Visitors look at Nam June Paik’s Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii during the grand opening on July 1, 2006, of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no. MG_6901.

Remembering the Reopening of Two Smithsonian Museums

After extensive renovations of the Old Patent Office Building that houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture held a grand opening July 1, 2006.
July 1, 2021, by Lynda Schmitz Fuhrig

After undergoing a six-year renovation, the Old Patent Office Building reopened on July 1, 2006, as The Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture. The Center is home to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Lawrence A. Fleischman Gallery of the Archives of American Art in Washington, D.C.

Some of the additions to the museums included a large auditorium, new windows with special light filters to protect the art, and 20 percent more gallery space. Additionally, the Smithsonain American Art Museum installed open storage galleries with rows of glass cases and drawers with works from the Museum's collections. 

Pause
1 of 11
Musicians dressed in black pants, blue coats, and white shirts play outside the Donald W. Reynolds C

Musicians perform outside the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture on July 1, 2006, during the grand opening by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no. MG_6656.

Adults and children stand outside the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture bui

The public and photographers wait outside the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture on July 1, 2006, for the grand opening by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no. MG_6662.

A smiling man is at a lectern outside the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture

Marc Pachter, center, National Portrait Gallery director, addresses the crowd at the grand opening of Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture on July 1, 2006. Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence Small, left, and Elizabeth Broun, Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery director, cheer by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no. MG_6668.

Three people cut a red ribbon with a large pair of scissors.

Marc Pachter, center, National Portrait Gallery director, Elizabeth Broun, Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery director, left, Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence Small, right, cut the ribbon on July 1, 2006, at the grand opening of Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no. MG_6711.j

A man and woman look at a portrait of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Gallery attendees view a portrait of Hillary Rodham Clinton at the National Portrait Gallery on July 1, 2006, during the grand opening of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no. MG_6774.

A family with a baby in a stroller receives a flyer from a woman in front of a metal sculpture.

A family receives information from a greeter at the grand opening on July 1, 2006, of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no.MG_6794.

A man looks at an art piece of various items wrapped in foils.

A gallery visitor views The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly during the grand opening on July 1, 2006, of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no. MG_6796.

Three people dressed as Marilyn Monroe, left, Charlie Chaplin, and Andy Warhol

Marilyn Monroe, left, Charlie Chaplin, and Andy Warhol impersonators pose during the grand opening on July 1, 2006, of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no. MG_6815.

Three people in various dance poses perform for a crowd.

A dance troupe performs during the grand opening on July 1, 2006, of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no. MG_6873.

People look at a map of United States of a fifty-one channel video installation with neon outlines.

Visitors look at Nam June Paik’s Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii during the grand opening on July 1, 2006, of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no. MG_6901.

Two people dressed as George and Martha Washington appear in front of a George Washington portrait.

Actors dressed as George and Martha Washington stand in front of the Landsdowne George Washington portrait during the grand opening on July 1, 2006, of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture by Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 18-238, Image no. MG_7019.

Related Resources

Leave a Comment

Produced by the Smithsonian Institution Archives. For copyright questions, please see the Terms of Use.