My husband and I went to the combined American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery while in Washington, DC on a Saturday afternoon. There was a lot of interesting artwork, though, also some that made us question why it's in an art museum. This combined museum is part of the Smithsonian and is free. It features a gift shop and a beautiful courtyard.

American art is as diverse as the huge and varied land and history it comes from, and this museum really helps give the visitor a taste of that breadth. Certainly not everything will be to everyone's taste, but there is something for everyone. Go in, dwell on what catches your eye, and skip the rest and you should have a fine visit.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) are both housed in the old Patent Office building. In SAAM, there were many interesting exhibits, both permanent and temporary. The exhibits give a broad picture of American art from the colonial period until the 21st century.

Housed alongside national Portrait Gallery, it is free and open 11:30 to 7, that is later than most museums. I went to see Amish Quilts. It was a stunning, large exhibit with wonderful wall labels.