The two structures are very diverse in … With over 4 million visitors a year, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. is one of the most important art museums in the world, with masterpieces dating from the 12th century to the present. The National Gallery of Art and its gorgeous Sculpture Garden (which features an ice rink in the winter time) are located on Constitution Avenue NW between 3rd and 9th Streets NW. The new and old buildings are united into an integrated whole by an underground tunnel animated by prismatic skylights, a water wall, and a wide range of dining and other services. What and where is the National Gallery of Art? Le musée est composé de deux bâtiments (East Building et West building) reliés par une galerie souterraine sous le Mall. Experience some of the most vital art in the world at this renowned museum in Washington, DC. 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. National Gallery of Art West Building Description In the 1920s, art collector and financier Andrew Mellon decided that the city needed a proper museum of art to rival those in Europe. La National Gallery of Art est l'un des plus importants musées de Washington. With its prime location on the National Mall, surrounded by the Smithsonian Institution, visitors often think that the museum is … West Building Art Information Room, Main Floor, at Mall entrance; Art Information Desk, Ground Floor, Constitution Avenue at 6th Street entrance. The two buildings of the National Gallery of Art - the East and West Buildings - sit adjacent to each other and are joined by a spacious tunnel that runs under 4th Street. The East Building mirrors the symmetry of its historic counterpart and continues its east-west axis. The museum has a large enough collection that it needs two buildings to house it (the West Building and the East Building) that are connected at the … DC is museum paradise, and the National Gallery of Art is a gem among even the other great museums the city has to offer. The National Gallery of Art collection includes an extensive survey of works of American, British, Italian, Flemish, Spanish, Dutch, French and German art. Il fait partie de l'institution du Smithsonian, l'entrée est donc gratuite. History and buildings The museum was founded in 1937 on a gift by American financier Andrew W. Mellon, who donated his art collection and provided initial funding for the realization of the museum.