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Cameron Art Museum
Cameron Art Museum.jpg
Main entrance
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Former name St. John’s Museum of Art
Established 1962 (1962)
Location 3201 South 17th Street
Wilmington, North Carolina
Type Art museum
Architect Charles Gwathmey

The Cameron Art Museum is a cool place to explore art in Wilmington, North Carolina. It started way back in 1962. Back then, it was called the St. John's Museum of Art. It was located in an old building from 1804.

For 40 years, the museum was a big hit downtown. But it eventually needed more space. So, in 2001, the museum moved to a new spot. It also got a new name: the Cameron Art Museum. The new building has lots of room for art shows. It also has a place for talks and parties. Plus, there's space for art outside, a clay studio, and an art education center.

Discover the Museum's History

The museum is named after Louise Wells Cameron. She volunteered at the original museum for 35 years. Her husband, Bruce B. Cameron, was also on the museum's board. In 1999, the Cameron family helped a lot. Bruce B. Cameron's foundation gave $4,000,000 to start a new museum. The Cameron children also donated the land for the new building. Because of their amazing support, the museum was named after Louise Wells Cameron.

Explore Art Exhibitions

The Cameron Art Museum always has new and exciting art shows. These shows feature art from different times and places. You can see works by artists from all over the world. There are also pieces by artists from the United States and local artists. The museum's permanent collection has many types of art.

Cameron Art Museum Front
The front of the Cameron Art Museum.

Visit a Civil War Battle Site

The Cameron Art Museum is built on a historic spot. It's where the Battle of Forks Road happened. This was a Civil War battle fought on February 20, 1865. The Confederate army lost this battle. This loss was a big step towards the end of the Civil War. It meant the Union army took control of the Cape Fear Port. This cut off supplies to General Robert E. Lee. Soon after, the Confederate Army surrendered.

You can still see parts of the old battleground. The museum grounds have Confederate walls called revetments. These were built during the battle. Every year, the museum remembers the soldiers who fought there. They have a battle re-enactment. There are also talks, workshops, and cannon demonstrations.

Learn at the Museum School

The Museum School at the Cameron Art Museum is a great place to learn art. It offers classes for kids and adults. You can take beginner classes or advanced ones. Some classes even offer special credit for teachers. Students at the school get to see the museum's art up close. They can also look at art from the museum's collection that isn't on display. The school also has a huge art library. It has over 2,000 books and publications. Plus, the school helps local artists find jobs as instructors.

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