The Smithsonian American Art Museum's Luce Foundation Center for American Art is the first visible art storage and study center in Washington. The Center features more than 3,300 objects in secure glass cases which quadruples the number of artworks from the permanent collection on public view. The center features paintings densely hung on screens, sculptures, crafts and folk art objects arranged on shelves, and miniatures and medals in drawers that open. Large-scale sculptures are installed on the first floor of the center. Interactive computer kiosks provide the public with information on every object in the center, including a discussion of each artwork, artist biographies, audio interviews, video clips and still images.

The National Historic Landmark building that houses the Luce Foundation Center for American Art is also home to the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the Lunder Conservation Center, the Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium and the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard.