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The Corcoran specializes in European and American art and has built a remarkable collection through bequests and acquisitions over the years. The Clark Collection contains masterworks by Flemish, Dutch and French painters, and the Walker Collection includes works of late 19th- and early 20th-century French masters such as Renoir, Pissarro and Monet. American artists such as Sargent, de Kooning and Calder are represented in the Olga Hirshhorn Collection. The Corcoran is active in acquiring and displaying contemporary American art, and every postwar style is now represented in the collection. One exciting acquisition is the Evans-Tibbs Collection, a remarkable compilation of African-American art. Displays rotate frequently, so there is always something different to see.

During a visit to the Corcoran, allow some time for admiring the outside of the building, which is both the largest nonfederal museum in Washington and a fine example of beaux-arts architecture (the museum will be even larger once a new wing designed by architect Frank Gehry is completed). Inside, a favorite room is the stunning 18th-century Salon Dore with its gilded paneling, trophy panels and ceiling mural. The detailed floral garlands painted on its walls combine with large windows and huge pier mirrors to give the room the feeling of an indoor garden.

A docent-led tour of the Corcoran takes 45 minutes. For a special treat, combine a stroll around the museum with lunch at the Corcoran cafe, where you can sip a glass of wine while making your selection from an elegant array of salads, sandwiches and quiches. And come by on Sundays for its famed gospel brunch (from 10:30AM-2PM). -- Deborah Kennedy