Tour Description

The Enid A. Haupt Garden is a public garden behind the Smithsonian building – also known as “The Castle.” Covering over four acres, it is situated between the Castle and Independence Avenue and has provided a welcomed respite for Smithsonian visitors and residents. Here you will find a dizzying array of plants, flowers, trees and garden architecture in a relaxing atmosphere that invites lingering on a park bench and letting the cares of the outside world fade away. This makes it a perfect location for sketching.

This location is accessible by Metrorail at Smithsonian Station exit (Blue/Orange/Silver lines) and Metrobus stops are plentiful. Metered street parking is available around the Mall area but is extremely scarce. Give yourself extra time to find parking.

We will meet up at the garden’s gated entrance on Independence Avenue and briefly tour the gardens. Next we will do some warm up and sketching exercises with your sketching kit (included in the cost of the tour) and then you can enjoy open sketching time of whatever catches your interest. We will then wrap up by sharing our sketches and discussing the fun and challenges of making art at this location and next steps you can take to keep sketching.

Notes:

The Smithsonian Castle serves as the welcome center for the museum network.  As such is has access to bathrooms and a café inside and information about every other Smithsonian Museum so you can plan you next sketching trip! You will need to go through a security checkpoint to enter the building. The garden is all on one level and is accessible for all abilities.

**IN CASE OF RAIN***

Plan B:  The Freer Gallery of Art – interior and courtyard

If rain should keep us from enjoying the Castle gardens, next door is the amazing Freer Gallery of Art. It’s central courtyard offers a nice indoor/outdoor porch feel so you can sketch a garden in a sheltered location. Plus the collections of American and Asian art is stunning and a joy to sketch.

Fine Print

By purchasing a ticket and participating in the Sketching in the City tour you agree to our Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Statement.

 

Got more questions about Sketching in the City? Check out the FAQs on the Sketching in the City web site.

Want to learn more about the Smithsonian Castle? Visit their website.

Want to learn more about the Enid A. Haupt Gardens? Visit their website.