It started as two rented rooms in the Gardner Building in Downtown in 1901, now the Toledo Museum of Art is maybe the most recognizable and world-renowned building in the city. It was a long road, with many generous donations along the way — most notably the Libbey fortune — but maybe the biggest stride was on Jan. 17, 1912 when people passed through the iconic Greek columns into the main TMA building for the first time. And since that means tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of those historic doors opening, it means one thing: we must celebrate. From 1-2pm in Libbey Court a commemorative ceremony — including a reading from a text by a person who was present at the opening —will take place with light refreshments, including a cake replica of the building.
"The building has become such a landmark, so it's important we celebrate the first hundred years," Kelly Garrow, director of communications, said.
Besides an extensive and exciting schedule of exhibitions and events, the TMA has serious plans of preservation in the next few years; cleaning and renovating the galleries, updating the restrooms and any other repairs that will increase the building's longevity.
"Our strategic plan for the next 4 years — our director calls it polishing the gem —is basically taking this 100 year building and cleaning it up the best we can."
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