About the Museum
Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Rockwell Museum of Western Art is located in the heart of the beautiful Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. The Museum boasts the finest American Western and Native American art collection this side of the Mississippi. Western and Native American art and culture are the focal points for engaging, dynamic exhibitions and educationalevents. The Museum renews exhibits several times each year, rotating its large permanent collection of art through galleries based on themes: Wilderness, Buffalo, Horse, Indian and Cowboy. Here, myths are explored and new ways of thinking about art encouraged.
Museum Mission Statement
To grow, preserve, research and promote the Rockwell Museum's unique collection through interpretive offerings, rich exhibits and dynamic programming to inspire and engage both the general public and the scholarly community in furthering their understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the cultures and aesthetic traditions of the American West and Native Americans.
Museum Vision Statement
The Rockwell Museum will be recognized for its imaginative programming and as a sought after resource for study, knowledge and engagement by local and national audiences.
Museum Origins
Bob and Hertha Rockwell, local business owners who had amassed an incredible collection of Western art and artifacts, Carder Steuben glass, firearms, and antique toys, originally displayed some of their vast collection in their family department store, at the site now known as the Rockwell Center.
However, the store allowed only a small portion of their growing collection to be shown, without the benefits of temperature and humidity control, security and, most importantly, the interpretation that a museum could bring. The Rockwell's generously decided to donate the majority of their collection so that it could be protected, seen and enjoyed by many more people.
Click here for more information on Robert "Bob" F. Rockwell, Jr.
Making a Museum
In 1974, executives from Corning Glass Works (now Corning Incorporated) proposed that the collections be housed in a new museum in Corning. The company would provide some support, along with the Corning, New York community.
In November 1976, a temporary home for the new museum was created in the former Baron Steuben Hotel. A permanent home was found in the Old City Hall building, a grand but deteriorating structure that had been vacated in 1972 following a devastating flood caused by Hurricane Agnes.
The Building
Old City Hall was designed from the European architectural styles of the Middle Ages. Designed by architect A.J. Warner and built by Thomas Bradley in 1893, the entire project cost less than $29,000.
In 1972, the basement and much of the ground floor were flooded and suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Agnes. A capital campaign was launched in 1980 to generate the $2.5 million necessary to restore the exterior of the building and redesign and renovate the interior to create a suitable exhibition space.
In 1981/82, the exterior was faithfully restored, using plans produced by architect John D. Milner. The needs of the museum dictated a thorough redesign. However, the tin ceilings in the Fire Station Gallery and the Art Room and the iron door to the women's jail were retained.
