Washington, District of Columbia
Art
One block from the White House sits William Wilson Corcoran's gallery, founded for the purpose of "encouraging American genius" in the arts.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art was founded in 1869 as Washington's first museum of art. It is a privately funded institution incorporating both a museum and college of art and design. As one of America's oldest art institutions, the institution is known internationally for its distinguished collection of historical and modern American art as well as European painting, sculpture, photography and decorative arts.
Before you enter, step back and examine this architectural masterpiece designed in 1897 by Paris-trained Ernest Flagg and considered one of the country's finest examples of Beaux Arts architecture.