Maitland City Talk

The temperatures may have dropped but the team at the Art & History Museums – Maitland was warmed by the number of people who braved the weather to join us our National Historic Landmark Celebration last Thursday, Jan. 8.

The highlight of the day included a plaque dedication ceremony to commemorate the A&H Maitland’s Maitland Art Center being named the first National Historic Landmark in Central Florida’s four counties. It joins the ranks of such noted sites as The White House, Carnegie Hall and the Paul Revere House in Boston.

In addition to elected officials, members and friends, we were also joined by distinguished national speakers who shared why the A&H’s Maitland Art Center deserves to be honored with a designation reserved for places that exceptionally illustrate or interpret the heritage of the United States. These speakers included:

• Richard Guy Wilson - Commonwealth Professor's Chair in Architectural History at the University of Virginia

• Brent Glass – Director Emeritus, Smithsonian National Museum of American History

• Peter Banca - childhood resident during the founding of the Research Studio and longtime friend of our founder, André Smith

The site was designated as a National Historic Landmark for its outstanding architectural significance as a prominent example of Mayan Revival Architecture.

The journey to being named a National Historic Landmark was a huge undertaking. We are grateful for all of those who played a part in it, specifically the city of Maitland and architectural historian Christine Madrid French as well as past and present donors, board members, staff, and volunteers. If you did not get a chance to celebrate with us, stop by on Friday, Jan. 16, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. to see the opening of three new exhibits including “Art of the Subconscious: Salvador DalÍ and André Smith,” “National Historic Landmarks,” and a new permanent exhibition highlighting the history of A&H’s Maitland Art Center.

— Andrea Bailey Cox, Executive Director & CEO, Art & History Museums – Maitland