Swope Art Museum, Art museum in Terre Haute, United States
Swope Art Museum is an art museum in Terre Haute housing around 2,500 works across multiple mediums and time periods. The collection spans paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from the 1800s to contemporary times.
The museum opened in 1942 following a bequest from Michael Sheldon Swope, a Civil War veteran and jeweler who wanted to support the arts. Its first director, John Rogers Cox, shaped the early collection and direction of the institution.
The collection highlights works by regional Indiana artists alongside national names, reflecting the artistic life of the Midwest. Visitors see how American creators portrayed their own surroundings and communities through different styles.
The museum welcomes visitors from Tuesday through Sunday, midday to early evening, with free admission throughout the year. Keep in mind there are closed days, and hours may vary on holidays or during special exhibitions.
The founding collection includes works by Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, and Thomas Hart Benton, artists who became central figures in American art. These early purchases show the museum's commitment to major names from its very beginning.
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