WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Gallery of Art was created in 1937 for the people of the United States of America by a joint resolution of Congress, accepting the gift of financier and art collector Andrew W. Mellon. During the 1920s, Mr. Mellon began collecting with the intention of forming a gallery of art for the nation in Washington. In 1937, the year of his death, he promised his collection to the United States. Funds for the construction of the West Building were provided by The A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust. On March 17, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted the completed building and the collections on behalf of the people of the United States of America. http://www.nga.gov/press en-us ℗ & © 2008 National Gallery of Art WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/lecture_fall08.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/lecture_fall08.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/concerts_08_09.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/concerts_08_09.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/film_fall08.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/film_fall08.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- First Exhibition of Indian Paintings by George de Forest Brush Premieres at National Gallery of Art, Washington http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/241/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/241/index.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Serial Landscape Photographs by Three Legendary American Photographers on View at National Gallery of Art http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/282/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/282/index.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/interns_summer.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/interns_summer.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/film_summer.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/film_summer.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples Premieres at National Gallery of Art, Washington http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/264/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/264/index.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Native Washingtonian Martin Puryear's Career to be Showcased at National Gallery of Art, Washington http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/267/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/267/index.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Jan Lievens' Enigmatic Career and Relationship with Rembrandt Van Rijn are Reconsidered in an Exhibition at the National Gallery of Art http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/255/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/255/index.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ancient Afghan Treasures to Tour United States In 2008; Exhibition Organized by National Geographic Society and National Gallery of Art In Cooperation with National Museum of Afghanistan, Kabul http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/273/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/273/index.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Monumental color photographs explore the sublime beauty and inherent danger of the sea and its surroundings in the days following September 11, 2001. http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/268/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/268/index.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/ernst.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/ernst.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/042908.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/042908.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/277/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/277/index.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/jazz_garden.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/jazz_garden.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/frank.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/frank.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/vogel50x50_a.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/vogel50x50_a.shtm WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2007/rothko.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2007/rothko.shtm