The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, located near Overland Park, is mostly recognized and known for its expansive collection of art that spans every continent and culture. They are most notable for their large collection of Asian art works and was featured in Time magazine for the Bloch building being the number one pick for “The The 10 Best (New and Upcoming) Architectural Marvels” which took candidates from around the world into consideration. This impressive feat is no surprise when you find out what kind of things this museum holds.
The previous director for and CEO of El Museo del Barrio, located in New York City, began serving as the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s fifth director in 2010. The museum was built atop Kansas City Star publisher William Rockhill Nelson’s home called Oak Hall. After passing away in 1915, it was stated in his will that following the deaths of his wife and daughter, the property would be donated toward purchasing a public art space.
Mary McAfee Atkins, who was previously a school teacher and the widow of James Burris Atkins, donated $300,000 in 1911 to fund the development of an art museum. By 1927, the amount had grown to $700,000 due to sound management of the estate. Originally, two separate museums were to be opened in addition to other small bequests, but the trustees decided to combine the projects to form one giant art institution.
The same architects who designed the Liberty Memorial and Kansas governor’s mansion, Cedar Crest, are the ones who took on the job of designing the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. These architects, Wight and Wight, are prominent figures in the architectural world in Kansas City and based the design of the museum on the same Beaux-Arts architecture style that the Cleveland Museum of Art boasts. In July of 1930, ground was broken to begin construction. The museum was subsequently opened on December 11, 1933.
After the museum was opened, the total cost of the development fell at $2.75 million. The museum was actually broken up into two sections until 1983 and was known as the Nelson Art Gallery. The eastern wing was named the Atkins Museum of Fine arts while the western wing was called the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art.
Because the major contribution by William Nelson was made in the form of payment, the museum had to acquire its own art collections from scratch. The height of the Great Depression brought about a flood in the worldwide art market with very few buyers which made it easier for the museum to acquire their collections.
The first and second floors of the museum contain unfinished sections that allow for the growth and expansion of the museum in the future. In 1941, a part was completed in order to showcase the collection of Chinese paintings, and after World War II, the building was fully completed.
The museum has had a total of 5 directors including the current one, Julián Zugazagoitia. The first was Paul Gardner who served from 1933 until 1953 for a total of 20 years. Native to Massachusetts, Gardner was a graduate of MIT and had his degree in architecture.
Continue reading here.
Map from The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to WilsonHaag:
Map from The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to Art With Myrna: