Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

The Corcoran Gallery of Art, founded in 1869 by William Wilson Corcoran, stands as one of the earliest privately-owned museums in the United States. In 1880, it underwent an expansion, incorporating the Corcoran College of Art and Design, which shared a singular mission: to foster and promote American artistic talent. Over the course of 145 years, the Corcoran Gallery of Art played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of American museums and art education institutions.

This museum primarily focuses on American art, boasting an impressive permanent collection featuring artworks by renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Thomas Gainsborough, John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Edward Hopper, Willem de Kooning, Joan Mitchell, Gene Davis, and many others. Visitors can expect to find a rotating selection of exhibitions, with contemporary pieces often showcased on the second floor and modern and early American art on the first floor.

The Corcoran Gallery of Art holds the distinction of being the oldest and largest non-federal art museum in the District of Columbia. The construction of its building commenced prior to the Civil War, but it was repurposed as a government warehouse during the war's duration. Subsequently, it was completed in 1874, opening its doors to the public. The gallery's overarching mission is to be a devoted space for art, exclusively devoted to nurturing the creative spirit of American artists.