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{{Infobox museum
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| location = Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
| type = Cluster of museums and cultural institutions
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The '''Quadrangle''' is the common name for a cluster of museums and cultural institutions in [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts]], on Chestnut Street between State and Edwards Streets.
The '''Quadrangle''' is the common name for a cluster of museums and cultural institutions in [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts]], on Chestnut Street between State and Edwards Streets.


The [[Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden]], in the center of the Quadrangle, is surrounded by a park, a library, four active museums, a fifth museum due to open in 2017<ref>{{cite web|title=Museum Opening Announcement|url=https://springfieldmuseums.org/about/dr-seuss-museum/|website=Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfield Museums|accessdate=17 October 2016}}</ref>, and a cathedral. A second cathedral is just on the Quadrangle's periphery.
The [[Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden]], in the center of the Quadrangle, is surrounded by a park, a library, five museums, and a cathedral. A second cathedral is just on the Quadrangle's periphery.


==Merrick Park==
==Merrick Park==
On the corner of Chestnut and State Streets, '''Merrick Park''' is distinguished by sculptor [[Augustus Saint-Gaudens]] "[[The Puritan (Springfield)|The Puritan]]," a statue depicting one of Springfield's settlers, [[Deacon Samuel Chapin]]. Springfield Central Library and [[Christ Church Cathedral (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Christ Church Cathedral]] are adjacent to the park.
On the corner of Chestnut and State Streets, '''Merrick Park''' is distinguished by sculptor [[Augustus Saint-Gaudens]] ''[[The Puritan (Springfield)|The Puritan]]'', a statue depicting one of Springfield's settlers, [[Deacon Samuel Chapin]]. Springfield Central Library and [[Christ Church Cathedral (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Christ Church Cathedral]] are adjacent to the park.


[[File:SpringfieldMA CentralLibrary SideView.jpg|thumb|right|Springfield City Library]]
==Springfield City Library==
==Springfield City Library==
{{Main|Springfield City Library}}
{{see also|List of Carnegie libraries in Massachusetts}}
[[File:Library, Springfield, Mass (61523).jpg|left|thumb|alt=|Library, 1930s]]
The Central Library, constructed in 1913, was paid for by [[Andrew Carnegie]]. It is the second library to be built at that location.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} The nonfiction department is based in Rice Hall (named for [[William Rice (Methodist minister)|William Rice]]), consisting of a main floor and mezzanine. Opposite Rice Hall is the Arts and Music Hall, where multimedia, periodicals, and the computer lab are based. The circulation desk lies in the rotunda between the two halls. [[Fiction]], children's literature, and community rooms are in the basement. The Central Library also has a Teen Advisory Board — a grouping of teenagers who help make decisions and organize events at the library geared towards teenagers.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
The Central Library, constructed in 1913, was paid for by [[Andrew Carnegie]]. It is the second library to be built at that location.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.springfieldlibrary.org/library/about/history-of-the-library/|title=History of the Library|access-date=2024-05-07}}</ref> Adult [[fiction]] and [[nonfiction]] are based in Rice Hall (named for [[William Rice (Methodist minister)|William Rice]]), consisting of a main floor and mezzanine. Opposite Rice Hall is Wellman Hall (named for [[Hiller Crowell Wellman]]), where periodicals, foreign language materials, and the public computers are housed. The main circulation desk lies in the rotunda between the two halls. [[Young adult literature]], children's literature, a community room, a computer lab, media materials, and a second circulation desk are on the first floor at street level.


== Cathedrals ==
== Cathedrals ==
Line 18: Line 62:
==Springfield Museums==
==Springfield Museums==
{{Redirect|Springfield Museums|other museums in Springfield|:Category:Museums in Springfield, Massachusetts}}
{{Redirect|Springfield Museums|other museums in Springfield|:Category:Museums in Springfield, Massachusetts}}
'''Springfield Museums Corporation''' operates the [[Dr. Seuss Memorial]] and four museums on the Quadrangle, with a fifth museum due to open in 2017. In 2013, the Springfield Museum consortium achieved national accreditation from the [[American Alliance of Museums]], a distinction awarded to only 6% of national museums in the US.<ref name=Barrie>{{cite web|last1=Barrie|first1=Stephanie|title=Springfield Museums wins national accreditation from American Alliance of Museums|url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/springfield_museums_wins_natio.html|website=MassLive|publisher=MassLive LLC|accessdate=2015-03-31}}</ref> In September 2017, Springfield Museums was named as a Smithsonian affiliate, opening up new opportunities for cultural and historical exhibits, as well as educational programs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Springfield Museums named Smithsonian affiliate; new opportunities for exhibitions, education|url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/springfield_museums_named_smit.html|website=Masslive|accessdate=17 October 2016}}</ref>
'''Springfield Museums Corporation''' operates the [[Dr. Seuss Memorial]] and five museums on the Quadrangle. In 2013, the Springfield Museum consortium achieved national accreditation from the [[American Alliance of Museums]], a distinction awarded to only 6% of national museums in the US.<ref name=Barrie>{{cite web|last1=Barrie|first1=Stephanie|title=Springfield Museums wins national accreditation from American Alliance of Museums|url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/springfield_museums_wins_natio.html|website=MassLive|date=14 May 2013 |publisher=MassLive LLC|access-date=2015-03-31}}</ref> In September 2016, Springfield Museums was named as a Smithsonian affiliate, opening up new opportunities for cultural and historical exhibits, as well as educational programs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Springfield Museums named Smithsonian affiliate; new opportunities for exhibitions, education|url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/springfield_museums_named_smit.html|website=Masslive|date=17 September 2016 |access-date=17 October 2016}}</ref>


===George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum===
===George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum===
{{Main|George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum}}
[[File:George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum - Springfield, MA - DSC03512.JPG|thumb|right|Smith Art Museum]]
[[File:George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum - Springfield, MA - DSC03512.JPG|thumb|right|Smith Art Museum]]
The '''George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum''' is the oldest museum on the Quadrangle. The museum is named for the collection's original owner. Its exhibits express the taste of Smith and his wife, Belle, and they bequeathed their notable collection to begin the museum.
The '''George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum''' is the oldest museum on the Quadrangle. The museum is named for George Walter Vincent Smith and his wife, Belle, who bequeathed their notable collection to begin the museum. The building dates from 1895 and was designed by [[Renwick, Aspinwall and Russell]] and Walter T. Owen.


The Ancient Treasures Gallery displays objects from ancient [[Egypt]], [[China]], [[Greece]] and [[Rome]]. The gallery also presents Greek and Roman sculpture from the recently acquired Blake/Purnell Collection of antiquities, and ancient Chinese ceramics and bronzes from the Bidwell Collection. Greek pottery and glass from the George Walter Vincent Smith Collection complement the classical sculptures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/gwv_smith_art/exhibits/view/54-ancient_treasures|title=Ancient Treasures — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|accessdate=20 December 2014}}</ref>
The Ancient Treasures Gallery displays objects from ancient [[Egypt]], [[China]], [[Greece]] and [[Rome]]. The gallery presents Greek and Roman sculpture and ancient Chinese ceramics and bronzes. Greek pottery and glass from the George Walter Vincent Smith Collection complement the classical sculptures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/gwv_smith_art/exhibits/view/54-ancient_treasures|title=Ancient Treasures — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>


The Japanese Arms and Armor Gallery, in addition to holding Smith's extensive collection of Oriental armor, is the site of an ornate Shinto wheel shrine carved during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/gwv_smith_art/exhibits/view/35-japanese_arms_armor|title=Japanese Arms & Armor — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|accessdate=20 December 2014}}</ref> Among other collections is a 150-piece holding of Chinese [[cloisonne]] work, one of the most extensive collections outside of China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/gwv_smith_art/exhibits/view/46-chinese_cloisonne_collection|title=Chinese Cloisonné Collection — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|accessdate=20 December 2014}}</ref>
The Japanese Arms and Armor Gallery, in addition to holding Smith's extensive collection of East Asian armor, is the site of an ornate [[Shinto]] wheel shrine carved during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/gwv_smith_art/exhibits/view/35-japanese_arms_armor|title=Japanese Arms & Armor — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> Among other collections is a 150-piece holding of Chinese [[cloisonne]] work, one of the most extensive collections outside of China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/gwv_smith_art/exhibits/view/46-chinese_cloisonne_collection|title=Chinese Cloisonné Collection — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>
⚫
===Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts===

⚫
===Michele & Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts===
[[File:Exterior - Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA - DSC03877.JPG|thumb|right|D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts]]
[[File:Exterior - Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA - DSC03877.JPG|thumb|right|D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts]]
The '''Michele & Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts''' features mostly American and European works including those of Massachusetts native [[John Singleton Copley]] and lithographs of [[Currier & Ives]]. Works by [[Degas]], [[Monet]], and others can be found in the European collection. The Museum features many interactive exhibits as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/fine_arts/|title=Fine Arts » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|accessdate=20 December 2014}}</ref> It also has Late Medieval and Renaissance paintings by Spinello Aretino, Nicolas Frances, Domingo Valls, Pordenone, Danielle da Volterra (''Diana''), and Goswyn Vander Weyden. It also has Baroque and 18th Century paintings by Pierre Patel, Jacob Jordaens, Emanuel de Witte, Jan Goyen, Ferdinand Bol, Jean Claude Liotard, Canaletto, and Giovanni Paolo Pannini. There are also American paintings by Erastus Field, Frederic Church, George Bellows, and Georgia O'Keeffe.
The '''Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts''' features American and European works including those of Massachusetts native [[John Singleton Copley]] and lithographs of [[Currier and Ives]]. Works by [[Edgar Degas]], [[Claude Monet]], and others can be found in the European collection. The Museum features many interactive exhibits as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/fine_arts/|title=Fine Arts » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> It also has Late Medieval and Renaissance paintings by [[Spinello Aretino]], [[Nicolás Francés]], Domingo Valls, [[Il Pordenone|Pordenone]], [[Daniele da Volterra]] (''Diana''), and [[Goswin van der Weyden]]. It also has Baroque and 18th Century paintings by [[Pierre Patel]], [[Jacob Jordaens]], [[Emanuel de Witte]], [[Jan van Goyen]], [[Ferdinand Bol]], [[Jean-Étienne Liotard]], [[Canaletto]], and [[Giovanni Paolo Panini]]. There are also American paintings by [[Erastus Salisbury Field]], [[Frederic Edwin Church]], [[George Bellows]], and [[Georgia O'Keeffe]]. There are also contemporary works of art by [[Helen Frankenthaler]], Joseph Grillo, and [[Lisa Hoke]]. The museum also hosts Japanese prints and has the largest collection of [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]]'s work in the U.S.<ref>{{cite news|last=Haskell|first=Heather|date=April 17, 2014|url=https://www.masslive.com/living/2014/04/springfield_museums_all_access_scholars_laud_japanese_prints_at_damour_museum.html|title=Springfield Museums All Access: Scholars laud Japanese prints at D'Amour Museum|publisher=[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)|The Republican]]|access-date=5 December 2023}}</ref>
There are also contemporary works of art by Helen Frankenthaler, Joseph Grillo, and Lisa Hoke at this art museum.


===Springfield Science Museum===
===Springfield Science Museum===
{{Main|Springfield Science Museum}}
[[File:Springfield Science Museum - DSC03500.JPG|thumb|right|Springfield Science Museum]]
[[File:Springfield Science Museum - DSC03500.JPG|thumb|right|Springfield Science Museum]]
The '''Springfield Science Museum''' displays elements of natural and physical science from the Eco-Center featuring live animals, to the African Hall, which gives visitors a ground-sky perspective of an ecosystem on the [[Savanna]]h. Dinosaur Hall includes a lifesize ''[[Tyrannosaurus|Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' model and skeletons from other dinosaurs. The museum also features a [[planetarium]] – the first built in the United States, and one of the very few of the era not built by [[Carl Zeiss AG|Zeiss]] – and earth science exhibits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/science/|title=Science » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|accessdate=20 December 2014}}</ref> Additionally, the museum has its own observatory with a {{convert|20|in|cm|adj=on}} telescope that is periodically open to the public.<ref>[http://www.reflector.org/observatory.php The Springfield Stars Club]. Reflector.org. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.</ref>
The '''Springfield Science Museum''' displays elements of natural and physical science from the Eco-Center featuring live animals, to the African Hall, which gives visitors a ground-sky perspective of an ecosystem on the [[Savanna]]h. Dinosaur Hall includes a lifesize ''[[Tyrannosaurus|Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' model and skeletons from other dinosaurs, including a cast of ''[[Stegosaurus]]'' and both a legbone of ''[[Alamosaurus]]'' and fragment of a [[Tyrannosauridae|tyrannosaurid]] believed to represent a new species, both collected in a 1920s [[Amherst College]] expedition led by one [[Frederic Brewster Loomis|Fred Brewster Loomis]].<ref>Dalman, S. G., and S. G. Lucas. 2016. [https://books.google.com/books?id=bMJQDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA61 Frederic Brewster Loomis and the 1924 Amherst College paleontological expedition to the San Juan Basin, New Mexico]. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 74:61–66.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-12-10|title=Possible New Tyrannosaur Species Uncovered {{!}} Springfield Museums ~|url=https://springfieldmuseums.org/press-release/possible-new-tyrannosaur-species-uncovered/|access-date=2022-02-19|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Roman|first=Elizabeth|date=December 4, 2014|title=Move over T. rex; Springfield Science Museum displays bone belonging to new dinosaur species|work=Masslive|url=https://www.masslive.com/news/2014/12/new_dinasour_speciesm_discover.html|access-date=February 19, 2022}}</ref> The museum also features a [[planetarium]] – the first built in the United States, and one of the very few of the era not built by [[Carl Zeiss AG|Zeiss]] – and earth science exhibits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/science/|title=Science » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> Additionally, the museum has its own observatory with a {{convert|20|in|cm|adj=on}} telescope that is periodically open to the public.<ref>[http://www.reflector.org/observatory.php The Springfield Stars Club]. Reflector.org. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.</ref>


===Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden===
===Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden===
The Quadrangle's perimeter was at one time open to vehicles, but was closed off in the 1990s, becoming a pedestrian-only park. Soon after that, the [[Dr. Seuss Memorial|Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden]] was opened. Several statues depicting Springfield native Theodor Geisel ([[Dr. Seuss]]) and many of his creations were sculpted and placed on the Quadrangle green.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catinthehat.org/|title=Theodor Seuss Geisel - "Dr. Seuss" Biography|publisher=Catinthehat.org|accessdate=20 December 2014}}</ref> Starting in 2016, the William Pynchon Memorial Building, which formerly housed the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, will be reopened as the [[Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum]].<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Brien |first=George |url=http://businesswest.com/blog/it-will-be-a-real-draw/ |title=It Will Be a Real Draw |work=BusinessWest |date=2015-04-07 |accessdate=2015-04-15 }}</ref>
The Quadrangle's perimeter was at one time open to vehicles, but was closed off in the 1990s, becoming a pedestrian-only park. Soon after that, the [[Dr. Seuss Memorial|Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden]] was opened. Several statues depicting Springfield native Theodor Geisel ([[Dr. Seuss]]) and many of his creations were sculpted and placed on the Quadrangle green.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catinthehat.org/|title=Theodor Seuss Geisel - "Dr. Seuss" Biography|publisher=Catinthehat.org|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>


===Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History===
===Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History===
The newest museum at the Quadrangle is the ''' Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History'''. It opened in the fall of 2009 on the former site of famed painter [[James MacNeill Whistler]]'s childhood home.<ref>[http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/news/view/123-verizon_grant Verizon Grant — News]. Springfield Museums (2006-12-12). Retrieved on 2013-08-21.</ref> It tells the story of Springfield, and in particular, highlights its role as "The City of Progress" and "The City of Firsts". The collection features exhibits on the numerous inventions and pioneering manufacturing techniques innovated there, the city's role in American history, as well as examining Springfield in a broader context as a city during various eras, (e.g. different wars, several mass immigrations, and changing transportation technology). Exhibits of antique cars and firearms, formerly housed at the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, showcase the city's various industries. Also included is a large number of items from the former [[Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company|Indian Motorcycle]] Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/springfield_history/|title=Springfield History » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|accessdate=20 December 2014}}</ref>
The''' Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History''' opened in the fall of 2009 on the former site of famed painter [[James McNeill Whistler]]'s childhood home.<ref>[http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/news/view/123-verizon_grant Verizon Grant — News]. Springfield Museums (2006-12-12). Retrieved on 2013-08-21.</ref> It tells the story of Springfield, and in particular, highlights its role as "The City of Progress" and "The City of Firsts". The collection features exhibits on the numerous inventions and pioneering manufacturing techniques innovated there, the city's role in American history, as well as examining Springfield in a broader context as a city during various eras, (e.g. different wars, several mass immigrations, and changing transportation technology). Exhibits of antique cars and firearms, formerly housed at the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, showcase the city's various industries. Also included is a large number of items from the former [[Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company|Indian Motorcycle]] Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/springfield_history/|title=Springfield History » The Museums » Springfield Museums|publisher=Springfieldmuseums.org|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/touring-destination/a-classic-indian-motorcycle-collection.aspx|title=A Classic Indian Motorcycle Collection|publisher=Motorcycle Classics|accessdate=2010-10-19|date=November–December 2010|author=Robert Smith}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/touring-destination/a-classic-indian-motorcycle-collection.aspx|title=A Classic Indian Motorcycle Collection|publisher=Motorcycle Classics|access-date=2010-10-19|date=November–December 2010|author=Robert Smith}}</ref>


The museum also houses the '''Springfield History Library and Archives''', a collection of historical papers and documents, including genealogical records and over 20,000 books related to [[genealogy]].<ref name=PVHN>{{cite web|title=Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History|url=https://pvhn.wordpress.com/locations/museum-of-springfield-history/|website=Pioneer Valley History Network|accessdate=2015-03-31}}</ref>
The museum also houses the '''Springfield History Library and Archives''', a collection of historical papers and documents, including genealogical records and over 20,000 books related to [[genealogy]].<ref name=PVHN>{{cite web|title=Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History|url=https://pvhn.wordpress.com/locations/museum-of-springfield-history/|website=Pioneer Valley History Network|date=20 July 2010 |access-date=2015-03-31}}</ref>

===The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum===
The newest museum on the Quadrangle, opened in 2017, The [[Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum]] blends artifacts and information about the life and work of Dr. Seuss with interactive exhibits aimed at children. The museum is housed in the [[William Pynchon]] Memorial Building, formerly home of the [[Connecticut Valley Historical Museum]], which closed in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Brien |first=George |url=http://businesswest.com/blog/it-will-be-a-real-draw/ |title=It Will Be a Real Draw |work=BusinessWest |date=2015-04-07 |access-date=2015-04-15 }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 54: Line 101:
*[http://www.catinthehat.org/ Dr. Seuss Memorial]
*[http://www.catinthehat.org/ Dr. Seuss Memorial]


{{SpringfieldMA}}
{{Coord|42|6|13|N|72|35|7|W |region:US-MA_type:landmark_scale:3000 |display=title}}
{{Coord|42|6|13|N|72|35|7|W |region:US-MA_type:landmark_scale:3000 |display=title}}

{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Quadrangle, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quadrangle, The}}
[[Category:Culture of Springfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Economy of Springfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Economy of Springfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Art gallery districts]]
[[Category:Art gallery districts]]
[[Category:Museum districts]]
[[Category:Museum districts]]
[[Category:Museums in Springfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Museums in Springfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Springfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Springfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Museums of Ancient Rome]]
[[Category:Museums of ancient Rome in the United States]]
[[Category:Museums of Ancient Greece]]
[[Category:Museums of ancient Greece in the United States]]
[[Category:Textile museums in the United States]]
[[Category:Textile museums in the United States]]
[[Category:Art museums in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Art museums and galleries in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Science museums in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Science museums in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Industry museums in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Industry museums in Massachusetts]]

Latest revision as of 22:52, 18 August 2024

Quadrangle
Springfield City Library
Map
LocationMetro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
TypeCluster of museums and cultural institutions

The Quadrangle is the common name for a cluster of museums and cultural institutions in Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, on Chestnut Street between State and Edwards Streets.

The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, in the center of the Quadrangle, is surrounded by a park, a library, five museums, and a cathedral. A second cathedral is just on the Quadrangle's periphery.

Merrick Park

[edit]

On the corner of Chestnut and State Streets, Merrick Park is distinguished by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens The Puritan, a statue depicting one of Springfield's settlers, Deacon Samuel Chapin. Springfield Central Library and Christ Church Cathedral are adjacent to the park.

Springfield City Library

[edit]
Main article: Springfield City Library
Library, 1930s

The Central Library, constructed in 1913, was paid for by Andrew Carnegie. It is the second library to be built at that location.[1] Adult fiction and nonfiction are based in Rice Hall (named for William Rice), consisting of a main floor and mezzanine. Opposite Rice Hall is Wellman Hall (named for Hiller Crowell Wellman), where periodicals, foreign language materials, and the public computers are housed. The main circulation desk lies in the rotunda between the two halls. Young adult literature, children's literature, a community room, a computer lab, media materials, and a second circulation desk are on the first floor at street level.

Cathedrals

[edit]

The Roman Catholic St. Michael's Cathedral adjoins the neo-classical Springfield City Library at the southeast corner of the Quadrangle.

Also located near that edge of the Quadrangle is the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts' Christ Church Cathedral.

Springfield Museums

[edit]
"Springfield Museums" redirects here. For other museums in Springfield, see Category:Museums in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Springfield Museums Corporation operates the Dr. Seuss Memorial and five museums on the Quadrangle. In 2013, the Springfield Museum consortium achieved national accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, a distinction awarded to only 6% of national museums in the US.[2] In September 2016, Springfield Museums was named as a Smithsonian affiliate, opening up new opportunities for cultural and historical exhibits, as well as educational programs.[3]

George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum

[edit]
Main article: George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum
Smith Art Museum

The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum is the oldest museum on the Quadrangle. The museum is named for George Walter Vincent Smith and his wife, Belle, who bequeathed their notable collection to begin the museum. The building dates from 1895 and was designed by Renwick, Aspinwall and Russell and Walter T. Owen.

The Ancient Treasures Gallery displays objects from ancient Egypt, China, Greece and Rome. The gallery presents Greek and Roman sculpture and ancient Chinese ceramics and bronzes. Greek pottery and glass from the George Walter Vincent Smith Collection complement the classical sculptures.[4]

The Japanese Arms and Armor Gallery, in addition to holding Smith's extensive collection of East Asian armor, is the site of an ornate Shinto wheel shrine carved during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.[5] Among other collections is a 150-piece holding of Chinese cloisonne work, one of the most extensive collections outside of China.[6]

Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts

[edit]
D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts

The Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts features American and European works including those of Massachusetts native John Singleton Copley and lithographs of Currier and Ives. Works by Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and others can be found in the European collection. The Museum features many interactive exhibits as well.[7] It also has Late Medieval and Renaissance paintings by Spinello Aretino, Nicolás Francés, Domingo Valls, Pordenone, Daniele da Volterra (Diana), and Goswin van der Weyden. It also has Baroque and 18th Century paintings by Pierre Patel, Jacob Jordaens, Emanuel de Witte, Jan van Goyen, Ferdinand Bol, Jean-Étienne Liotard, Canaletto, and Giovanni Paolo Panini. There are also American paintings by Erastus Salisbury Field, Frederic Edwin Church, George Bellows, and Georgia O'Keeffe. There are also contemporary works of art by Helen Frankenthaler, Joseph Grillo, and Lisa Hoke. The museum also hosts Japanese prints and has the largest collection of Utagawa Kuniyoshi's work in the U.S.[8]

Springfield Science Museum

[edit]
Main article: Springfield Science Museum
Springfield Science Museum

The Springfield Science Museum displays elements of natural and physical science from the Eco-Center featuring live animals, to the African Hall, which gives visitors a ground-sky perspective of an ecosystem on the Savannah. Dinosaur Hall includes a lifesize Tyrannosaurus rex model and skeletons from other dinosaurs, including a cast of Stegosaurus and both a legbone of Alamosaurus and fragment of a tyrannosaurid believed to represent a new species, both collected in a 1920s Amherst College expedition led by one Fred Brewster Loomis.[9][10][11] The museum also features a planetarium – the first built in the United States, and one of the very few of the era not built by Zeiss – and earth science exhibits.[12] Additionally, the museum has its own observatory with a 20-inch (51 cm) telescope that is periodically open to the public.[13]

Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden

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The Quadrangle's perimeter was at one time open to vehicles, but was closed off in the 1990s, becoming a pedestrian-only park. Soon after that, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden was opened. Several statues depicting Springfield native Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) and many of his creations were sculpted and placed on the Quadrangle green.[14]

Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History

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The Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History opened in the fall of 2009 on the former site of famed painter James McNeill Whistler's childhood home.[15] It tells the story of Springfield, and in particular, highlights its role as "The City of Progress" and "The City of Firsts". The collection features exhibits on the numerous inventions and pioneering manufacturing techniques innovated there, the city's role in American history, as well as examining Springfield in a broader context as a city during various eras, (e.g. different wars, several mass immigrations, and changing transportation technology). Exhibits of antique cars and firearms, formerly housed at the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, showcase the city's various industries. Also included is a large number of items from the former Indian Motorcycle Museum.[16] [17]

The museum also houses the Springfield History Library and Archives, a collection of historical papers and documents, including genealogical records and over 20,000 books related to genealogy.[18]

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum

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The newest museum on the Quadrangle, opened in 2017, The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum blends artifacts and information about the life and work of Dr. Seuss with interactive exhibits aimed at children. The museum is housed in the William Pynchon Memorial Building, formerly home of the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, which closed in 2009.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "History of the Library". Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  2. ^ Barrie, Stephanie (14 May 2013). "Springfield Museums wins national accreditation from American Alliance of Museums". MassLive. MassLive LLC. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  3. ^ "Springfield Museums named Smithsonian affiliate; new opportunities for exhibitions, education". Masslive. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Ancient Treasures — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Japanese Arms & Armor — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  6. ^ "Chinese Cloisonné Collection — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  7. ^ "Fine Arts » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  8. ^ Haskell, Heather (April 17, 2014). "Springfield Museums All Access: Scholars laud Japanese prints at D'Amour Museum". The Republican. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  9. ^ Dalman, S. G., and S. G. Lucas. 2016. Frederic Brewster Loomis and the 1924 Amherst College paleontological expedition to the San Juan Basin, New Mexico. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 74:61–66.
  10. ^ "Possible New Tyrannosaur Species Uncovered | Springfield Museums ~". 2014-12-10. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  11. ^ Roman, Elizabeth (December 4, 2014). "Move over T. rex; Springfield Science Museum displays bone belonging to new dinosaur species". Masslive. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  12. ^ "Science » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  13. ^ The Springfield Stars Club. Reflector.org. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  14. ^ "Theodor Seuss Geisel - "Dr. Seuss" Biography". Catinthehat.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  15. ^ Verizon Grant — News. Springfield Museums (2006-12-12). Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  16. ^ "Springfield History » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  17. ^ Robert Smith (November–December 2010). "A Classic Indian Motorcycle Collection". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  18. ^ "Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History". Pioneer Valley History Network. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  19. ^ O'Brien, George (2015-04-07). "It Will Be a Real Draw". BusinessWest. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
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42°6′13″N 72°35′7″W / 42.10361°N 72.58528°W / 42.10361; -72.58528

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