One of the finest art museums and popular in the Austin area is the Laguna Gloria Art Museum, which is an Italian style villa that was originally the home of Henry and Clara Driscoll Sevier, and is situated on the shores of Lake Austin, in west central Austin.

The original home that later became the museum Built in 1916, and appears on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum was the first home of the Austin Museum of Art and received the name of the natural lagoon which was considered originally part of the Colorado River before the construction of Lake Austin. The land on which the original house was built by Stephen F. Austin in 1822, and intended to build a house there, but never did, and his descendants later sold the property to Hal Sevier, who was the editor of the Austin American Statesman, and his new wife, Clara Driscoll, in 1914.

The Sevier completed its inception in 1916 in the style of an Italian villa after a trip to Lake Como area of Italy on their honeymoon, and after years of gardening and planting trees, flowers and foliage, Clara Driscoll donated the home of the City of Austin for the new museum. In 1961, the house was converted into an art museum and began offering art classes, exhibitions and other events and attractions for the public.

In 1983, another 5,300 square feet was built specifically for the art school, and in 1992, the museum changed its name from Laguna Gloria Museum Austin Museum of Art, although four years later the Austin Museum of Art, moved to Congress Avenue in downtown Austin. Despite the move, Laguna Gloria remained home to the School of Art, which in 2003 was restored adding new exhibition halls with local and regional art, among other samples.

Laguna Gloria is right next to Mayfield Park, a beautiful park adjacent to the Driscoll Villa which is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Laguna Gloria is located west of the intersection of Loop One, also known as Highway of Mopac, and West 35th Street, and is also very close to Camp Mabry, Austin's other local attraction and historic military base. AMOA-Laguna Gloria, as we now know, offering outdoor venues and cover, and is situated on twelve acres of landscape and carefully landscaped grounds, a mile of which are on the shore of Lake Austin, and The museum is only 15 miles from downtown Austin and the Museum of the main structure of Austin Art in Congress.

Many weddings, concerts, parties, and other social functions are held in the museum and grounds, including numerous events to raise funds for local charities, such as AnyBabyCan and others. Since the museum has several event spaces including an amphitheater, sunken gardens and a viewpoint called the Temple of Love with a hint of original rock and wonderful ride to and from the museum itself, is the perfect location for most outdoor and indoor events.

Besides the above, there is a garden four seasons with statues from Italy, brought by Clara Driscoll, and there is also a solarium in the park, and an oval front garden with a source of great events. The sunken gardens include an original sculpture by sculptor Charles Umlauf, who is now well known nationally and is for people who Umlauf Gardens in Zilker Park was appointed.

AMOA-Laguna Gloria is a must-see if the location, art, natural beauty and historic museums appeal to you, and is also one of the places most picturesque and varied to hold or attend an event or wedding, so be sure to visit Laguna Gloria and enjoy the many sculptures, exhibitions, events, gardens and other attractions, when in Austin or the surrounding area.

About the Author:

Ki lives in Austin Texas. He maintains a site about Austin real estate with a graphical search of the Austin MLS and information about the new Austin condos being built in downtown Austin.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - AMOA-Laguna Gloria Art Museum

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