Roanoke’s art museum grew from a 1947 effort by local advocates to bring major exhibitions to the city and was formally established in 1951 as the Roanoke Fine Arts Center. After operating in several locations, it evolved through later names and moves before opening its current downtown building in 2008, a contemporary design by Randall Stout that ultimately won broad praise. Renamed for Nicholas F. Taubman and Eugenia Taubman after major gifts to the project, the museum offers free general admission, houses more than 2,000 works, and is especially strong in American art, including important works connected to Thomas Eakins.