National Gallery of Art
Washington, D.C.
The National Gallery of Art is the national art museum of the United States, on the National Mall. Its oldest building opened in 1941, as a gift to the whole country.
A collector's gift
Andrew W. Mellon was a financier from Pittsburgh. In 1921 he came to Washington to run the government's finances. He believed the country deserved a great national museum, like the European capitals. In 1937 he offered the country his collection and the money to build it.
A long building with a dome
The architect John Russell Pope designed a building in classical style, with entrances on all four sides. In the center is a round hall with a dome. Mellon and Pope both died in the summer of 1937, soon after digging began. The museum was built as they had planned it.
The opening
On March 17, 1941, his son Paul Mellon handed the museum over to the nation. The head of the country accepted it on behalf of everyone. Other collecting families later gave their works too.
Two buildings and a garden
In 1978 the East Building opened, designed by the architect I. M. Pei and linked by an underground passage. In 1999 the sculpture garden was added, with giant modern works. Today it is one of the largest museums in North America.
