Phillips Collection Offers Free Third Thursday

- The Phillips Collection holds the distinction of being America's first museum of modern art, founded in 1921 by collector and philanthropist Duncan Phillips. It was established in his 1897 Georgian Revival home in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. - The museum was founded as a memorial to Duncan Phillips's father and brother, who died in 1917 and 1918, respectively. Phillips turned to his love of painting to cope with his grief and wanted to share the restorative power of art with the public. - The permanent collection consists of nearly 6,000 works, showcasing American and European impressionist and modern art. A major highlight is Pierre-Auguste Renoir's masterpiece, "Luncheon of the Boating Party," which Phillips purchased in 1923. - Duncan Phillips was known for his progressive approach to collecting, acquiring works from contemporary artists who were not yet widely acclaimed, including Georgia O'Keeffe, Pierre Bonnard, and Jacob Lawrence. - The Third Thursday event is part of a larger neighborhood art walk in the Dupont Circle area, with partners including the IA&A at Hillyer, Studio Gallery, and the Korean Cultural Center. - While Third Thursdays are free, general admission to the Phillips Collection on other days is ticketed. Adult tickets are typically around $20 for self-guided visits. - The museum is housed in the original Phillips family home, which was expanded with the Goh Annex in 1960 and the Sant Building in 2006 to accommodate the growing collection and visitor numbers. - Washington, D.C., is home to a large number of free museums, most notably the 17 Smithsonian Institution museums, which are free to enter every day. The National Gallery of Art is also always free.