Smithsonian American Art Museum

The Smithsonian American Art Museum (commonly known as SAAM, and formerly the National Museum of American Art) is a museum in Washington, D.C.. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution.

Smithsonian American Art Museum

The Lincoln Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Established	1829[1]
Location	8th and F Streets NW, Washington, D.C.[2]
Type	Art museum
Visitors	1.1 million (2022) [3]
Website	americanart.si.edu

Smithsonian American Art Museum exterior

The collection began in 1846. Congress declared that there should be "a gallery of art" as part of the Smithsonian Institution.^[4] By 1968 the collection was moved to the current location.^[5] It is in the building that was built in the early 1800s. It is called the Old Patent Office Building. SAAM is located in the same building as the National Portrait Gallery.^[6]

In 1972, the Renwick Gallery opened. It is a branch of SAAM that exhibits to design and crafts. It is in a historic building near the White House.^[7]