The 5 Best Small Museums in New England
We asked Henry Traverso, author of The Art Lover’s Pocket Guide, to share his choices for the 5 best small museums in New England.
By Henry Traverso|Nov 25 2014|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanInside some of New England’s smallest art museums are treasures from the world’s great masters, and proof that great art isn’t found only in large cities. Connecticut writer Henry Traverso grew up in a family of painters and spent his career as an educator before making art history his post-retirement vocation. He’s spent the last 10 years writing his latest book, The Art Lover’s Pocket Guide (iUniverse, 2013), a complete guide to the world’s masterpieces and where to find them. We asked him to share his choices for the 5 best small museums in New England.
Photo Credit : courtesy of Newport Art Museum (Drury Gallery)
St. Johnsbury Athenaeum Public Library & Art Gallery
With its elaborate mansard woodwork and spiral staircases, this Vermont institution is in itself a stunning period piece. Here you’ll find works from the Hudson River School, classical European and contemporary American collections, and The Domes of Yosemite, a breathtaking 10-by-15-foot view by Albert Bierstadt.
1171 Main St., St. Johnsbury, VT. 802-748-8291; stjathenaeum.org
Addison Gallery of American Art
Located on the campus of Phillips Academy, the Addison boasts a collection that would be the envy of many city museums. With 17,000 works in all media in its permanent collection, including pieces by Winslow Homer, Jackson Pollock, Edward Hopper, and Frank Stella, the museum also mounts exhibitions of major artists such as James McNeill Whistler and Alfred Maurer. Don’t miss Wave, Night, a nocturnal seascape that Georgia O’Keeffe painted in 1928 while vacationing at York Beach, Maine.
180 Main St., Andover, MA. 978-749-4015; andover.edu/museums/addison
Florence Griswold Museum
Centered in the home of the late Miss Florence Griswold, who took in boarders to offset the cost of maintaining her family manse, the Lyme Art Colony became host to a group of artists in the vanguard of the Tonalist and Impressionist movements. Childe Hassam and Frederic Church lived there for a time, and many artists left their mark on the house by painting on panels, doors, and walls. In time, the museum expanded its collection to include the work of contemporary masters such as Sol LeWitt and Chuck Close.
96 Lyme St., Old Lyme, CT. 860-434-5542; florencegriswoldmuseum.org
Newport Art Museum
Home to one of the country’s oldest continuously operating art associations, the museum emerged out of the art-colony and Impressionist movements and was supported in its early days by Newport elites, including Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, founder of the Whitney Museum in New York. Newport’s collection features the works of American artists from the late 19th century through today, including John Frederick Kensett, Fitz Henry Lane, and George Bellows, as well as Dale Chihuly and other artists who trained or worked in the Ocean State.
76 Bellevue Ave., Newport, RI. 401-848-8200; newportartmuseum.org
Farnsworth Art Museum
Celebrating Maine’s role in American art, the Farnsworth maintains a vast collection, including the works of famed Maine-affiliated artists such as Fitz Henry Lane, Marsden Hartley, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, and Louise Nevelson. Its partner organization, the Wyeth Center, presents the works of the three Wyeths: N. C., Andrew, and James.
16 Museum St., Rockland, ME. 207-596-6457; farnsworthmuseum.org
Totally agree with having the Addison and the Griswold on this list. Have not been to the other three. In the top ten of this category I would include the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester. Smith College also has a really good collection, but just over the border from Connecticut in Poughkeepsie is the museum at Vassar. Not to be missed if you like Hudson River paintings. And the Addison is free! We go there every time they change exhibits!
Wadsworth in Hartford CT; Whaling Museum in New Bedford MA; Bruce Museum in Greenwich CT; Herreshoff Museum in Bristol RI, Williams College Museum of Art in Williamstown MA, the Clark Museum in Worcester MA, RISD Museum in Providence RI …
How did you pick your five best?
the farnsworth is a true gem…..if you like wyeth you must go here….and the elevator is so large, there is an old church pew inside!
It was a surprise that Colby College was not in the top five. What were the standards being weighed?
Colby College has an incredible collection of American Art.
In addition to the list, and actually the Wadsworth is large, and the Bruce is, meh, I wonder if anyone has ever rated the best benches in these museum? If not, I may have to. I think Smith had wonderful original benches, but now I have to re-do my findings.
I will have to get to Colby now. Thanks Charles, Gail and Bonnie! I love the Wadsworth but it’s big. As is Worcester, another under-rated New England museum. But really, check out Cape Ann. Coulda been a top 5. And take the ride to Poughkeepsie.
I see there is a top 5 college museum list; includes Colby and Smith and Williams.
I’m surprised they left the Worcester Art Museum off the list. It is amazing for a small museum
Woonsocket, RI is the location of the Museum of Work and Culture. I believe it may fit the criteria for a small museum.
The Massachusetts State Police has the distinction of being the oldest State Police organization in the United States, established as a state constabulary in 1865. A museum has been established to preserve its’ history. See our WEB at mspmlc.org. It is worth the visit. Lt. John H. Crawford (retired Mass. State Police
Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, Ma.–It’s the oldest continuously operated museum in America- built and opened 1824–Has the largest collection of Pilgrim artifacts.
The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester NH is a small gem! Picasso, Rothco, Monet, Singer Sargent, Stella, St. Gaudens to name a few.
There’s an Indigenous museum that was small(not sure if it still is haven’t been in years) in Warner NH. called Mt Kearsarge Indian Museum but if you’re interested in indigenous people go here.