The Phillips Collection

This collection sits inside a red brick Georgian townhouse with several modern wings connected by glass corridors. Paintings, sculptures, and photographs fill rooms across two floors that wrap around a small interior courtyard.

Duncan Phillips opened the house in 1921 as a memorial to his father and brother, who had died shortly before. Over the following decades, he expanded the space several times to make room for a growing collection.

The name honors Duncan Phillips, whose family started collecting art in their private residence during the early 20th century. To this day, the building keeps a domestic feeling, letting visitors view works in rooms that still carry the warmth of a family home.

The entrance sits on 21st Street, a few blocks north of the DuPont Circle Metro station. On most days the house opens late morning, on Sundays it opens in the afternoon, and it closes in the early evening.

The house displays works side by side from completely different decades and styles, inviting visitors to find connections between them on their own. Regular rehangings mean no two visits look exactly the same.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1921

Founders: Duncan Phillips, Marjorie Phillips

Architectural style: Georgian architecture

Address: 1600 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-17:00; Sunday 12:00-19:00

Phone: +1(202)3872151

Website: https://phillipscollection.org

GPS coordinates: 38.91175,-77.04687

Latest update: December 20, 2025 14:15