ABOUT THE BUTLER
The Beginning
1919
Joseph G. Butler, Jr. founded The Butler Institute of American Art in 1919. The Butler was incorporated and chartered by the State of Ohio. It is the first structure built to house a collection of strictly American works. Margaret Evans was appointed the first Director.
Henry Audubon Butler
1927
Henry Audubon Butler- became President of the Board of Trustees upon the death of Joseph G. Butler Jr., the museum’s founder.
Expansion
1931
Original McKim, Mead and White building was expanded with the addition of two lower level wings
Joseph G. Butler
1934
Joseph G. Butler III became Director
2nd Expansion
1968
The Institute is expanded with the addition of second floors to the 1931 wing additions.
National Register of Historic Places
1974
The building designed by McKim, Mead and White is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Louis Zona
1981
Dr. Louis A. Zona is appointed the Director of The Butler Institute of American Art.
3rd Expansion
1987
A West Wing addition doubling the square footage of the building is completed. The Hopper Research Library, Sweeney Children’s Gallery, Donnell Gallery of Sports Art, and Beecher Court are opened.
4th Expansion
2000
33,000-square-foot addition Beecher Center is dedicated. It is a joint project with Youngstown State University devoted to electronic and digital art.
The Andrews Pavilion
2003
The Andrews Pavilion including an enlarged museum store and café is opened.
Butler North
2005
The Butler purchases the 20,337-square-foot First Christian Church located adjacent to the museum to display items in its Americana and Folk Art collections, relocate the education department and art classes, and host various events in the Great Hall.
Bitonte Skywalk
2013
Construction completed connecting the original Butler building to Butler North to facilitate access to the new Folk Art and Americana galleries.
Centennial Year
2019
The Butler Institute of American Art’s centennial year, celebrating one hundred years of great American art.
Vincent & Phyllis Bacon Wing
2023
The Institute is expanded with a three-story, 3,810-square foot addition designed by architect C. Robert Buchanan and located in front of Beecher Center. New exhibition galleries are added, including the Bacon Grand Gallery, which permanently displays Pierre Soulages’ ceramic mural titled 14 May 1968. In 2009, this was salvaged by Dr. Zona from the Oliver Building, in Pittsburgh. The mural is behind glass windows and is illuminated at night, making it visible from Wick Avenue.