Noyes Museum facts for kids
Front of the Noyes Museum (Oceanville site, since closed and sold)
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| Established | 1973 (Noyes Foundation) 1983 (museum opening to public) |
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| Location | Oceanville, New Jersey (1983–2016) Atlantic City, New Jersey Hammonton, New Jersey Galloway, New Jersey |
The Noyes Museum of Art is an art museum. It is known as the only main art museum in southern New Jersey. The museum first opened in 1983 in Galloway Township, New Jersey.
Because of money problems and needing repairs, the main building in Oceanville closed in 2016. The old building was sold in 2021. But don't worry! The museum's art is now shown in four other places. These include the Noyes Art Garage and The Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City. You can also find art at Kramer Hall in Hammonton and the Seaview golf club in Galloway.
Since 2017, the museum has been fully part of Stockton University. They started working together in 2010.
The Museum's Story
The Noyes Museum of Art was started mostly thanks to Fred and Ethel Noyes. They loved art and wanted to help their community. Fred Noyes also helped create "Historic Towne of Smithville". He owned the Smithville Inn restaurant.
Fred Noyes was a big art collector. He used his own art to start the museum's collection. The Noyes family created their foundation in 1973. They began planning the museum in 1974. They used money from selling Historic Smithville.
The museum opened in 1983 in Oceanville, Galloway. It was on Lily Lake, close to Smithville. The museum was built right next to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
The Noyes Museum was an important place for culture in Atlantic County. Besides art, it also had concerts and classes. It was known for being in a special spot. It was hidden in a forest, surrounded by nature. Ethel Noyes passed away in 1979. Fred Noyes passed away in 1987. But the foundation they built kept going.
Over time, the museum building had problems. Its heating and cooling systems were old. The electrical systems needed updates. Also, the building did not fully meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rules. These rules help make places easy for everyone to use.
In 2010, the museum made a deal with Stockton University. Stockton would get to use some of the art. In return, the university would invest money to fix the building. But in 2015, Stockton University decided not to go ahead with the plan. Both the university and the Noyes Foundation felt it was too expensive to fix the old building. So, in January 2016, the original Noyes Museum building closed its doors.
In 2017, Stockton University took over the Noyes Foundation's collections. By December 2017, Stockton University owned all the remaining things from the foundation. This included the Oceanville property. The art and other items given to the university were worth about $2.2 million.
Where the Art Is Now
The main Galloway building was put up for sale after it closed. In 2021, the original Oceanville property was sold to a local church. But the Noyes Museum still exists! Its art collection is now shown at different places.
These places include the Seaview golf club in Galloway. There is also the Arts Garage in Atlantic City. Another spot is the Noyes Gallery at The Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City. And you can see art at Stockton's Kramer Hall in Hammonton.
The biggest location is the Noyes Arts Garage. It opened in 2013. It is in downtown Atlantic City. It is near the Tanger Outlets The Walk outdoor mall. The Arts Garage has spaces for artists to work and sell their art.
Kramer Hall in Hammonton is the second largest location. It is used to store much of the museum's art collection.
The Noyes collection has about 3,500 pieces of art and sculptures. It includes over 300 duck decoys. Fred Noyes loved collecting these since he was young. The decoys are now at Hammonton's Town Hall.
See also
- The Orange Loop
Images for kids
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Inside the Noyes Museum
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The back of the museum building
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Another view of the back of the museum
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A different view of the museum's front
