The Butler Institute of American Art

Many “gems” of culture can be found in the most unlikely places. It would only make sense a museum, whose mission “to preserve and collect works of art in all media created by citizens of our country,” would be located in Washington, D.C. Nope; Youngstown, Ohio lays claim to The Butler Institute of American Art; the first museum of American art.

Dedicated in 1919, the Butler, as it is called by the locals is a wonderful architectural masterpiece in and of itself. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Wick Avenue structure is the work of architectural geniuses McKim, Mead and White. Known worldwide as “America’s Museum,” the Butler not only houses extensive individual works by American artists (more than 20,000 now), it is a living museum – meaning the community doesn’t just visit every once in awhile. The Butler is an active venue – one weekend hosting a wedding, another offering art classes to children, and always its door are open to the public where anyone can peruse the exhibits on display – free of charge.

Arguably its most well-known masterpiece would be 1872 Winslow Homer work “Snap the Whip” depicting school age children playing this game. The recent acquisition of preeminent American illustrator Norman Rockwell’s “Lincoln the Railsplitter” has recently draw the most attention to the Butler. According to Butler Director Dr. Louis Zona, “If ever a painting belonged in the collection of the Butler Institute, this is the one. Painted by America’s most beloved artist,…