Location

The Corcoran Gallery of Art was founded in 1869 as America's first dedicated art museum and Washington's largest nonfederal 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.

William Wilson Corcoran's gallery, founded for the purpose of "encouraging American genius" in the arts, sits one block from the White House.

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. Charles Adams Platt designed the "Clark Wing" added in 1928.

The institution also houses the Corcoran College of Art + Design, Washington's only four-year college of art and design. The College currently offers four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree programs; a two-year Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree program; Master of Arts (MA) degree programs; a Continuing Education program encompassing more than 250 courses and seven certificate programs for part-time adult students; as well as summer camps and year-round classes designed especially for children and teens.