The Wallace Collection is both a national museum and the finest private collection of art ever assembled by one family. Hertford House was built as Manchester House in 1776-88. Major alterations, including purpose-built top-lit display galleries on the first floor, were made in 1872-5. In 1897-1900 the house was converted into a public museum and it opened to the public in 1900. Among its treasures are one of the best collections of French 18th Century pictures, porcelain and furniture in the world, a remarkable array of 17th Century paintings and a superb armoury. 26 rooms contain collections of French 18th Century paintings, furniture, porcelain and Old Masters. Completed in 2000, the redevelopment of the basement and courtyard areas introduced four new galleries to the building, as well as a Study Centre (Lecture Theatre, Meeting Room, Education Studio, Visitors' Library and two Archive Rooms) and a Sculpture Garden used in the daytime as a restaurant.