National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

Activity Overview

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is an outdoor exhibition area of the National Gallery of Art located on Washington, D.C.'s National Mall. Since 1999, this 6-acre garden has showcased several impressive contemporary sculptures from the museum's collection. It is also known for its beautiful fountain, which is converted into a public ice rink each winter. Just like the art museum, it is open for free year-round, so there's no excuse not to stop by for a visit.

Things to Do

• View all of the sculptures in the garden. Children are especially fascinated by pieces such as Spider by Louise Bourgeois, a gigantic bronze sculpture of a spider.
• Check out Thinker on a Rock by Barry Flanagan, a contemporary version of the famous Thinker sculpture by Rodin, which features a hare instead of a man.
• Make sure to see House I by Roy Lichtenstein, which resembles a free-standing painting of a house. Its bright colors make it seem like a cartoon has come to life!

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Insider Tips

• Don't miss An Entrance to the Paris Métropolitain by Hector Guimard, one of the many Paris metro entrances he designed in the early 1900s which can still be found throughout the French capital.
• Between mid-November and mid-March, go ice skating in the beautiful sculpture garden.
• Make sure not to touch any of the sculptures - they are only meant to be viewed.