We like museums and here is another one located in the Orlando, Florida area that we have visited.
Location: 900 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL 32803
Telephone: 407.246.4278 www.mennellomuseum.org
Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm, Sunday, noon – 4:30 pm, Closed Mondays and major holidays.
Admission: Adults: $4.00 + tax; Seniors (60+): $3.00 + tax; Students with valid ID: $1.00 + tax;
Children under 12: Free; Members always admitted free.
Focus: This small museum, run by the city of Orlando, is focused on showcasing works by American artists.
Permanent exhibit is devoted to the paintings of Earl Cunningham (1893-1977). True examples of American Folk Art, many painted on board vs. canvas, these bright paintings mostly all have a link to the water.
Typical Amount of Time to Go Through the Museum; Even if you read all the little white cards, this small museum should only take about 1 hour to an hour and half to cover. All exhibits are located on one floor.
Children’s Activities: None really observed but some special events may include children’s activities.
Café or Food on-site? No.
Gift Store? Yes, very limited but interesting collection of American Folk Art items that change with the seasons.
Although the museum is somewhat small, the Cunningham collection was strikingly colorful, setting a tropical tone, even though not all scenes are of tropical locations. Many scenes feature some link to the water whether on a dock, in a marsh, on a river or a sunset on the Gulf. The museum also does a very good job of educating the viewer about Mr. Cunningham’s life and motivation behind his work.
The special exhibits change throughout the year.
Overall this museum is worth a short Sunday afternoon visit. A walk around the grounds, which abuts a small lake, can also be a peaceful diversion. On a down note some of the outdoor sculpture seemed to be in need of a cleaning. I don’t think the artists really intended for any of their works to become laden with moss or mildew.
Priscilla (one half of the Travel2some)