Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art facts for kids
A view of main hall and drawing room at Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art
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| Established | 2013 |
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| Location | 920 E. State Street, Lafayette, Indiana, US, 47905 (765) 742-6449 |
| Type | Art museum |
The Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art is a fantastic museum in Lafayette, Indiana. It holds the biggest collection of art from Indiana anywhere in the world! You can find it in the beautiful Potter-Haan Mansion at 920 E State Street. The museum has more than 100 paintings by famous Indiana artists like the Hoosier Group and those who painted in the Regionalism style. It also displays amazing ceramics, old furniture, and other decorative items. This museum started from the private collection of Robert (Bob) and Ellen (Ellie) Haan, who also founded Haan Crafts Corporation.
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How the Museum Started
Bob and Ellie Haan bought the mansion in 1984. They began collecting art from Indiana in 1992. The idea to create the Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art was announced in September 2013. That's when it first opened for public tours each month. Bob and Ellie Haan officially gave the building to the museum in July 2015.
The Mansion's Cool Design
The Potter-Haan mansion is a Colonial Revival style building. It was designed by a famous architect named Edward T. Hapgood. The mansion was built in 1904 for $30,000. It was first used as the Connecticut Building at the St. Louis World's Fair. After the fair, it was moved all the way to Lafayette, Indiana!
Special Features of the Mansion
The front door and entryway, along with many inside features, came from an older mansion built in 1760. The Great Hall has tall columns with fancy tops. Two of the most amazing parts of the mansion are a huge open space with a beautiful brass and crystal chandelier. There's also a grand double staircase that leads up to the second floor.
Amazing Art Collections
The Haan Museum has the largest collection of paintings by the Hoosier Group anywhere. This includes art from all five members of the group: TC Steele, Richard Gruelle, William Forsyth, J. Ottis Adams, and Otto Stark. You can also see two still-life paintings by William Merritt Chase.
Many artists from the Brown County Art Colony are also shown in the Haan collection. This includes works by Ada Walter Shulz.
What You Can See at the Museum
Over 60 paintings by important historic Indiana artists are always on display. You can also see works by important historic and modern ceramic artists from Indiana. The mansion is filled with large, old American furniture from the years 1860 to 1890. A super fancy Wooton desk and a huge Thomas Brooks mirror are just two examples.
Unique Items and Sculptures
One highlight is a Swiss music box that plays music with drums, bells, and even organ sounds! The museum also has three very large vases from the Weller Pottery Company. These vases were shown at the St. Louis World's Fair, and one seven-foot-tall Weller vase won a Gold Medal there!
Outdoor Adventures
Outside, there's a sculpture garden with 25 artworks made of bronze, ceramics, steel, stone, and glass. These sculptures are by Indiana artists. They are placed along a path that is easy for wheelchairs to use, surrounded by native Indiana plants. There's also a Theater Garden and stage being built for outdoor shows. A mile-long nature trail with 30 different native Indiana trees is another cool spot. The Sculpture Garden and Nature Trail are open and free to everyone during daylight hours.
Past Exhibitions
In the summer of 2011, the Indiana State Museum hosted a big show called "Indiana Realities." This exhibition featured paintings from the 1930s and 40s, all from the Haans' collection.
From September to November 2016, the museum had its first temporary exhibit. It was called "Jim Davis: An Indiana Legend" and honored Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield.
In October 2014, the museum hosted the Indiana Ceramics Celebration. This event showed about 500 pieces by Indiana ceramic artists. These included works by Laura Anne Fry, Marvin Bartel, Mark Goertzen, John Goodheart, Richard Tuck, and Alan Patrick.
From April through early July 2017, the museum showed "100 Cups: One Artist's Journey" by Julia Livingston.
Fun Activities and Events
The museum offers regular guided tours of its art collection. You can also join guided nature walks outside. During the summer months, music concerts are held on the museum lawn.
