The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum / university campuses in the nation. It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling by educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art. In the Italianate splendor of The Museum of Art's 21 galleries you will discover the Ringling permanent collection of Old Master paintings - including works by Titian, Veronese, Rubens, Hals, and Velázquez.

The Ringling estate is the legacy of John Ringling (1866-1936) and his wife, Mable (1875-1929). John Ringling, the youngest of the five siblings who started the Ringling Bros. Circus in 1884, and Mable Burton Ringling arrived in Sarasota, Florida, in 1909 and purchased property in 1911. In 1926, the Ringlings would complete their palatial winter home Ca' d'Zan. They would establish The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and, in 1925 engaged New York architect John H. Phillips to design the building that would house the collection of art. The Museum would officially open to the public in 1931.

At his death, John Ringling bequeathed his Art Museum and its collections, Ca' d'Zan, gardens and grounds to the people of Florida. The State took possession of the estate in 1946 and A. Everett "Chick" Austin, Jr. was hired as the first director. Austin opened the Ca' d'Zan, created the first museum to celebrate the circus, and purchased the Historic Asolo Theater from Asolo, Italy. In 2000, the State of Florida transferred stewardship of the Ringling Museum to Florida State University.

• Museum of Art Guided Tours at 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2, 3, and 4pm. Free with Museum Admission
• Special Exhibition Tours of Threads of Gold: Check daily tour schedule at The Museum of Art. Free with Museum Admission