The Peacock Room

The Peacock Room at the Freer Gallery of Art—part of the National Museum of Asian Art—is a masterpiece of interior design by James McNeill Whistler, blending an ornate avian motif with vivid colors inspired by East Asian art. Originally created to display a Chinese blue-and-white porcelain collection, the room has been a highlight of the museum since 1923. On the third Thursday of each month, the room’s wooden shutters are opened, allowing natural light to flood the space and reveal the full brilliance of Whistler’s gilded surfaces and painted details. This special monthly viewing offers a rare chance to see the room as the artist intended, with daylight enhancing its intricate beauty. The event also coincides with the museum’s ongoing conservation efforts; recent work has focused on cleaning the painted and gilded surfaces and stabilizing the shutters, ensuring the room remains pristine for visitors.

When: Thursday, July 16, 2026 (third Thursday of the month), during regular museum hours.

Venue: National Museum of Asian Art, Freer Gallery of Art, 1050 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20013.

Tickets: Free admission; no ticket required. The museum’s programs and resources are free and accessible to all.

Note: The Peacock Room is one of the museum’s most visited spaces. Visitors may also explore a virtual walkthrough, learn about the room’s controversial history and journey from London to Detroit to Washington, DC, and watch videos such as “Feathers Fly in Whistler’s Peacock Room,” which features curator Dr. Diana Greenwold and Smarthistory’s Dr. Beth Harris discussing the room’s dramatic origin story. The museum offers additional resources on the room’s conservation, including blog posts documenting the 2022 conservation project.

Ages: All ages welcome.

Accessibility: The National Museum of Asian Art is committed to accessibility; contact the museum for specific accommodations.