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- Locals have answered 25 questions about Washington DC.
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1. National Gallery of Art
- The premier art museum in the Nation's Capital, the National Gallery houses an extensive art collection from the world's most famous artists
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- Art Museums/Galleries
- National Mall
- Nile Expert Tip: The National Gallery's two gift shops are ideal for finding unique mementos, books, jewelry, and toys.
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2. Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
- Modern Gallery with 19th- and 20th-century artworks
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- Art Museums/Galleries
- National Mall
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3. Phillips Collection
- Art collection in an historic mansion
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- Art Museums/Galleries
- Dupont Circle
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4. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Experience one of the world's foremost collections of Asian art, from ancient to contemporary works.
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- Art Museums/Galleries
- National Mall
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5. Freer Gallery of Art
- Part of the Smithsonian, this gallery specializes in Asian art.
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- Art Museums/Galleries
- National Mall
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6. Corcoran Gallery of Art
- Washington's first art museum boasts an impressive collection of works by established and up-and-coming artists.
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- Art Museums/Galleries
- Downtown
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7. National Portrait Gallery
- In praise of famous Americans
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- Museums
- Downtown
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8. National Museum of African Art
- Explore sub-Saharan heritage
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- Museums
- National Mall
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9. National Museum of Women in the Arts
- One of the world's foremost galleries celebrating the accomplishments of female artists.
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- Museums
- Downtown
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10. Textile Museum
- The woven arts
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- Museums
- Dupont Circle
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The Best of NileGuide
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For many art aficionados, a world capital is only as good as its art museums and galleries. Luckily for art fans, Washington, DC, does not disappoint. From the National Mall, where you'll find the National Gallery as well as most of the Smithsonian Institution museums, to neighborhoods such as Dupont Circle, which contains many private galleries, there is an art museum or gallery to please the eye of every aesthete.
Topping our list of the best art museums and galleries in Washington, DC, is the National Gallery, which contains a trove of Italian Renaissance paintings, including the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the United States; canvases from French impressionists; and modern art from the likes of Alexander Calder and Salvador Dali, among many other masterpieces. Nearby, the Hirshhorn Gallery and Sculpture Garden is a treat for lovers of contemporary art, the Sackler Gallery contains an impressive store of art from Asia, and the National Museum of African Art has artistic treasures representing every country in Africa.
While many of Washington's finest art collections are located on the National Mall, you'll also find other world-class museums beyond the monuments. The National Portrait Gallery, for example, houses an impressive store of portraits of famous Americans. Private galleries, such as the Phillips Collection and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, contain priceless works in their permanent collections and are a local favorite for cutting edge exhibitions.
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