The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens can be found in the history-filled in the Riverside part of Jacksonville. It has been a landmark for the past 48 years. Everyone who visits the Cummer Museum are enthralled by the beauty of the surroundings and the sophistication of the marble floors that the visitors walk on.

The Museum, like most public ones, gets funding from its patrons, the biggest of which is one family in Jacksonville. It got its name from the Cummer family who gave it to the city as a gift in 1961.

The Cummer matriarch donated 60 art pieces which have grown into a 6000-piece collection. The family provided the Museum with more than just art; they also gave their property including their house. The big home became the museum itself and the riverfront grounds became the lovely Italian-themed gardens where you will find fountains and a statuary. Mrs. Cummer’s sitting room is preserved and has become a specific area of the Cummer Museum.

Nowadays the museum carries a unique mix of traditional and modern art. There is an art collection from the 19th century, along with some Japanese prints. There are American artwork coming from the American Regionalists like Hart Benton. Artwork from the landscape painters of the Hudson River and impressionists like Childe Hassam are also featured. Read more »