Museum of Catholic Art and History facts for kids
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The Catholic Foundation building housing the museum
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| Former name | The Jubilee Museum |
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| Established | 1998 |
| Location | 257 E. Broad St. |
| Type | Art museum Historical museum |
| Collections | Catholic Art |
| Founder | Kevin Lutz |
| Owner | Diocese of Columbus |
| Public transit access |  Add→ 10 |
| Nearest parking | Museum lot |
The Museum of Catholic Art and History is a special place in Columbus, Ohio. It shows off amazing Catholic relics and art. The museum is located on Broad Street in Downtown Columbus. It opened its doors there in late 2021.
Before that, the museum was known as the Jubilee Museum and Catholic Cultural Center. It was located in the old schoolhouse of Holy Family Church. This was in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus. The museum was there from 1998 until 2019. It has the largest collection of different kinds of Catholic artwork in the United States.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's Past
How the Museum Started
The Museum of Catholic Art and History is part of the Diocese of Columbus. It was started by Kevin Lutz, a priest from the Diocese. The museum began in 1998. Bishop James Griffin encouraged its creation. It was made to honor the Great Jubilee that Pope John Paul II announced for the year 2000. This is why it was first called the Jubilee Museum.
The museum was in the old Holy Family School building in Franklinton until 2019. This building looked like a fortress. It had a special Romanesque Revival architecture style. It even had cool decorative tops called parapets.
The Great Flood of 1913 caused a lot of damage in the area. The school building's basement flooded. But its upper floors were safe and helped local people. The building got bigger in the 1930s. Later, building Ohio State Route 315 hurt the neighborhood. It almost caused the school building to be torn down. The school building survived, but the school closed in 1964. It joined with Bishop Ready High School. The building still helps people today. It houses the Holy Family Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry. This place serves up to 300 people every day.
Moving to a New Home
The Jubilee Museum closed in August 2019. This was because of leaks in its roof. The museum used this time to get organized and check its collection. During this period, a space became available. It was in a building owned by the Catholic Foundation of Columbus. This foundation is a nonprofit group that supports the diocese.
Before the Diocese bought it, this building was very famous. It was the location of the very first Wendy's restaurant. It also held Wendy's main offices. Even before that, it was Tommy Henrich's Steak House. It was originally built for a car dealership called Bill Kay Oldsmobile. You can still see some car-themed decorations inside.
The new museum building is close to other important Catholic places in Columbus. These include the offices of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus. St. Joseph Cathedral is also nearby. Two other Columbus churches on the National Register of Historic Places are close too. These are Holy Cross Church, the oldest Christian church in Columbus, and Saint Patrick Church. The new museum is also near the Columbus Museum of Art, Washington Gladden Social Justice Park, and Topiary Park. It is in Columbus' Discovery District.
The museum was ready to open in its new spot in March 2020. But the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays. It finally reopened in the Catholic Foundation building in November 2021. That is when it was renamed the Museum of Catholic Art and History.
The new building is much better for visitors. It is right on the street. It is also easy for people with disabilities to access. And it has climate control, which helps protect the art. These are big improvements from its old location in Franklinton.
The new space is smaller than the museum's previous home. Because of this, the museum is selling or giving away some less important items. Smaller items were available for people to buy before the move. Larger items have been sent to a new cathedral in Nigeria. Other churches around the world have also received items. For example, Stations of the Cross from the famous Daprato Studio were given to Bishop Athanasius Schneider. A relic of Augustine of Hippo went to a cathedral in Kazakhstan.
Workers from the museum have also fixed and re-installed many organs for local churches. An altar found in a bar in St. Louis is now used in St. John Neumann Church in Sunbury, Ohio. Other items have gone to Mexico and the Philippines. They have also gone to mission churches in the United States.
The museum has been recognized by Vatican Cardinal Francesco Marchisano. He used to lead the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology. He said the museum has the largest collection of different Catholic artwork in the United States. It is also the top-rated tourist attraction in Columbus. The museum hopes to grow a lot in the future. It plans to get several large collections. This includes a $10 million manuscript collection.
Exploring the Collections and Exhibits
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The museum has three main goals. First, it wants to save historical art, liturgy, and music. Second, it restores old art and church items. Third, it aims to share and teach about the Catholic faith.
Some special items in the museum include:
- A land grant for Ohio's first Catholic settlers. It was signed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
- A chalice holding an amethyst and a pearl. These stones were once on a necklace owned by Mary, Queen of Scots.
- Pope Pius IX's snuff box.
The museum has also shown off amazing Lego creations. One was a 500,000-piece model of the Vatican. A priest from Pennsylvania built it. Museum staff hope to show another church model soon. They also want to host Lego-building workshops and contests.
The Tridentine Chapel
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This part of the museum shows items related to the Tridentine Mass. It has over 200 missals, which are prayer books, from 1596 to 1962. You can also see special clothes called vestments. There is even a catafalque set up for a Requiem Mass. This exhibit also holds a statue of the Christ Child. This statue was very important to Mother Angelica, who started EWTN.
The Synagogue
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This gallery displays many Judaica items. It shows how Catholicism and Judaism are connected. This is especially true through the Old Testament. The collection includes a Hanukkah menorah, a Torah, and a Yad. There is also an original painting by John Singer Sargent. It shows the Jewish Prophets. In 2015, the museum had an exhibit of work by Alfred Tibor. He was a sculptor and a Holocaust survivor.
The Relic Chapel
This area shows nearly 450 relics. These are special items honored in the Catholic faith. They include relics of the Twelve Apostles. There are also relics of abbots, virgins, confessors, and martyrs. All these relics come with their official documents.
The Holy Land Collection
Many items in this collection come from the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America. These include a 2nd-century Roman pilum. This is the same type of spear that pierced Jesus' side. You can also see coins, like one similar to the widow's mite from the Gospel. There is pottery from the time of Christ. The collection also has vestments and sacred vessels.
St. Peter's Room
This area has stained-glass windows, pews, and an altar. These items are from St. Peter's Church. This Catholic church closed in the 1970s. Two of the church's original bells are also at the museum. The third bell was stolen before the church was torn down in May 1970.
The Pope and Bishop Room
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This exhibit has items like the full or partial libraries of five Columbus bishops. You can see a fascia (a type of sash) worn by Pope Pius XII. Very few of these still exist. There is also the full pre-Vatican II choir dress of a cardinal. A handwritten letter from Pope Leo XIII is on display. You can also see vestments belonging to Archbishop John Carroll. He was the first bishop in America. These vestments were made from his mother's wedding dress. A piece from Pope John Paul I's cassock is also here.
Nativity Room
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One of the museum's most popular displays is its collection of 500 nativity scenes. These are often shown during the Christmas season. One of them is the largest Fontanini set in the United States. Other sets come from Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Peru, and Germany. One shows the Holy Family dressed in traditional Zulu clothing. In 2023, State Auto Insurance gave its historic Christmas Corner nativity scene to the museum. This scene was displayed at 518 East Broad since 1962. Now, it is shown on the lawn of St. Joseph Cathedral.
Bible Room
The museum has copies of famous Bibles. These include the Gutenberg Bible and the original King James Bible. There is also a Latin Vulgate edition from 1563. A first-edition printing of the Douay–Rheims Bible is also notable.
The Convent Room
This part of the museum is about religious sisters. You can see a ballot box used to elect a superior. There is also a device used to call children to prayer. A metal tool used by Sisters of the Holy Cross to fold their veils is also on display. Mannequins wear the habits of different orders. These include the Franciscan Sisters of Penance and Christian Charity, the Daughters of Charity, Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.
Other exhibits have focused on Black Catholic heritage. Some have shown military chaplains. Others have displayed global art about the Crucifixion of Jesus. Catholic music has also been a topic.
Notable Visitors
- Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria
- Cardinal Francis Arinze
- Archbishop Athanasius Schneider
- Cardinal Francesco Marchisano
- Cardinal Jorge María Mejía
