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 items and art. This museum was once called the Jubilee Museum and Catholic Cultural Center.
You can find the museum on Broad Street in Downtown Columbus. It opened in this new spot in late 2021. Before that, from 1998 to 2019, it was located in the schoolhouse of the Holy Family Church in the Franklinton area.
The museum has the largest collection of different kinds of Catholic art in the United States. It's a great place to learn about history and art!
Museum History: From Founding to New Home
How the Museum Started at Holy Family School
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. This was to honor the Great Jubilee, a special event declared by Pope John Paul II for the year 2000. That's why it was first named the Jubilee Museum.
The museum was located in the old Holy Family School building in Franklinton. It stayed there until 2019. This old school building looks a bit like a fortress. It has a style called Romanesque Revival architecture. This includes cool decorative tops called parapets.
The school building was expanded in the 1930s. It survived a big flood in 1913. It also survived plans to tear it down when Ohio State Route 315 was built. The school closed in 1964. Today, the building still helps people. It houses the Holy Family Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry. This pantry serves up to 300 people every day.
Kevin Lutz was recognized for his work with the museum. He was the first American to be an advisor to a special Vatican group. This group focuses on the Church's cultural heritage. He retired from his leadership role at the museum in 2020.
Finding a New Home at the Catholic Foundation
The Jubilee Museum closed in August 2019. This happened because of leaks in the roof. The museum used this time to reorganize and check all its items. During this period, a space became available. It was in a building owned by the Catholic Foundation of Columbus. This foundation supports the diocese.
This new building has an interesting past. It was once the very first Wendy's restaurant! It also housed Wendy's main offices. Before that, it was Tommy Henrich's Steak House. It was originally built as a car dealership. 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 historic churches are close too: Holy Cross Church and Saint Patrick Church.
The new location is also near other fun places. These include the Columbus Museum of Art and the Topiary Park. The museum was ready to open in March 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays. It finally reopened in the Catholic Foundation building in November 2021. At that time, it was renamed the Museum of Catholic Art and History.
The new building is much better for visitors. It is easy to reach from the street. It is also accessible for people with disabilities. Plus, it has climate control. These are big improvements from its old spot in Franklinton.
The new space is smaller than the old one. Because of this, the museum is sharing some items. Less important pieces are being given to other churches. Some larger items have gone to a new cathedral in Nigeria. Others have gone to churches around the world. For example, special Stations of the Cross were given to a bishop for a cathedral in Kazakhstan. The museum has also helped restore organs for local churches. An altar found in a bar is now used in a church in Sunbury, Ohio. Other items have been sent to Mexico and the Philippines.
A Cardinal from the Vatican has recognized the museum. He said it has the largest collection of diverse 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 major collections. This includes a very valuable manuscript collection.
Museum Collections and Exhibits
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The museum has three main goals. First, it wants to keep historical art, religious practices, and music safe. Second, it restores old art and religious items. Third, it aims to teach and share information about the Catholic faith.
Some cool items in the museum include:
- A land grant signed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. This grant was for the first Catholic settlers in Ohio.
- A chalice (a special cup) with 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 also attracts visitors with amazing Lego creations. One is a huge recreation of the Vatican. It was built by a priest using 500,000 Lego pieces! The museum hopes to show another church replica soon. They also want to host Lego-building workshops and competitions.
The Tridentine Chapel Exhibit
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This exhibit shows items related to the Tridentine Mass. This was an older form of the Catholic Mass. It has over 200 missals (prayer books) from 1596 to 1962. You can also see special clothes worn by priests (vestments). There is even a catafalque, which is used for a Requiem Mass (a Mass for the dead). This chapel also holds a statue of the Christ Child. This statue was very important to Mother Angelica, who started EWTN.
The Synagogue Exhibit
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This gallery displays many Judaica items. It shows the connections between Catholicism and Judaism. This is especially true through the Old Testament. The collection includes a Hanukkah menorah. You can also see a Torah (Jewish holy scroll) and a Yad (a pointer for reading the Torah). There is even an original painting by John Singer Sargent. It shows the Jewish Prophets. In 2015, the museum hosted an exhibit of work by Alfred Tibor. He was a Holocaust survivor and sculptor.
The Relic Chapel Exhibit
This area shows nearly 450 relics. Relics are special items from saints. These include relics of the Twelve Apostles. There are also relics from abbots, virgins, confessors, and martyrs. Each relic comes with its official papers.
The Holy Land Collection Exhibit
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 a type of spear like the one that pierced Jesus' side. You can also see coins, like the kind mentioned in the Gospel (the widow's mite). There is pottery from the time of Christ. The collection also has vestments and sacred vessels.
St. Peter's Room Exhibit
This area holds 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 1970.
The Pope and Bishop Room Exhibit
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This exhibit has many interesting items. You can see parts of the libraries of five Columbus bishops. There is a special sash (a fascia) worn by Pope Pius XII. Very few of these still exist. You can also see the full formal clothes of a cardinal. There is a handwritten letter from Pope Leo XIII. The museum also has vestments that belonged to Archbishop John Carroll. He was the first bishop in America. These vestments were made from his mother's wedding dress! You can also see a piece from Pope John Paul I's cassock (a long robe).
Nativity Room Exhibit
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One of the most popular parts of the museum 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 places like Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Peru, and Germany. One scene shows the Holy Family in traditional Zulu clothing. In 2023, State Auto Insurance gave its historic Christmas Corner nativity scene to the museum. This scene was displayed outside for many years. Now, it will be shown on the lawn of St. Joseph Cathedral.
Bible Room Exhibit
The museum has copies of very old and important Bibles. These include a copy of the Gutenberg Bible. This was one of the first books ever printed. There is also a copy of the original King James Bible. You can see a Latin Vulgate edition from 1563. A first-edition printing of the Douay–Rheims Bible is also on display.
The Convent Room Exhibit
This part of the museum is about religious sisters. You can see items like a ballot box used to elect a leader. There is a device used to call children to prayer. You can also see a metal tool used by Sisters of the Holy Cross to fold their veils. Mannequins wear the special clothes (habits) of different orders. These include the Franciscan Sisters of Penance and Christian Charity and the Daughters of Charity. You can also see habits from the 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 of the Crucifixion of Jesus and Catholic music.
Notable Visitors
- Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, archduke of Austria
- Cardinal Francis Arinze
- Archbishop Athanasius Schneider
- Cardinal Francesco Marchisano
- Cardinal Jorge María Mejía
