Tyler Museum of Art facts for kids

The Tyler Museum of Art is a fantastic place to explore art in Tyler, Texas. It's located in Smith County, Texas, within the U.S. state of Texas. This museum is a private organization that helps everyone learn about art. It has a special collection of art, including many pieces by artists from Texas.

How the Museum Started

In the first half of the 1900s, the city of Tyler, Texas, grew a lot. This was because of the flower industry and the discovery of oil. Later, during World War II, a place called Camp Fannin and new factories also helped the local economy grow. More people meant a need for more community resources.

A group of local citizens saw that Tyler needed an art museum. By 1952, there wasn't an art museum within 100 miles of the city. To help with art education in schools, the Tyler Service League created the Community Arts Committee.

For eight years, a group of volunteer women from the League, called the Picture Ladies, created a kind of mobile museum. They took pictures and art to classrooms every week. From 1960 to 1965, their efforts became more permanent. They bought a local house to be the museum's first home. The money from selling that house in 1965 helped build the museum you see today. In 1969, the Tyler Service League changed its name to the Tyler Junior League.

What You Can See and Do

The new museum building was designed by E. Davis Wilcox and Associates. It's a two-story building, about 17,000 square feet in size. The grand opening was on April 1, 1971. It's located right next to Tyler Junior College.

Inside the museum, there are three main galleries. Two of them are quite large, about 2,000 square feet each. There's also a smaller gallery, about 1,000 square feet.

Since 1971, the museum has collected over 1,500 pieces of art for its permanent collection. The museum also supports young artists. It hosts an annual art exhibition for high school students. Throughout the year, you can enjoy tours, workshops, lectures, films, and talks. They even had a special series about Texas writers. People who love art can also volunteer as Docents. Docents are special volunteers who guide visitors through the museum and share information about the art.

The Tyler Museum of Art is recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. This means it meets high standards for museums. A group of trustees helps guide the museum's activities. The museum gets money from public donations and some help from the local city government. The local school district also helps pay for the museum's educational programs.

Visiting the Museum

The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 AM to 5 PM. On Sundays, it's open from 1 PM to 5 PM. It is closed on Mondays and holidays. There is an admission fee to enter. You can also grab lunch at the TMA Café inside the museum. Don't forget to check out the museum shop for unique gifts!

See also

• Carnegie History Center
• Cotton Belt Depot Train Museum
• Goodman-LeGrand House
• List of museums in East Texas
• Whitaker-McClendon House