Founded in 1842 and opened in 1844 in downtown Hartford on the site of Daniel Wadsworth’s family home, the Wadsworth Atheneum is the oldest continually operating public art museum in the United States and Connecticut’s largest art museum. Conceived from the start as a center for culture and learning, it grew from modest family donations into a collection of about 50,000 objects spanning more than 5,000 years, enriched by major gifts and endowments. Its five-building complex reflects many architectural styles, while its exhibitions, performances, and support for figures such as George Balanchine gave it an unusually influential role in American cultural history.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain