National Gallery of ArtVisitor Guide — Washington, D.C.

The National Gallery of Art stands as a premier cultural institution in the United States, situated prominently on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 3rd and 9th Streets along Constitution Avenue NW. Established in 1937, the museum was created for the American people through a joint resolution of the United States Congress. The foundation of this monumental institution was made possible when financier and art collector Andrew W. Mellon privately donated his substantial personal art collection, alongside the necessary funds for the museum's initial construction. Today, the gallery operates entirely free of charge, ensuring that its extensive artistic heritage remains open to the public. Visitors can explore a vast collection that spans Western art from the Middle Ages to the present day. The gallery's campus is architecturally significant, encompassing the neoclassical West Building, which houses European masterpieces and American art, and the striking geometric East Building, dedicated to modern and contemporary works. Through Mellon's foundational gift and subsequent donations from other prominent collectors, the National Gallery of Art has grown to become one of the most comprehensive and visited art museums in the world, preserving significant cultural artifacts for future generations.