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 an art museum located in Manchester, New Hampshire. It displays European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs, and sculptures. The museum's collection features works by famous artists. These include Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, and Georgia O'Keeffe. You can also see art by Alexander Calder, Scheier and Goldsmith, John Singer Sargent, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Andrew Wyeth. The museum offers fun programs like tours, live classical music, and "Family Days." These special days have activities for people of all ages.
The museum also looks after two house museums. These are the Zimmerman House and the Toufic H. Kalil House. Both houses were designed by the well-known architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Contents
Discovering the Currier Museum's Past
The museum first opened in 1929. It was originally called the Currier Gallery of Art. It was started thanks to a gift from former New Hampshire Governor Moody Currier. His third wife, Hannah Slade Currier, also contributed to its creation.
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Moody Currier's will asked for an art museum to be built. He wanted it to "benefit and advance humanity." He was not an art collector himself. However, his money allowed the museum to buy many great artworks.
After his wife Hannah passed away in 1915, a group of trustees was chosen. Their job was to make the Curriers' wishes come true. They decided to build a new museum building. Several architectural plans were considered. In 1926, the project was given to a New York firm called Tilton and Githens. 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. In 1979, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list recognizes important historical places.
In 1982, new sections were added to the museum. These were designed by Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer. They helped the museum hold more art, programs, and staff. The Currier Art Center, where art classes happen, moved to a nearby building in 1998.
In September 2002, the museum changed its name. It became the Currier Museum of Art. The director at the time said this name better showed the museum's true purpose. It also made its function clearer to new visitors.
Museum Updates and Growth
In 2005, the museum began big renovations. As part of this, a historic house called the Kennard House was moved. This house was built in 1867. It used to hold the museum's offices. It was moved from Beech Street to Pearl Street. The Kennard House was once home to rich business owners in the city.
The museum closed in June 2006 for 21 months. This was for a large expansion project costing $21.4 million. The museum reopened on March 30, 2008, as planned. The new additions and renovations won awards. These included a 2008 Design Honor Award. It also received a "People's Choice Award." Ann Beha Architects from Boston designed the expansion.
Exploring Frank Lloyd Wright's Houses
The Zimmerman House (1951)
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The museum offers tours of the nearby Zimmerman House. This house is a special type of home called a Usonian House. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The house still has its original furniture and the owners' art collection. 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. This included the inside spaces, 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. In 1990, it opened to the public. This allowed visitors to see a private home from the 1950s and 1960s. It also includes 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 Wright. It cost $970,000. The Kalil House is 1,400 square feet. It is one of only seven "Usonian Automatic" glass-and-concrete houses designed by the architect. It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and an L-shaped living room with a dining area.
Museum Leadership and Support
Museum Directors
- 1996-2016: Susan Strickler
- Since 2016: Alan Chong
Museum Funding
When trustee Henry Melville Fuller passed away in 2001, he left the Currier Museum $43 million. Half of this money was set aside to buy new art. In 2012, the budget for buying art was about $35 million.
See also
