National Museum of Asian Art

The granite facade of the National Museum of Asian Art features distinct rounded arches that repeat along the building, sheltering a vast collection gathered by Charles Lang Freer. In nineteen oh four, Freer presented his entire trove of Asian art and American paintings to the Smithsonian, provided they met his strict conditions for how the objects were displayed. He insisted the galleries remain quiet and uncrowded, ensuring visitors viewed individual pieces in solitude. That original commitment to focused contemplation persists throughout these interconnected underground halls.