Tucked into the Park Hills neighborhood above Ritter Park, the Huntington Museum of Art (HMA) has long been one of West Virginia’s most beloved cultural landmarks.

This nationally accredited museum sits on over 50 acres of land and occupies nearly 60,000 square feet, making it the largest art museum In West Virginia. But size alone isn’t what makes HMA special.

It is also the biggest art museum between Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Richmond, serving as a point of pride for the Tri-State area.

The museum first officially opened on November 9, 1952, as the Huntington Galleries, and was built on the generosity of Herbert Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick donated the original 52-acre plot of land along with his personal art collection of more than 400 objects.

That spirit of community generosity has never faded. Today, the collection contains nearly 17,000 artworks, the greatest portion of which were donated by WV residents and collectors.

“The museum really serves as a cultural center for our area," said Elizabeth (Liz) Simmons, Executive Director of Huntington Museum of Art. "We are a gathering place for a lot of folks in the community looking for art experiences, whether that's a class or a tour. There's something for every age. There's something for every interest. We provide both a lot of service for the community as well as always something new and exciting.”

Walking through HMA’s galleries is a surprising experience. The collection spans American & European paintings, Ohio Valley glass, American folk art, Haitian art, antique firearms, and decorative arts.

“We do have some amazing drawings by old and modern masters downstairs on display right now. We have a portrait by John Singer Sergeant, a man's face, and he's somebody that's known for these grand life size society portraits, he was featured in the Gilded Age (if you know that show). To have something so intimate to think about him sitting across from this person, just drawing their face and getting to know their character through that interaction, I think, is really cool.” said Liz.

The Daywood Collections stands out as crown jewel at HMA, with works by Childe Hassam and Andrew Wyeth. It was gifted to the museum with one condition: that it stays in West Virginia for the benefit of the states residents.

No visit to HMA is complete without taking in the Ohio Valley glass collection, a tribute to the region’s storied glassmaking tradition featuring work from Pilgrim Cameo Glass to the bold artistry of Blenko.

HMA doesn’t stop at art exhibits. Beyond the galleries, the space includes an art library, a 287-seat auditorium, five studio workshops, hiking trails, and the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory. The conservatory is WV’s only tropical and subtropical plant convservatory. It is also home to axolotls, which has become a fan favorite.

"We just want to be very active in the community, introducing folks to art, serving as a place for folks to come learn, but also just connect with each other. So many of our visitor responses are I wanted to spend time with my family or my friends, and this is something we came to do together. It sparks conversation and it sparks new ideas. We’re so glad to be that place.”

Best of all, admission is never a barrier. Free Tuesdays keep Huntington Museum of Art open and accessible to everyone.

The museum is located at 2033 McCoy Road, Huntington WV 25701, just be sure to check www.hmoa.org ahead of time since hours vary by day. And if you're looking to get involved, they're always welcoming volunteers!

Facebook Page- Huntington Museum of Art

For the full HMA photo gallery, click here!