America's Art Museums : A Traveler's Guide to Great Collections Large and Small

Much more than a simply practical guide, this book is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour not only of this country's great museums but also of the history of art in America. Suzanne Loebl is the perfect, passionate companion, as she takes you from the august halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the intimate galleries of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine, from the breathtaking gardens surrounding the Huntington in San Marino, California, to the Hispanic Heritage Wing of the International Museum of Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She gives you a tour of the physical space and the museum's most beloved or noteworthy works, and an overview of how both the collection and the building came to be—fascinating histories of personal taste, serendipity, civic pride, and astute management. The book includes the essential information about hours, location, and activities for children at each museum as well as a convenient index to collection strengths.