The National Gallery of Art, established in 1937 and located in the National Mall, houses one of the most extensive and varied collections of art in the world. The Gallery's West building was designed by John Russell Pope, whose penchant for the neoclassical architecture is also exhibited in his design of the Jefferson Memorial. It is connected to the East building, designed by architect I.M. Pei who was responsible for Paris' Musee de Louvre glass pyramid, by an underground passage. Though Pei's design for the East building of the National Gallery is geometric, it is disjointed in comparison with the flowing classicism of the West building. Here form meets function as the West building showcases paintings and sculpture by the European masters and pre-20th century American artists while the East building's concentrations are on modern and contemporary art.

As you visit the West building, check out works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Monet, and Van Gogh. Also note the museum's holding of the only Leonardo Da Vinci painting in the western hemisphere. In unique and modern East building, works by Picasso, Matisse, Mark Rothko, and Andy Warhol line the walls. The preceding artists' work may be found as permanent installations at the National Gallery in conjunction with various traveling exhibitions. While you are there, take advantage of the Gallery's newly installed sculpture garden, which opens as an ice rink in the winter.

For more information, call (202) 737-4215