Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
National Portrait Gallery
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
John Tyler Tommy Lasorda map of the National Mall, Washington, D.C.
Read Next
Streets of Puerto Rico
Pro and Con: Statehood for Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia
The United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.
14 Questions About Government in the United States Answered
Bar graph of the United States Death Toll during major events. Infogram chart.
U.S. Death Toll During Major Events
The Battle of New Orleans, by E. Percy Moran, c. 1910. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812.
26 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History
Groups of depositors in front of the closed American Union Bank, New York City. April 26, 1932. Great Depression run on bank crowd
Causes of the Great Depression
Discover
The Battle of New Orleans, by E. Percy Moran, c. 1910. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812.
26 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History
Shadow of a man holding large knife in his hand inside of some dark, spooky buiding
7 of History's Most Notorious Serial Killers
David Cameron. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom talk during the G8 Summit at the Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, June 17, 2013
What’s the Difference Between a President and a Prime Minister?
United States Electoral College votes by state
How Many Electoral College Votes Does Each U.S. State Have?
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. Engraving by Cosomo Colombini (d. 1812) after a Leonardo self portrait. Ca. 1500.
10 Famous Artworks by Leonardo da Vinci
Aphrodite. Greek mythology. Sculpture. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
12 Greek Gods and Goddesses
World Data Locator Map: Australia
Is Australia an Island?
John Tyler
John Tyler

National Portrait Gallery

gallery, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: • Article History
Quick Facts
Date:
1921 - present
Areas Of Involvement:
portraiture
See all related content

News •

Most Smithsonian Museums in Washington To Close on Inauguration Day • Jan. 6, 2025, 11:28 PM ET (Smithsonian Institution)

National Portrait Gallery, American gallery dedicated to portraiture of Americans. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution, located in Washington, D.C. Although the Smithsonian Institution began collecting portraits in 1921, the National Portrait Gallery did not officially open until 1962. In 1976 the gallery, which had long limited its acquisitions to oil paintings, changed its criteria and began to accept portraits in any media, including photography and sculpture. This policy change greatly expanded the collection. The permanent collection consists of portraits of men and women who made important contributions to the United States and its culture. (In 2006 the gallery ...(100 of 306 words)

Access the full article
Help support true facts by becoming a member.