Bennington Museum facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 1928 |
|---|---|
| Location | 75 Main Street Bennington, Vermont, United States |
| Type | Art, history |
The Bennington Museum is a cool place in Bennington, Vermont, USA. It's a museum that shows off amazing art and tells stories about the history of the area. It's a great spot to learn about Vermont and nearby parts of New York and Massachusetts.
Contents
History of the Bennington Museum
The museum's story began way back in 1852. That's when the Bennington Historical Association first started. In 1923, this group bought an old church building. They fixed it up and opened it as the Bennington Historical Museum in 1928.
Over the years, the museum grew bigger. New parts were added in 1938, 1960, 1974, and 1999. In 1938, its name changed to include "Art Gallery." This showed that it had art, not just history. Then, in 1954, it became known simply as the Bennington Museum.
A special part of the museum is a schoolhouse. In 1972, the schoolhouse where famous artist Grandma Moses once studied was moved here. It's now part of the museum grounds. The museum also has a library for people to research family history.
What You Can See at the Museum
The Bennington Museum has many interesting collections. They focus on art and history from Vermont and nearby states. Here are some of the main things you can explore:
Grandma Moses Art Gallery
This gallery has the largest public collection of paintings by Grandma Moses. Her real name was Anna Mary Robertson Moses (1860-1961). She was a famous local artist. Her paintings show scenes of country life.
Fine Art Collection
You can see beautiful artworks by many different artists here. Some famous names include Ralph Earl, Ammi Phillips, and William Morris Hunt. These paintings show different styles and times.
Bennington Modern Art
This section features modern art from the 1950s to the 1970s. It includes works by artists like Helen Frankenthaler and David Smith. These artists created new and exciting kinds of art.
Vermont's Gilded Age
This part of the museum looks at Bennington from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. You can see paintings and special glass items. There's even a fancy car called the Martin Wasp. It was made right in Bennington in the 1920s.
Military History Gallery
This gallery focuses on the Battle of Bennington. This was an important battle during the Revolutionary War. You can also see old firearms made in Vermont between 1760 and 1900.
Bennington Pottery
Here, you'll find many pieces of pottery made in Bennington. This includes items from Norton Pottery and the United States Pottery Company. You can see different types of pottery, like redware.
Textile Art Gallery
This gallery displays old and important textiles. One famous item is the Bennington flag. It's one of the oldest "stars and stripes" flags still around. You can also see a flag from the Green Mountain Boys. Plus, there's the amazing Jane Stickle Quilt.
Special Exhibits
Besides its main collections, the museum also has temporary exhibits. These shows change often. They cover many different topics, so there's always something new to see!
