We took a 4:30 tour to view the history of western art. A fascinating view of parts of the collection with a very informative guide. The guide was very accommodating to our daughter who was in a wheelchair. Lovely way to spend part of a cold January Sunday afternoon.

All I can say about this place is ... it is nothing less than magnificent. I could imagine that you will never be "finished" with this place, that you find new things and details in paintings and other works of art from time to time. Is a "must see" place in Washington D.C.

The Alexander von Humboldt exhibition was beautiful to the eye, and featured very informative panels relating the exhibit's varied art pieces to his research interests and to the context of the budding American republic. It relates how he cultivated high level figures here in the USA and influenced them much later in his life. He also influenced the nation's arts community specifically in the area of landscape painting and portrayal of Indian/Native American figures and their life scenes. It is due to close 15 July but it's worth checking if the exhibit will travel elsewhere after it closes. There are a few videos to see in the exhibit and also on the Smithsonian website.