Robert Henri Museum facts for kids

The Robert Henri Museum is a special art and history museum located in Cozad, Nebraska. It showcases amazing sketches, drawings, and paintings created by the famous American artist, Robert Henri. What makes this museum extra cool is that it's set up inside the very house where Robert Henri used to live! It's run by a non-profit group dedicated to education.

Discover the Art Collection

The Henri Museum has a wonderful collection of art. One of its most important paintings is Mariana of Austria, Queen of Spain. This painting is a copy of a famous work by an old Spanish artist named Diego Velázquez, painted around 1652. A kind person named Janet LeClair gave this painting to the museum in 1988.

In 2018, the museum's art gallery showed more than 33 drawings and seven paintings by Robert Henri. They also had other items that belonged to the artist. A newer addition to the collection in 2017 was a painting called Normandie Interior. Robert Henri finished this painting in 1897. It was part of his very first solo art show. His brother, Frank Southern, bought it and it stayed in their family for 120 years!

Besides Robert Henri's artworks, the museum also keeps items that belonged to the Cozad family. These items help tell the story of the town of Cozad itself. Robert Henri's father, John Jackson Cozad, was the person who founded the town.

A Look at the Museum's History

The building that is now the Henri Museum was first built as a house in 1873. It was built by John Jackson Cozad, Robert Henri's father.

Later, the Cozad house became the home of another artist named Miles Maryott. He was known as a hunting guide and landscape painter. He was even considered to become Nebraska's first state naturalist.

The Henri Museum was started by a group of women led by Shirley Paulsen. This group bought the Cozad house, which was then known as the Hendee Hotel. They also bought a historical walkway, an old Pony Express Station, a historic church, and a schoolhouse. The money for these purchases came from donations. Many people, including the Henri and Cozad families, helped by giving money.

The Hendee Hotel building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.

In 2014, the Henri Museum built a brand new gallery. This new space was made to display its Henri paintings and sketches even better. As part of this project, the museum added special climate control and a security system. These systems help keep the valuable artworks safe and in good condition.

Artist-in-Residence Program

The museum also has a special program called an artist-in-residence. This program allows artists to live and work at the museum for a period of time. It helps support new artists and lets them be inspired by the museum's collection and history.

See also

• List of single-artist museums
• Cozad Downtown Historic District