The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum: An Orlando Attraction

The Charles Hosmer Museum is located in Orlando, Florida. It was founded by Jeannette Genius McKean in 1942 and was named after her grandfather who was a Chicago industrialist and Winter Park Philanthropist. The museum offers the most elaborate display of Louis Comfort Tiffany in the world. Some of the different items that call this museum home include Tiffany jewelry, art glass, paintings, pottery, lamps and windows.

Some of their current exhibitions are as follows.

Dickens to Benton: Rare Books and Works on Paper From the Morse Collection. This is the first major showing of these books. A few of these rare finds include and 1844 edition of Charles Dickens' Martin Chuzzlewit and a 1941 lithograph by Thomas Hart Benton. You will also find graphics of Aubrey Beardsley and the children's illustrations of Kate Greenaway. The collection in this exhibition spans nearly a hundred years and is the result of Jeannette and Hugh McKean who so intently worked on their collection. The entire collection includes an impressive list of artists, such as Mary Cassatt, Edward Hopper, and others.

Two Tiffany Windows. These two beautiful Tiffany windows have been unavailable to the public. This first of the two windows is a 6 ft high panel from the Richard Beatty Mellon house which is located in Pittsburg. The window dates back to 1908 and displays trees in the background with a closer bridge over what appears to be a small stream. Beautiful water lilies add a nice burst of color to the window. The second window is from the home of Tiffany's friend and studio manager, Joseph Briggs. Briggs is from New Jersey. This one dates somewhere between 1890 and 1900 and has a medallion of leaf and floral tiles.

Secrets of Tiffany Glassmaking. This is a teaching exhibit of the fascinating techniques used to make glass. You will learn everything from ingredients to the design process. Tiffany and his staff were known for their talent and ability in working with molten sand. You will see tools that are used, as well as window fragments and glass fragments.

Currently the museum offers nineteen total galleries and they are changed from time to time to give people the opportunity to see more of the wonderful collection and give them a greater understanding of American Art.

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is located at 445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789. They have been at this location since July 4, 1995. This new location offered 11,000 square feet of space to display their wonderful exhibitions which is nearly three times the gallery space from the former location. If you would like to contact the museum, you can call them at (407)645-5311.