Established in 1927 in Sarasota as the legacy of John Ringling and Mable Burton Ringling, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art grew from a bayfront estate into Florida’s official state art museum and a large cultural campus. Designed by architect John H. Phillips in an Italian-inspired waterfront setting, it officially opened on January 17, 1932, after financial delays. John Ringling left the property, art collection, and a $1.2 million endowment to the people of Florida in 1936. Its holdings now exceed 10,000 objects, with notable European paintings and strong Rubens works. Since governance passed to Florida State University in 2000, major renovation and expansion have strengthened its standing as one of the nation’s largest art museums.