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West building (1941). The two adjacent buildings which make up the National Gallery of Art are located on the north end of the National Mall on the west side. The original museum building, now known as the West Building, opened on March 17, 1941. Its neoclassical design, by architect John Russell Pope, has a gigantic columned portico, and a massive dome reminiscent of the Pantheon (as is Pope's other notable Washingtonbuilding - the Jefferson Memorial). The contemporary East Building, which opened in 1978, was designed by architect I.M. Pei. The two buildings are linked by an underground passage. The Gallery also opened an adjacent sculpture garden in 1999. The 6 acre garden has a large circular fountain which is an ice rink in the winter. Their web site: http://www.nga.gov/collection/index.shtm The usual good source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Gallery_of_Art
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North America
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