Butler Institute of American Art

The Butler Institute of American Art is a museum in Youngstown housing more than 20,000 works spanning three centuries in a historic building designed by McKim, Mead & White. The collection documents how American painting, sculpture, and works on paper developed over time.

Joseph G. Butler Jr. founded this institution in 1919 as the first museum dedicated entirely to collecting and exhibiting art created in the United States. This founding reflected a growing push to honor and preserve American artistic achievement.

The museum centers on works depicting everyday American life, such as children playing outside a rural schoolhouse as painted by Winslow Homer. These pieces show how artists chose to record ordinary moments and people throughout the nation's history.

Admission is free and the museum sits on Wick Avenue in the city center. It is open Tuesday through Sunday, allowing visitors time to explore the different exhibition areas.

A painting by Norman Rockwell titled "Lincoln the Railsplitter" anchors the collection and was once owned by a prominent businessman. The work shows the museum's interest in acquiring key pieces from American art history.

Location: Youngstown

Inception: 1919

Website: http://butlerart.com

GPS coordinates: 41.10556,-80.64611

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:51