A Brief History

The National Gallery of Art was created for the people of the United States of America by a joint resolution of Congress, accepting the gift of financier and art collector Andrew W. Mellon. During the 1920s, Mr. Mellon began to collect with the intention of forming a national gallery of art in Washington. His collection was promised to the nation in 1937, the year of his death. Funds for the construction of the original (West) building were provided by The A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust. On March 17, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted the completed building and the collections on behalf of the people of the United States of America.

Andrew Mellon's hope that the newly created National Gallery would attract gifts from other collectors was soon realized in the form of major donations of art from Samuel H. Kress, Rush H. Kress, Joseph Widener, Chester Dale, Ailsa Mellon Bruce, Lessing J. Rosenwald, and Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, as well as individual gifts from hundreds of other donors.

The paintings and sculpture given by Andrew Mellon have formed a nucleus of high quality around which the collections have grown.

The Gallery's newer East Building, located on land set aside in the original Congressional resolution, was planned to accomodate the Gallery's growing collections and expanded exhibition schedule as well as to house an advanced research center, offices for curatorial, eduation, and administrative purposes, a great library, and an increasingly large collection of drawings and prints. The building opened on June 1, 1978, and was accepted for the nation by President Jimmy Carter Funds for construction were given by Paul Mellon and the late Alisa Mellon Bruce, the son and daughter of the founder, and by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

As the Gallery expands its interest into twentieth-century art, the Collectors Commitee, an advisory group of private citizens, has given funds to acquire paintings and sculpture of our time.

Key works of art have also come to the Gallery through the Patrons' Permanent Fund. In addition, membership in the Circle of the National Gallery of Art provides funding for special programs and projects.

The Gallery is supported in its daily operations by federal funds. All works in the collection of the National Gallery of Art have been given by private donation.

Gallery Regulations

Parcels, briefcases, knapsacks, and umbrellas must be checked. Guards will enforce rules against touching works of art. Visitors may not use fluid ink pens. Smoking, food, and drink are forbidden in exhibition areas.

Photography

Photographing works of art for personal purposes, using a hand-held camera, is allowed with or without a flash, unless otherwise posted.

Art Information Locations

West Building Art Information Room, Main Floor, at Mall entrance; Art Information Desk, Ground Floor, Constitution Avenue at 6th Street entrance.

East Building Art Information Desk, Ground Level, central court.

Free Tours, Lectures, Films, Concerts

Information and schedules may be obtained at the Art Information Desks or from the Calendar of Events, which will be mailed on request.

Sales Shops

West Building Ground Floor: reproductions, postcards, books, notecards, calendars, videocassettes.

Concourse wide selection of art books, plus exhibition catalogues and postcards.

East Building special exhibition catalogues, posters, and other materials related to special exhibitions.

Cafés and Buffet

West Building Ground Floor: Garden Café

Concourse Buffet (self-service), Espresso Bar

East Building Upper Level: Terrace Café

Restrooms and Telephones

Near the entrance lobbies and restaurant areas.

First Aid

Guards will direct visitors to the Health Unit.

Services for Disabled Visitors

Entrances

West Building Consititution Avenue at 6th St.

East Building 4th Street

Parking areas, ramps and elevators provide access to public areas and galleries; please refer to floor plans of East and West Buildings.

Listening assisted devices for use in the Large Auditorium are available at the Art Information Desk in the East Building.

Wheelchairs and strollers

Available at the entrances.

Note: The installation of galleries is often subject to change, and certain works of art are not always on view.