Quadrangle (Springfield, Massachusetts)

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Quadrangle
SpringfieldMA CentralLibrary SideView.jpg
Springfield City Library
Quadrangle (Springfield, Massachusetts)
LocationMetro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
TypeCluster of museums and cultural institutions

The Quadrangle is the common name for a cluster of museums and cultural institutions in Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, on Chestnut Street between State and Edwards Streets.

Contents

The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, in the center of the Quadrangle, is surrounded by a park, a library, five museums, and a cathedral. A second cathedral is just on the Quadrangle's periphery.

Merrick Park

On the corner of Chestnut and State Streets, Merrick Park is distinguished by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens The Puritan , a statue depicting one of Springfield's settlers, Deacon Samuel Chapin. Springfield Central Library and Christ Church Cathedral are adjacent to the park.

Springfield City Library

Library, 1930s Library, Springfield, Mass (61523).jpg
Library, 1930s

The Central Library, constructed in 1913, was paid for by Andrew Carnegie. It is the second library to be built at that location.[ citation needed ] The nonfiction department is based in Rice Hall (named for William Rice), consisting of a main floor and mezzanine. Opposite Rice Hall is the Arts and Music Hall, where multimedia, periodicals, and the computer lab are based. The circulation desk lies in the rotunda between the two halls. Fiction, children's literature, and community rooms are in the basement.

Cathedrals

The Roman Catholic St. Michael's Cathedral adjoins the neo-classical Springfield City Library at the southeast corner of the Quadrangle.

Also located near that edge of the Quadrangle is the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts' Christ Church Cathedral.

Springfield Museums

Springfield Museums Corporation operates the Dr. Seuss Memorial and five museums on the Quadrangle. In 2013, the Springfield Museum consortium achieved national accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, a distinction awarded to only 6% of national museums in the US. [1] In September 2016, Springfield Museums was named as a Smithsonian affiliate, opening up new opportunities for cultural and historical exhibits, as well as educational programs. [2]

George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum

Smith Art Museum George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum - Springfield, MA - DSC03512.JPG
Smith Art Museum

The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum is the oldest museum on the Quadrangle. The museum is named for George Walter Vincent Smith and his wife, Belle, who bequeathed their notable collection to begin the museum. The building dates from 1895 and was designed by Renwick, Aspinwall and Russell and Walter T. Owen.

The Ancient Treasures Gallery displays objects from ancient Egypt, China, Greece and Rome. The gallery presents Greek and Roman sculpture and ancient Chinese ceramics and bronzes. Greek pottery and glass from the George Walter Vincent Smith Collection complement the classical sculptures. [3]

The Japanese Arms and Armor Gallery, in addition to holding Smith's extensive collection of East Asian armor, is the site of an ornate Shinto wheel shrine carved during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. [4] Among other collections is a 150-piece holding of Chinese cloisonne work, one of the most extensive collections outside of China. [5]

Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts

D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts Exterior - Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA - DSC03877.JPG
D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts

The Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts features American and European works including those of Massachusetts native John Singleton Copley and lithographs of Currier and Ives. Works by Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and others can be found in the European collection. The Museum features many interactive exhibits as well. [6] It also has Late Medieval and Renaissance paintings by Spinello Aretino, Nicolás Francés, Domingo Valls, Pordenone, Daniele da Volterra (Diana), and Goswin van der Weyden. It also has Baroque and 18th Century paintings by Pierre Patel, Jacob Jordaens, Emanuel de Witte, Jan van Goyen, Ferdinand Bol, Jean-Étienne Liotard, Canaletto, and Giovanni Paolo Panini. There are also American paintings by Erastus Salisbury Field, Frederic Edwin Church, George Bellows, and Georgia O'Keeffe. There are also contemporary works of art by Helen Frankenthaler, Joseph Grillo, and Lisa Hoke. The museum also hosts Japanese prints and has the largest collection of Utagawa Kuniyoshi's work in the U.S. [7]

Springfield Science Museum

Springfield Science Museum Springfield Science Museum - DSC03500.JPG
Springfield Science Museum

The Springfield Science Museum displays elements of natural and physical science from the Eco-Center featuring live animals, to the African Hall, which gives visitors a ground-sky perspective of an ecosystem on the Savannah. Dinosaur Hall includes a lifesize Tyrannosaurus rex model and skeletons from other dinosaurs, including a cast of Stegosaurus and both a legbone of Alamosaurus and fragment of a tyrannosaurid believed to represent a new species, both collected in a 1920s Amherst College expedition led by one Fred Brewster Loomis. [8] [9] [10] The museum also features a planetarium – the first built in the United States, and one of the very few of the era not built by Zeiss – and earth science exhibits. [11] Additionally, the museum has its own observatory with a 20-inch (51 cm) telescope that is periodically open to the public. [12]

Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden

The Quadrangle's perimeter was at one time open to vehicles, but was closed off in the 1990s, becoming a pedestrian-only park. Soon after that, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden was opened. Several statues depicting Springfield native Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) and many of his creations were sculpted and placed on the Quadrangle green. [13]

Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History

The Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History opened in the fall of 2009 on the former site of famed painter James McNeill Whistler's childhood home. [14] It tells the story of Springfield, and in particular, highlights its role as "The City of Progress" and "The City of Firsts". The collection features exhibits on the numerous inventions and pioneering manufacturing techniques innovated there, the city's role in American history, as well as examining Springfield in a broader context as a city during various eras, (e.g. different wars, several mass immigrations, and changing transportation technology). Exhibits of antique cars and firearms, formerly housed at the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, showcase the city's various industries. Also included is a large number of items from the former Indian Motorcycle Museum. [15] [16]

The museum also houses the Springfield History Library and Archives, a collection of historical papers and documents, including genealogical records and over 20,000 books related to genealogy. [17]

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum

The newest museum on the Quadrangle, opened in 2017, The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum blends artifacts and information about the life and work of Dr. Seuss with interactive exhibits aimed at children. The museum is housed in the William Pynchon Memorial Building, formerly home of the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, which closed in 2009. [18]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield, Massachusetts</span> City in Massachusetts, United States

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<i>The Cat in the Hat</i> 1957 childrens book by Dr. Seuss

The Cat in the Hat is a 1957 children's book written and illustrated by American author Theodor Geisel, using the pen name Dr. Seuss. The story centers on a tall anthropomorphic cat who wears a red and white-striped top hat and a red bow tie. The Cat shows up at the house of Sally and her brother one rainy day when their mother is away. Despite the repeated objections of the children's fish, the Cat shows the children a few of his tricks in an attempt to entertain them. In the process, he and his companions, Thing One and Thing Two, wreck the house. As the children and the fish become more alarmed, the Cat produces a machine that he uses to clean everything up and disappears just before the children's mother comes home.

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Horton Hears a Who! is a children's book written and illustrated by Theodor Seuss Geisel under the pen name Dr. Seuss. It was published in 1954 by Random House. This book tells the story of Horton the Elephant and his adventures saving Whoville, a tiny planet located on a speck of dust, from the animals who mock him. These animals attempt to steal and burn the speck of dust, so Horton goes to great lengths to save Whoville from being incinerated.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh</span> United States historic place

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The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is a sculpture garden at the Quadrangle in Springfield, Massachusetts, which honors Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, who was born in Springfield in 1904. The monument was designed by Lark Grey Dimond-Cates, the author's stepdaughter, and created by sculptor and artist Ron Henson.

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Geisel Library is the main library building of the University of California, San Diego. It is named in honor of Audrey and Theodor Seuss Geisel. Theodor is better known as children's author Dr. Seuss. The building's distinctive architecture, described as occupying "a fascinating nexus between brutalism and futurism", has resulted in its being featured in the UC San Diego logo and becoming the most recognizable building on campus.

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Audrey Grace Florine Stone was the second wife of American children's book author Theodor Geisel, to whom she was married from 1968 until his death in 1991. She founded Dr. Seuss Enterprises in 1993, and was President and CEO of the company until her death in 2018.

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The Quadrangle–Mattoon Street Historic District is a historic district in Springfield, Massachusetts, bounded by Chestnut Street to the West; State Street to the South; and includes properties on Mattoon, Salem, Edwards and Elliot Streets. Located in the Metro Center, the Quadrangle–Mattoon Street Historic District is one of the few neighborhoods in the Knowledge Corridor lined with historic, restored red-brick Victorian row houses on both sides, covered by tree canopies.

Design for Death is a 1947 American documentary film that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It was based on a shorter U.S. Army training film, Our Job in Japan, that had been produced in 1945–1946 for the soldiers occupying Japan after World War II. Both films dealt with Japanese culture and the origins of the war.

<i>How the Grinch Stole Christmas!</i> 1957 childrens story by Dr. Seuss

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a Christmas children's book by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author. It follows the Grinch, a cranky, solitary creature who attempts to thwart the public's Christmas plans by stealing Christmas gifts and decorations from the homes of the nearby town of Whoville on Christmas Eve. Miraculously, the Grinch realizes that Christmas is not all about money and presents.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum</span> Literary and childrens museum in Springfield, Massachusetts

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum is a museum in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States located in the William Pynchon Memorial Building, which until 2009 housed the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum. The museum opened in June 2017. It is located on the Quadrangle along with the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden and other museums.

<i>Horse Museum</i> (Dr. Seuss) 2019 book based on a manuscript by Dr. Seuss

Horse Museum is a Dr. Seuss book released by Random House Children's Books on September 3, 2019. It is based on an unfinished manuscript by Theodor Seuss Geisel completed by Australian illustrator Andrew Joyner. 250,000 copies were released of the first printing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield Science Museum</span> Science museum in Springfield, Massachusetts

The Springfield Science Museum is a science museum located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Found in 1859, the museum has operated in its current building since 1899. The building has undergone two expansions, in 1934 and 1970. It is also home to the country's oldest operating projection planetarium, Seymour Planetarium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum</span> Art museum in Massachusetts, US

The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum is an art museum in Springfield, Massachusetts. It is the oldest of the five museums on the Quadrangle.

References

  1. Barrie, Stephanie (14 May 2013). "Springfield Museums wins national accreditation from American Alliance of Museums". MassLive. MassLive LLC. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  2. "Springfield Museums named Smithsonian affiliate; new opportunities for exhibitions, education". Masslive. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  3. "Ancient Treasures — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  4. "Japanese Arms & Armor — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  5. "Chinese Cloisonné Collection — Exhibits » Gwv Smith Art » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  6. "Fine Arts » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  7. Haskell, Heather (April 17, 2014). "Springfield Museums All Access: Scholars laud Japanese prints at D'Amour Museum". The Republican . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  8. Dalman, S. G., and S. G. Lucas. 2016. Frederic Brewster Loomis and the 1924 Amherst College paleontological expedition to the San Juan Basin, New Mexico. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 74:61–66.
  9. "Possible New Tyrannosaur Species Uncovered | Springfield Museums ~". 2014-12-10. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  10. Roman, Elizabeth (December 4, 2014). "Move over T. rex; Springfield Science Museum displays bone belonging to new dinosaur species". Masslive. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  11. "Science » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  12. The Springfield Stars Club. Reflector.org. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  13. "Theodor Seuss Geisel - "Dr. Seuss" Biography". Catinthehat.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  14. Verizon Grant — News. Springfield Museums (2006-12-12). Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  15. "Springfield History » The Museums » Springfield Museums". Springfieldmuseums.org. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  16. Robert Smith (November–December 2010). "A Classic Indian Motorcycle Collection". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  17. "Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History". Pioneer Valley History Network. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  18. O'Brien, George (2015-04-07). "It Will Be a Real Draw". BusinessWest. Retrieved 2015-04-15.

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