Things to do nearNational Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art was established by an act of Congress in 1937, largely through the philanthropy of Andrew W. Mellon, who donated both his personal collection and the funds to construct the neoclassical West Building, which opened in 1941. Over the decades, additional gifts from prominent collectors expanded the holdings significantly, and in 1978 the East Building, designed by I. M. Pei, opened to house modern and contemporary works. Its angular geometry and soaring atrium remain among the most celebrated examples of late twentieth-century American architecture.

The permanent collection includes works by Leonardo da Vinci, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Monet, and Picasso, along with an extensive collection of American paintings and sculpture. The Sculpture Garden on the Mall offers a pleasant outdoor counterpart to the indoor galleries, featuring large-scale works set among seasonal plantings and a central fountain that becomes an ice-skating rink in winter.

Admission to the permanent collection is free, a policy that reflects the institution's founding mission to serve the broadest possible public. The museum's research library and conservation facilities also support scholarly work that extends well beyond the galleries themselves. For anyone spending time in Washington, the National Gallery of Art offers an encounter with masterworks held at a standard that few institutions anywhere in the world can match.