John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Location |
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| Type | Art museum |
| Architect | John H. Phillips |
| Public transit access | Sarasota County Area Transit |
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is Florida's official state art museum. You can find it in Sarasota, Florida. It was created in 1927 by Mable Burton Ringling and John Ringling as a gift for the people of Florida. In 2000, Florida State University took over running the museum.
The museum has 21 galleries filled with European paintings. It also displays ancient art from Cyprus, and art from Asia, America, and modern times. The museum's collection has over 10,000 items. These include paintings, sculptures, drawings, and photos from different periods and places around the world.
Some of the most famous pieces are European paintings from the 1500s to the 1900s. This includes a well-known collection of paintings by Peter Paul Rubens. Other famous artists like Diego Velázquez and Frans Hals also have art here.
The museum campus has grown a lot, adding over 150,000 square feet. Besides the art museum, there's a circus museum and Ca' d'Zan, which was the Ringlings' home. The campus also has new buildings like the Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion, which shows off amazing glass art. There's also the Chao Center for Asian Art and the Monda Gallery for Contemporary Art.
Discovering the Ringling Museum's Past
How the Museum Was Built
John Ringling hired architect John H. Phillips in 1925 to design the museum. Phillips thought Sarasota would be a great place for a museum with Italian-style buildings. Construction began on June 27, 1927.
John Ringling also wanted to have an art school at the museum. After his wife Mable passed away in 1929, he really wanted to create "John Ringling University." However, he didn't have enough money or experience in higher education, so the school wasn't built.
The museum was supposed to open in February 1930. It had a short opening that year and another in 1931. The museum officially opened for good on January 17, 1932.
From Opening to University Care
When John Ringling died in 1936, he left his property and art collection to the people of Florida. He also left $1.2 million to help run the museum. One rule in his will was that the museum's official name should never be changed.
For the next 10 years, the museum was open only sometimes and wasn't kept up very well. John Ringling was almost out of money when he died. The state of Florida had to go to court against his creditors. Florida finally won in 1946.
A. Everett "Chick" Austin Jr. became the museum's director in 1946. He was the first director from outside the Ringling family.
In 1989, the Circus Gallery was updated. On January 19, 1991, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art reopened after being restored. Many experts helped with this work. The State of Florida and many generous people helped pay for the project.
By the late 1990s, the museum property was in bad shape. The Ringlings' mansion, Ca' d'Zan, was falling apart. The museum roof leaked, and its security was not good enough. The Asolo Theater building was even unsafe.
Florida State University Takes Over
In 2000, the State of Florida gave responsibility for the museum to Florida State University. This change helped the museum get the care it needed.
In 2002, the state gave $42.9 million for construction. There was a condition: the museum had to raise $50 million from private donations within five years. The museum successfully raised $55 million by the deadline!
In January 2007, a big expansion and renovation of the Museum of Art was finished. A new wing, called the Arthur F. and Ulla R. Searing Wing, was added. This new wing was the last part of a five-year plan that changed the museum a lot. It is now one of the largest museums in the United States.
In 2013, the museum's name was shortened to The Ringling.
Exploring the Ringling Estate
Besides the art museum, the Ringling estate has many other interesting places. These include the Ringlings' mansion, Ca' d'Zan, and Mable Ringling's beautiful rose garden. There's also the Circus Museum and Tibbals Learning Center. You can also find the historic Asolo Theater and the Ringling Art Library. John and Mable Ringling are buried in a special place called the Secret Garden.
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Main entrance
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Aerial view of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Courtyard
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Museum of Art Loggia
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Ca' d'Zan
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Statues courtyard
The Dwarf Garden
The Dwarf Garden has cool stone statues. The Ringlings collected these statues during their travels in Europe.
Ca' d'Zan: The Ringling Mansion
Ca' d'Zan means "House of John" in the Venetian language. It was the waterfront home built for Mable and John Ringling. The mansion was finished in 1926.
It was designed in the Venetian Gothic style, which looks like old Venetian palaces. The mansion overlooks Sarasota Bay. For many years, it was a central place for cultural events in Sarasota. The residence was carefully restored in 2002.
Mable Ringling's Rose Garden
Mable Ringling's rose garden was completed in 1913. It is located near another old house on the property. The garden is beautifully landscaped and overlooks Sarasota Bay. John and Mable are buried very close to this garden, in a quiet spot called the Secret Garden.
The Circus Museum and Tibbals Learning Center
The Circus Museum opened in 1948. It was the first museum of its kind to tell the story of the circus. The museum has a huge collection of circus posters, costumes, props, and even parade wagons.
Next to it is the Tibbals Learning Center. This center has The Howard Bros. Circus model. It's a miniature circus built by Howard Tibbals. This model is inspired by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1919 to 1938. It is known as the "world's largest miniature circus."
John Ringling's Private Railroad Car
John Ringling owned a private railroad car from 1905 to 1917. He used it to travel with his circus, go on vacations, and for business trips. He named it the "Wisconsin" after his home state.
The Wisconsin car was built in Illinois. It cost about half the price of other similar cars at the time. This was because it used walls from other railroad cars. The car is very long and tall. Its inside is made of beautiful mahogany wood, fancy designs, and stained glass.
When New York City stopped wooden train cars from using its tunnels, John Ringling sold the Wisconsin. It was later bought by other railroads and used for their officials.
Eventually, the John and Mable Ringling Museum became the car's owner. Money from a federal grant helped pay to restore the Wisconsin's outside. A generous donation helped bring the inside back to its original fancy look. Volunteers even helped lay down railroad tracks for the car at the museum.
The Ringling Art Library
The Ringling Art Library is one of the biggest art libraries in the southeastern United States. It has been part of the Ringling Museum of Art since 1946. In 2007, the library got its own permanent home and reading room.
The library has almost 90,000 books. About 800 of these books were originally owned by John Ringling himself. The collection covers art history, architecture, fashion, and theater from the 1500s to today. It even has a copy of the Gutenberg Bible, which was a gift to John Ringling.
The library helps people research the museum's collections. It also supports the museum staff and educational programs. The library works with the circus museum, Ca' d'Zan, and art curators.
The library is open to the public on weekdays, and admission is free. You can browse the collection and use materials in the reading room. However, you cannot check out items. The library also hosts a free book club called the Literati Book Club. They discuss famous authors and art history.
The Secret Garden
In 1991, John, Mable, and his sister, Ida Ringling North, were buried on the museum property. Their graves are in a special place called the Secret Garden. John is buried between the two women. There is a locked gate around the three graves and tombstones. There is also a garden and statues in front of the gate. During the day, the gate is unlocked and open for visitors.
See also
