The National Portrait Gallery is a must-see destination for visitors interested in the diverse people who have influenced this country and its culture. Here, view one of the most significant portraits in America's history—Gilbert Stuart's "Lansdowne" painting of George Washington, on the second floor in the America's Presidents exhibition.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery are housed in a 19th-century National Historic Landmark building in the vibrant Penn Quarter neighborhood. The building also houses two innovative public spaces—the Luce Foundation Center for American Art, where visitors can browse works in a visible art storage facility, and the Lunder Conservation Center.

First Floor

The Education Center hosts workshops and programs for school and youth groups and families, including Saturday art activities and tours. Portrait Discovery Kits for children are available most weekends. Ask at the information desks.

Mementos: Painted and Photographic Miniatures, 1750-1920 (June 17, 2011-May 13, 2012).

One Life: Ronald Reagan (July 1, 2011-May 28, 2012). Marking the centennial of the 40th president's birth, this exhibition chronicles Ronald Reagan's time in the Oval Office.

Portraiture Now: Asian American Portraits of Encounter (Aug. 12, 2011-Oct. 14, 2012). This is the first major showcase of contemporary Asian-American portraiture at the Smithsonian. Seven artists offer provocative responses to the Asian experience in this country.

150th Commemoration of the Civil War: The Death of Ellsworth (April 29, 2011-March 18, 2012). Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth was the first Union officer killed in the Civil War. Artifacts and works of art tell the story.

Second Floor

America's Presidents (Permanent). Visit the only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House.

The Struggle for Justice (Permanent). See a showcase of major cultural and political figures—from key 19th-century historical figures to contemporary leaders—who struggled to achieve civil rights for disenfranchised or marginalized groups.

Calder's Portraits: A New Language (March 11, 2011-Aug. 14, 2011). Alexander Calder (1898-1976) used wire to shape caricatures of Josephine Baker, Jimmy Durante and Babe Ruth, among others.

Capital Portraits: Treasures from Washington Private Collections, 1730-2010 (April 8, 2011-Sept. 5, 2011). Many of these works, never before shown in public, are by major artists, including John Singleton Copley, Mary Cassatt, Andy Warhol and Kehinde Wiley.

Seeing Gertrude Stein: Five Stories (Oct. 14, 2011-Jan. 22, 2012). Discover the many sides of Gertrude Stein, the indomitable celebrity of arts and literature. She was the life-long partner of Alice B. Toklas; muse to Picasso, Matisse, Braque and Hemingway; and a Jewish-American expatriate who spent most of her life in France.

The Black List: Photos by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (Oct. 28, 2011-April 22, 2012). This photographic exhibition features portraits of 50 prominent African-Americans and documents their struggles, triumphs and joys of black life in the United States.

Third Floor

Twentieth-Century Americans (Permanent). The exhibition's four galleries, opening onto the magnificent third-floor Great Hall, showcase the major cultural, scientific and political figures of the 20th century.

Bravo! (Permanent). On the third-floor mezzanine, see portraits of performing artists from the late 19th century to the present, including Bob Hope, Leonard Bernstein, Leontyne Price, Maria Callas and Tallulah Bankhead.

Champions (Permanent). This show salutes American sports figures whose impact made them a part of the larger story of the nation. Artifacts, memorabilia and videos are part of the exhibition.

Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard

The light-filled courtyard with its wavy glass canopy is a downtown oasis that features in­terior landscaping, a cafe and free Wi-Fi access.

Lunder Conservation Center

The two museums share the conservation center, located on the third- and fourth-floor mezzanines. The center offers a unique, behind-the-scenes view, through floor-to-ceiling glass walls, of American Art and Portrait Gallery conservators examining, treating and preserving paintings, prints, drawings, photographs and other works of art. Ask at the information desks about weekly behind-the-scenes tours and other special programs.