Currier Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | 1929 |
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| Location | 150 Ash Street Manchester, New Hampshire |
| Type | Art museum |
The Currier Museum of Art is a cool art museum located in Manchester, New Hampshire, in the United States. It shows off amazing European and American paintings, sculptures, photos, and decorative arts. The museum's collection includes works by famous artists like Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Frank Lloyd Wright.
The museum also takes care of two special house museums. These are the Zimmerman House and the Toufic H. Kalil House. Both were designed by the very famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The museum offers fun programs like tours, live classical music, and "Family Days" with activities for all ages.
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Museum History
The museum started in 1929. It was first called the Currier Gallery of Art. It was created thanks to a gift from former New Hampshire Governor Moody Currier and his third wife, Hannah Slade Currier.
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Moody Currier was not an art collector himself. However, his will asked for an art museum to be built "for the benefit and advancement of humanity." His money allowed the museum to buy many great artworks.
After his wife passed away in 1915, a group of trustees was chosen. Their job was to make the Curriers' dream of a museum building come true. Many building plans were looked at. Finally, in 1926, a design by the New York firm Tilton and Githens was chosen. The art gallery officially opened its new building in October 1929.
The first director was Maud Briggs Knowlton. She was one of the first women to lead a museum in the United States. The museum building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
In 1982, new parts were added to the museum. These new sections helped the museum hold more art, offer more programs, and have space for its staff. In 1998, the Currier Art Center, which offers art classes for all ages, moved to a nearby building.
In September 2002, the museum changed its name to the Currier Museum of Art. The director at the time said this new name better showed what the museum was all about.
Museum Expansion and Updates
In 2005, the museum started a big renovation project. As part of this, a historic house called the Kennard House was moved. This house, built in 1867, used to hold the museum's offices. It was moved from Beech Street to Pearl Street.
The museum closed in June 2006 for 21 months. This was for a large $21.4 million expansion and renovation project. The museum reopened to the public on March 30, 2008, just as planned. The new additions and changes won an award for design in 2008.
Frank Lloyd Wright Houses
The Currier Museum of Art is special because it manages tours of two homes designed by the famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
The Zimmerman House (1951)
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The museum offers tours of the Zimmerman House. This house is a "Usonian" style home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It still has all its original furniture and the art collection of its first owners. The Zimmerman House is the only Wright-designed house in New England that you can tour. Tours are available from March to December.
Isadore J. and Lucille Zimmerman's house was built in 1950. Wright designed everything for the house, including the inside, all the furniture, the gardens, and even the mailbox! In 1979, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Dr. and Mrs. Zimmerman gave the house to the Currier Museum of Art in 1988. It opened to the public in 1990. This allows visitors to see what a private home from the 1950s and 1960s was like. It also shows off the Zimmermans' unique collection of modern art, pottery, and sculptures.
The Kalil House (1957)
In 2019, the Currier Museum of Art bought the Kalil House. This is another private home in Manchester designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Kalil House is about 1,400 square feet. It is one of only seven "Usonian Automatic" houses ever built.
The house is made of concrete blocks that are 12 by 24 inches. These blocks were laid without mortar. Steel bars (rebar) were placed both horizontally and vertically in special joints. After a few rows of blocks were laid, cement was poured into the joints to hold the whole structure together. The house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and an L-shaped living room with a dining area.
Museum Leadership
Directors
- 1996-2016: Susan Strickler
- 2016-2023: Alan Chong
- Since 2024: Jordana Pomeroy
See also
