About the Butler Museum of American Art

The subject of our second installment of We Are the Valley proudly featured the Butler Institute for American Art. The Butler is a true gem of our Valley, and has been for over 100 years. The Butler was constructed in 1919 after being established by Joseph Butler Jr. It is the first museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to American Art. Known worldwide as “American’s Museum” it features more than 20,000 pieces, spanning four centuries of American art.

The Butler has expanded significantly over the years, adding a 19,000 square wing to the south of the museum called the Beecher Center in 2000. In 2002 the Andrews Pavilion features sculpture atrium, gift shop and a café. In 2006 it expanded yet again, buying the First Christian Church facility and converted it into an education and performing arts center.

The Butler features some incredible, and well known art. Check out a few of our favorites:

Snap the Whip by Winslow Homer

Snap the Whip is considered by many to be Winslow Homer’s most beloved work. Painted in 1872 with oil on canvas, the painting depicts nine young boys playing crack the whip outside of a one room school house. You can see the school teachers off in the distance supervising recess. The scenic landscape, and depiction of of these children is an accurate representation of the simplicity of post Civil War rural life. A little known fact is that Homer created a second version of the painting where he replaced the mountain range in the background with a blue sky – if you look closely, this is the version that we used in our photos! Learn more about Snap the Whip here.

Lincoln The Rail Splitter by Norman Rockwell

Easily one of the most iconic American artists, Norman Rockwell was commissioned to do this painting by the Lincoln Bank of Spokane in 1964. In the painting, Lincoln is represented as a heroic figure in his first ever job as a surveyor. Prior to creating the painting, Rockwell recreated Lincoln’s travels. According to our friends at the Butler, Rockwell wrote of the piece: “I hope this painting might inspire the youth of this land to appreciate this man who believed so much in the power of education”. Learn more about Lincoln the Rail Splitter here.

The marriage of Washington to Martha Curtis

One of the Butler’s pieces, though less well known the above mentioned two, is incredibly historically significant. The portrait of our Nation’s first Commander in Chief, George Washington, Marrying the love of his life Martha Curtis on January 6th, 1759 in Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church in New County County, Virginia. It was created in 1849 by Junius Brutus Stearns.