National Portrait Gallery Special Events Department

Host your special event in Washington's most elegant and stunning venue. As part of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, the National Portrait Gallery is housed in a gloriously renovated National Historic Landmark building. This third-oldest federal building was once described as the noblest of Washington buildings by Walt Whitman.

Entertain your guests in one of three exquisite spaces, or combine spaces to create a truly memorable event. Celebrate in the breathtaking Kogod Courtyard under a twinkling glass canopy that appears to float over beautiful neoclassical architecture. Host your party amid the spectacular Victorian decor of the Great Hall, which features a hand-laid encaustic tile floor, curving double staircase, and soaring vaulted ceilings. Invite your guests to enjoy the Luce Foundation Center for American Art, where block-long skylights showcase more than 3,300 works of art on two balconied levels overlooking a marble-floored sculpture gallery.

In addition to our enchanting event spaces, our beautiful Greek Revival Building, once home to the U.S. Patent Office, is centrally located in the heart of Washington's thriving Penn Quarter district-near hotels, restaurants, and the Verizon Center-making it the ideal choice for your special event.