Many of you may have stopped by the Portrait Gallery to catch a glimpse of Stephen Colbert’s aptly positioned portrait, but did you have the time to take in the rest of the museum as well? Recently, DCist was given an insider’s tour of the National Portrait Gallery by Assistant Director of Exhibitions and Collections Management Claire Kelly.

Unlike many other art museums which focus primarily on preserving and documenting art history, the work displayed in the Portrait Gallery focuses on American history and its people. While much of what is displayed is painted and sculpted portraiture, the museum also contains many historical artifacts which accompany the portraits to tell a fuller story. For example, next to a portrait of Isaac Singer is one of his sewing machine patent models, and likewise, next to the Thomas Edison portrait sits one of his inventions — the tin-foil phonograph — both on extended loan from the National Museum of American History. These artifacts, along with the accompanying artwork and exhibit text, provide a rich educational experience for those interested in our country’s history.