a travel blog, www.mytravelhats.com.