National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art is a major federal art museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., comprising two principal buildings and an outdoor Sculpture Garden. The collection spans medieval to contemporary art and is open to the public without an admission charge.

The original West Building was completed in the early 1940s following a donation by Andrew Mellon; the East Building, designed by I.M. Pei, opened in 1978 to expand display space for 20th-century art. The institution has grown through major bequests and acquisitions and serves as a national research and exhibition center for the visual arts.

The National Gallery sits on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets NW in Washington, D.C., adjacent to the Smithsonian museums and within walking distance of the U.S. Capitol and other national landmarks.

• Admission and layout: Admission to the national collection is free, and the museum spans two main buildings on the National Mall connected by an underground concourse.

What to See #

• West Building: A Beaux-Arts-style building on the National Mall that houses the museum's classical and Renaissance collections and was funded and donated by Andrew Mellon in the early 20th century.
• East Building: A modernist triangular building designed by I.M. Pei that opened in 1978 to house 20th-century and contemporary works and expand exhibition space.
• Sculpture Garden: An outdoor landscaped garden with a variety of modern and contemporary sculptures and a seasonal fountain plaza adjacent to the main museum buildings.