National Gallery of Art

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Less than a mile from the Phoenix Park Hotel is the National Mall, home of the National Gallery of Art and its adjoining Sculpture Garden, both key attractions in Washington, D.C. The gallery was formed by joint resolution of Congress in 1937 and began with the installation of the personal collection of Andrew W. Mellon, whose ambition towards such a gallery began in the 1920's. The same year as his death, Andrew Mellon honored the United States by granting his collection to the gallery and the public domain.

The National Gallery of Art has since attracted hundreds of donors, and the extensive collection has grown to be one of the largest art galleries in Washington, DC and regularly features in-house exhibitions on Manet, Picasso, Rembrandt, de Goya, Johns, and Pollock.

In 1999, a sculpture garden adjacent to the gallery's west building was opened for the general public. Featuring modern and contemporary sculpture, the garden not only provides a comfortable and elegant setting for visitors, it expands the artistic reach of the gallery.

Check the National Gallery of Art calendar to learn about other exciting Washington DC attractions.