When you enter the East or West Building, you’ll be greeted by our security team and walk through a screening machine. All bags, backpacks, purses, packages, and other containers may be subject to additional inspection. We encourage you to limit the number of personal belongings you bring with you to increase your speed through security.

Visitors with stated medical conditions may opt to be screened with a hand-held magnetometer instead of the walk-through screening machine.

We take the security of our visitors, staff, and property seriously; we have a comprehensive approach that includes visible and non-visible measures. We do not discuss the specifics of our procedures to protect their effectiveness.

If you are hesitant to walk through the screening machine, we’ll provide more comprehensive information about the screening machine when you’re onsite. 

No food or drinks in any space containing art. Outside food must remain in a sealed container in a bag and may only be consumed outside or in the outdoor Sculpture Garden. Outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted.

School groups may store sealed lunches in the checkroom.

You may bring water bottles, but keep them closed in any space containing art.

Exceptions and accommodations: 

• You may bring outside food and beverage to address medical needs, severe food allergies, or dietary restrictions, but you must consume them in a café or outdoors. In a medical emergency, you may consume outdoor food or beverage in any space not containing art.
• School groups with bagged lunches may eat them in the Cascade Café or the Pavilion Café during inclement weather (e.g., extreme heat, cold, storms). Otherwise, school groups are encouraged to enjoy their bagged lunches in our gardens.
   

Bags, umbrellas, or other items larger than 12″ × 17″ × 8″ are not permitted inside the galleries and must be checked, free of charge. Please tuck small umbrellas away. All bags must be carried on the side or front of your body—not your back. Baby bags and medical devices or supplies are exempt from this rule.

The museum reserves the right to refuse items and is not responsible for loss or damage to items left in our checkrooms.

Items that might present a risk to people or art are not permitted in the museum. Examples include wrapped packages, luggage larger than 17″ × 26″, plants and flowers, balloons, outside artworks (including frames), coolers, recreational equipment, and flags on poles or sticks that don’t fit in a bag.

Exceptions and accommodations:

• You may carry baby bags and medical devices or supplies that are 12″ × 17″ × 8″ or smaller on your back. When you arrive, please notify a security officer, who will provide a tag for your bag. This will alert other staff that your bag has been approved for use in the galleries.   
• Baby bags and medical devices or supplies that are larger than 12″ × 17″ × 8″ may not be carried into the galleries and must be checked. You may take medically necessary devices such as oxygen tanks or generators into the galleries. 
• Coolers and collapsible lawn chairs are permitted in the Sculpture Garden during special events only. 
   

When inside, walk, don’t run. 

Strollers are welcome, but please no wagons.

Mobility scooters, canes, walkers, and manual or electric wheelchairs are welcome. Other mobility aids are not permitted for the safety of people and art. You may borrow manual wheelchairs or strollers while inside our buildings. These are available first come, first served at any entrance.

Recreational scooters, skates, skateboards, bicycles, and other devices are not permitted inside our buildings. Please secure them outside at one of our hitching posts or walk or hold them while in the Sculpture Garden.

Exceptions and accommodations:

• Small recreational devices such as skateboards, rollerblades, collapsible scooters may be checked only if they cannot be safely secured outside. Devices containing fuel are not permitted indoors. 
• For the safety of people and the art, other types of mobility devices—including stroller wagons, tricycles, standing scooters, carts, hoverboards, and gyroscopic devices—are not permitted inside. If a mobility aid is not permitted, we will check it for free and provide a manual wheelchair or stroller.
• You may use all recreational devices on the sidewalks surrounding the National Gallery’s buildings and Sculpture Garden. 
   

Noncommercial or personal photography is always welcome except where noted otherwise. You may carry camera accessories like tripods, lights, selfie-sticks, and drones if they are 12″ × 17″ × 8″ or smaller, but don’t use them indoors. Tripods may only be used in the outdoor Sculpture Garden, except during heavily attended events. Using drones is prohibited.

For commercial or media photography requests, contact our Communications Office.

• Permits are not required for personal photoshoots such as engagement, wedding, or graduation photography. But you must observe all visitor policies. Please be courteous to other visitors and give way to public programs. 
• Media representatives may coordinate with the Communications Office to use photography devices such as tripods and lights. The Communications Office must approve the photoshoot and provide an escort. 
   

Help us preserve the art for future generations by admiring it from a distance (at least two feet). Please do not touch the art or display cases. Even clean hands can damage surfaces. 

Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Groups, including tour groups, must be accompanied by one adult per 10 children.

No piggyback or shoulder rides.

Breastfeeding is allowed in any public space. You may also use the private lactation room on the Concourse in the East Building.

Soft, front baby carriers are allowed. Backpack-style baby carriers are not permitted.
 

Our dedicated staff and volunteers are here to make your visit safe and enjoyable. Please treat them with respect. Abusive, harassing, discriminatory, or threatening language or behavior toward staff or other visitors will not be tolerated. Thank you for helping us create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

Use headphones when listening to mobile devices in the galleries. Please, no phone calls.

Independently-led groups are welcome; you are not required to register a tour group. Independent groups should give way to National Gallery public tours and be courteous to other visitors.

Sketching is welcome. Please use lead or colored pencil only. Sketchbooks must be 12″ × 17″ or smaller. 

Learn more about our copyist program.

Smoking, including electronic cigarettes and vaping, is not permitted anywhere in the National Gallery’s buildings or gardens. Smoking is not permitted within 25 feet of any entrance.

Firearms, knives, explosives, and other dangerous weapons are not permitted. The National Gallery is a federal facility. Only active law enforcement personnel on official duty to the National Gallery are authorized to carry firearms. Learn more.

Masks or anything that covers your full face are not permitted unless worn for medical or religious reasons.

Large costume props (e.g., wings) are not permitted but may be checked in a checkroom.

Attire that is inappropriate or distracting—including clothing with obscene images or language—is not permitted. Shirts and shoes are required. 
 

Aerosols and non-aerosol sprays are not permitted except for personal hygiene products (e.g., perfume, deodorant, bug spray, sunscreen) and medical prescriptions. 

Artmaking materials, including glues, epoxies, and paints are not permitted. 
 

Service dogs are welcome. Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed in National Gallery’s buildings or gardens. Click here for our detailed service animal policy.

The National Gallery is committed to creating a safe and enjoyable environment for our visitors, staff, and volunteers. Please show them common courtesy by not using profanity or engaging in unsafe, illegal, disruptive, or offensive behavior.

The National Gallery is a federal facility. While on any National Gallery premises, you may not:

• Destroy, damage, or remove property
• Climb on any part of the building or exhibits
• Use loud or abusive language
• Perform obscene or indecent acts
• Loiter, sleep, or participate in unauthorized assemblies
• Engage in disorderly conduct
• Use, possess, or sell illegal drugs (including cannabis)

While on any National Gallery premises—except sidewalks and designated grassy areas—you may not:

• Protest or conduct a demonstration. The term “demonstration” includes picketing; speechmaking; marching; holding vigils or religious services; and all other like forms of conduct that involve the communication or expression of views or grievances, engaged in by one or more persons, the conduct of which is reasonably likely to draw a crowd or onlookers.
• Display or carry placards, signs, or banners
• Solicit or advertise for commercial or charitable purposes
• Distribute advertisements, pamphlets, handbills, and flyers
• Project images of any kind on National Gallery buildings or works of art