30 
THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 
curiosities containing, besides many specimens of natural his- 
tory, historical relics and coins, a number of pictures and mis- 
cellaneous objects of art, since it later came into the possession 
of the National Institute and three oil paintings from this 
source are still preserved in the National Museum. The origi- 
nator of this collection, named John Varden, though neither a 
professional nor even an amateur in art or science, was richly 
endowed with the instincts of a collector and showman. Hav- 
ing little means, he was mainly dependent upon gifts and loans, 
which were contributed by so many persons as to indicate a 
wide acquaintanceship. His industry and aptitude for business 
details led to his subsequent employment by the two establish- 
ments to which his material was successively conveyed. He 
first called his collection “John Varden’s Museum,” and a list 
of its contents was kept in a large book, with the dates of 
acquisition and the names of donors and lenders. The following 
extract from the initial page describes naively his incentive and 
expectations : 
“This collection was commenced by John Varden, a resident 
of the city from the year 1803. I was induced to commence 
this collection in 1829 in consequence of three persons having 
opened and made very great collections from the generous 
citizens and then leaving the place, taking the many rich and 
scarce donations with them, thus leaving the seat of Government 
without so valuable an institution. I shall, therefore, continue 
my exertions and I hope, with the aid of all those friendly to 
such a rational place of amusement, to be able at no very 
distant period to make the attempt at a public exhibition in 
a proper house.” 
Under date of June 1, 1836, the name was changed to 
“Washington Museum, John Varden Proprietor,” and from 
the following note it would appear that the collection was then 
first opened to the public: “Having built a room 30 feet long 
and prepared it and another room for the reception of visitors, 
and having arranged between 400 and 500 specimens, I adver- 
tised that my collection was now ready for the citizens to visit.” 
These rooms were at the corner of John Marshall Place and D 
Street, near the City Hall. In June, 1841, according to Varden, 
the collection was examined by a committee from the National 
