Hunter Museum of American Art facts for kids
Museum entrance
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| Location | 10 Bluff View Ave., Chattanooga, Tennessee |
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Faxon-Thomas Mansion
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The Faxon-Thomas Mansion, the original section of the museum
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | Abram Garfield |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003809 |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1980 |
The Hunter Museum of American Art is an exciting art museum located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It's a great place to explore American art from different time periods. The museum shows art from the 1800s all the way to today. You can see paintings from famous art movements like the Hudson River School and American Impressionism. There are also modern and contemporary art pieces.
The museum building itself is pretty special. It combines three different styles of architecture. The oldest part is a beautiful mansion built in 1904. It was designed by Abram Garfield, whose father was President James A. Garfield. This mansion became the museum's home in 1952. Later, a more modern-looking section was added in 1975. The newest part, finished in 2005, now serves as the main entrance.
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Exploring the Museum's Location
The Hunter Museum sits on a high bluff, about 80 feet above the Tennessee River. From here, you get amazing views of downtown Chattanooga. The original mansion, called the Faxon House, was built in 1904. It stands where a Confederate battery once was during the Civil War. This area used to be famous for its grand Victorian houses. Today, it's known as the Bluff View Art District.
The museum overlooks the Walnut Street Bridge, a popular spot for walking. A special bridge, the Ruth S. and A. William Holmberg Pedestrian Bridge, connects the museum directly to the Walnut Street Bridge. This makes it easy for visitors to walk to the riverfront and other nearby attractions.
A Look at Museum History
The Hunter Museum is named after George Hunter. He inherited a big part of the Coca-Cola Bottling business from his uncle, Benjamin Thomas. Benjamin Thomas was one of the people who helped create Chattanooga's Coca-Cola bottling success. Later, George Hunter and Anne Thomas started a charity called the Benwood Foundation. Their goal was to support good causes like education and helping people.
The Hunter Museum of American Art is one of the most important gifts from the Benwood Foundation to Chattanooga. It was originally known as the Ross Faxon House before becoming a museum.
Museum Growth and Changes
In 2002, the Hunter Museum worked with the City of Chattanooga and other local attractions. These included the Tennessee Aquarium and the Creative Discovery Museum. Together, they planned a big project called the 21st Century Waterfront Plan.
As part of this plan, the Hunter Museum had a major expansion and renovation. This project cost $22 million and was finished in 2005. It added 28,000 square feet of new space and updated 34,000 square feet of older areas. The museum got a new entrance and a special area for temporary art shows. The original mansion was also carefully restored. An outdoor sculpture garden was created, and the museum's permanent art collection was rearranged.
The Museum Today
Today, the Hunter Museum of American Art showcases over 100 years of architecture. It also has one of the most complete collections of American art in the Southeast. The museum often sends its art to other places for exhibits. Its collection covers art from the colonial period to the present day. You can see many types of art, including paintings, sculptures, and modern glass art.
In 2006, the museum received a special award for its design. This award recognized its excellent engineering and architecture. It was given for projects costing between $15 and $75 million.
In June 2015, Virginia Ann Sharber was chosen as the museum's new executive director.
