National Gallery of Art
National Mall, Washington, D.C., United States
The National Gallery offers two complementary ways into a remarkable collection. The West Building’s classical spaces frame earlier European and American art, while the East Building provides a more angular, light-filled setting for modern and contemporary work. Rather than trying to absorb everything, choose a period or a handful of artists and give them time. The Sculpture Garden offers a welcome change of pace, making this an especially rewarding museum to revisit across several shorter stops.