After being closed for several years, on July 4, 2006, The Smithsonian American Art Museum will celebrate the grand reopening of its newly restored building, home to the world's premier collection of American art. Those who cannot attend can console themselves with this magnificent volume, which puts the museum's galleries at their fingertips. Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Nam June Paik are just a few of the artists represented in a book that spans all of American history and features gorgeous reproductions of works in a dazzling variety of styles and mediums, including paintings, sculpture, photography, and folk art. With text that illuminates the nation's history through examples of its art-including many rarely displayed pieces from the collection-this is one art book that belongs on every American coffee table.

After being closed for several years, on July 4, 2006, The Smithsonian American Art Museum will celebrate the grand reopening of its newly restored building, home to the world's premier collection of American art. Those who cannot attend can console themselves with this magnificent volume, which puts the museum's galleries at their fingertips. Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Nam June Paik are just a few of the artists represented in a book that spans all of American history and features gorgeous reproductions of works in a dazzling variety of styles and mediums, including paintings, sculpture, photography, and folk art. With text that illuminates the nation's history through examples of its art-including many rarely displayed pieces from the collection-this is one art book that belongs on every American coffee table.