Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Washington, D.C., is home to a number of museums that spotlight artwork from a variety of mediums and spanning a number of styles including Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary. Washington, D.C., art museums enrich the local community and visitors to the city alike with special programs, concerts and lectures that educate as well as entertain.
The National Gallery of Art's extensive collection includes paintings, sculpture, architecture and photography. Among the works featured at the museum are Gilbert Stuart's paintings of the first five U.S. presidents and a collection of landscape photographs by Ansel Adams. In addition to the NGA's permanent collection, the museum hosts exhibitions, a film series and jazz concerts. Education programs at NGA include tours for students, internship opportunities for college students and a volunteer guide program. The National Gallery of Art is open Sunday through Saturday and is closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free.
National Gallery of Art
4th and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20565
202-737-4215
nga.gov
The first collection of American art in the U.S. is housed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The museum's collection spans 300 years and features works by more than 7,000 artists including Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent and Georgia O'Keeffe. Along with the permanent collection in Washington, D.C., a traveling exhibition program has introduced works form the collection to more than 2.5 million people across the U.S. Tours of the museum are available daily and are led by volunteer guides; tours can be scheduled in American Sign Language or Spanish with advance notice. Admission to the Smithsonian American Art Museum is free and the museum is easily accessible by public transportation.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
8th and F Streets, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
202-633-7970
americanart.si.edu
As the world's only museum dedicated to recognizing women artists, the National Museum of Women in the Arts is home to a permanent collection of 3,000 works from the 16th century to the present day. Included in the collection are paintings, sculptures and photographs. Educational programs and tours of the museum are available for school, youth and adult groups. Volunteers lead museum tours and internships are available for undergraduate and graduate students. Members of the museum and youth 18 years old and under enjoy free admission; nonmembers pay a modest fee to access the museum.
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
202-783-5000
nmwa.org
Modern art is the focal point of The Phillips Collection, the nation's first modern art museum. The Phillips Collection first opened to the public in 1921 and among its 3,000 works are paintings by Van Gogh, Renoir, O'Keeffe and Diebenkorn. Individual and group tours are available and lectures are presented by art critics, historians and professional artists. The Phillips Collection is open Tuesday through Sunday and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Independence Day. Admission is free for members and those 18 years old and under; admission for others is by donation.
The Phillips Collection
1600 21st Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
202-387-2151
phillipscollection.org