America's First Museum of Modern Art

At a Glance

The Phillips Collection in Washington DC is the oldest museum of modern art in the United States, opened in October 1921 near Dupont Circle. About 6,000 works span Renoir, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Rothko in an unusually intimate setting—rare among the city's larger Smithsonian institutions.

From Personal Loss to Public Museum

Founder Duncan Phillips (1886–1966) opened his family home as a museum after losing his brother and father in 1916–17. The 1923 acquisition of Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party made the institution a serious collection. Three expansions in 1960, 1989, and 2006 produced today's footprint.

Must-See

• Renoir — Luncheon of the Boating Party (1881).
• Rothko Room, four canvases hung to the artist's specifications—the earliest dedicated Rothko room in any US museum.
• Jacob Lawrence — Migration Series: 30 odd-numbered panels (MoMA holds the even 30).
• Bonnard, Cézanne, Van Gogh's Entrance to the Public Garden in Arles.
• Phillips After 5—first-Thursday evenings with music and talks.

Tips

Three minutes from Dupont Circle (Red Line, Q Street exit). Free on weekdays for permanent collection; ~$20 weekends and special shows. Plan 1.5–2 hours. Closed Mondays.