We were recently awarded a contract for museum case construction for the Ringling Museum of Art’s new Center for Asian Art. This is an honor, as the Ringling Museum of Art contains one of the preeminent art and cultural collections in the United States. The buildings, the grounds, the Ca ‘dZan Mansion – the Ringling Museum of Art is truly one of the treasures of the state of Florida.
Museum Case Construction
The museum case construction work came off without a hitch. We constructed the cases in the ADM Two warehouse in Tampa and shipped them down to the Ringling Museum for assembly. This was a fairly straightforward job, so in this story we’d like to focus on the museum itself, its rich history, and what makes it so special.
Museum case construction took place at the ADM Two warehouse in Tampa.
The Beginning
John Ringling and his brothers were the founders of “The Greatest Show on Earth,” the Ringling Circus. The success of the circus catapulted John and his wife Mable into a position of wealth and influence. They traveled the world in search of acts for the circus, collecting art and appreciating the architecture they encountered along the way. In 1911, they bought the waterfront property that now serves as the campus of the Ringling Museum of Art and some years later they decided to build a home on the property. Mable, who had a fascination with the Venetian Gothic style of the palazzo in Venice, had kept postcards, photos, and made sketches of the lavish architectural style. She supervised the construction of what is now known as the Ca ‘dZan Mansion. It is five stories tall, 36,000 square feet, has 41 rooms and 15 bathrooms. It is a stunning sight to behold.
Historical photo from the Ringling Museum.
Building the Collection
As John Ringling acquired more and more art, he became thoroughly passionate about collecting. His curiosity and passion led him to begin purchasing and reading art books – so many that his collection now forms the foundation of the Ringling Art Library. Soon after construction of the Ca’ d’Zan was complete, John built a 21-gallery museum based on the Florentine Uffizi Gallery to house his collection of paintings, sculptures and other art objects. The avid collector did not open the museum to the public until 1931, two years after Mable’s death. He hoped it would “promote education and art appreciation, especially among our young people.” Upon his death, the estate was left to the people of Florida.
Present Day
The state eventually passed on governance of the Museum of Florida State University. The surrounding community rallied to help restore the museum to its original beauty; community support of the museum has proven to be one of its greatest assets to this day. The museum has continued to grow and expand over the years, and the recent addition of the Center for Asian Art is testament to the museum’s success. Its continued efforts to provide visitors with a comprehensive arts and culture experience will surely have a lasting impact on people from all over the world. Visit their website at www.ringling.org for hours, events, and special exhibitions.
ADM Two doesn’t just envision potential, we make your vision a reality. ADM Two are experts in museum case construction and museum exhibit fabrication. Our staff is prepared to handle even the most challenging projects. Give us a call at (813) 887-1960, and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with design ideas. Also, check out some of our other articles to get ideas for trade show booth design.