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.

Summer is usually the time for special exhibits and in 2009 the Cummer Museum featured the works of Paul Jenkins who is an abstract painter. They also had a display of the handmade quilts created by the members of Gee’s Bend in Alabama.

The Cummer Museum has an Art Connections area that is perfect for children because it has interactive activities for them to learn more about art. This section has made the Cummer Museum asamong most child-friendly. They also offer classes for adults and for kids; and they also partner with schools to help the students learn more about art.

Another part of the Cummer Museum is the new Hixon auditorium wherein presentations and lectures  are held. There are also plenty of torus and concerts which make it a staple in the cultural lifestyle of the people in North Florida.

The Cummer Museum has won an award in Best Practices in Access because of its accessibility to people of all kinds. They partner with institutions that help the disabled such as the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.

For Museum visitors, a day can be capped off with some coffee at the Tree Cup. They can also purchase souvenirs from the gift shop.

The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens is a place teeming with life and culture and this makes it one of the best places to visit in Florida.