Any philanthropic activity by Mitchell Rales, co-founder of the Washington-based technology conglomerate Danaher Corp., and his art historian wife is dwarfed by Glenstone, their private modern art museum on their property in Montgomery County.
The couple have amassed an eye-popping collection of contemporary art that Earl Powell III, director of the National Gallery of Art, calls “one of the most important collections of post-war art.” Glenstone is already one of the largest private museums in existence anywhere, but by the end of 2018, it will have become five times its current size when a new 5 million extension is scheduled to be completed.
Glenstone is – and will be – open five days a week and admission will be free, but reservations will be required because the Rales want to limit the number of people viewing the works at any one time to avoid overcrowding.
