The late J. Carter Brown, the National Gallery's director from 1969 to 1992, tells the fascinating story of the museum's beginnings and its growth. Illustrated with rare photographs and historical footage, this film shows the founding of the Gallery and the formation of its collections. The unfolding story relates the construction of the original West Building and of the East Building some forty years later. It documents the evolution of the Gallery into an institution that serves the entire nation. Finally, Brown leads viewers on tours of the West and East Buildings to give an overview of the Gallery's collections.