The Art & History Museums, Maitland operates the Maitland Art Center, Waterhouse Residence Museum, Carpentry Shop Museum, Telephone Museum, and Maitland Historical Museum. The Maitland Art Center was founded as an artist colony in 1937 by Jules Andre Smith and has grown into a cultural hub for Central Florida. The Maitland Art Center offers art instruction, exhibits, and public programming in an unequaled architectural environment. The Waterhouse Residence Museum offers a glimpse into Florida Victorian life as docents guide visitors through the home of one of Maitland’s founding families, the Waterhouses. The Carpentry Shop Museum is one of the few antique tool museums in the Southeast and honors traditional woodworking through not only an extensive collection of woodworking tools, but also a hands-on experience for visitors. The Telephone Museum has a nationally significant collection of telephone technology from 1910 to present that tells the story of telephony both locally and nationally. The Maitland Historical Museum explores the history of Maitland as an example of a small city founded on the importance of education, cultural amenities, and natural beauty. The historical museums offer a variety of educational programming for children and adults and feature a series of changing and permanent exhibits including the We Make History Community Gallery that celebrates local residents’ stories and collections.

The Corporation engages the public by educating, collecting, preserving, interpreting, exhibiting, and promoting art and history reflective of the American experience inspired by Maitland’s heritage and the legacy of André Smith’s Research Studio. Through our multidisciplinary collections, unique architectural environment, and inspirational programming, the Corporation stimulates thought, sparks the imagination, enriches the spirit, and fosters appreciation in art, historical studies and research, and preservation.

With unique architecture, beautiful gardens, quality exhibits and programming, and with two sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Art and History Museums, Maitland (A&H) formed in May 2010 with the merger of the Maitland Art Center and the Maitland Historical Society, together provide unparallel offerings to the community as a single entity. With a combined 80 years of service, these facilities are at the very core of Maitland’s sense of place. The largest and oldest of the two merged entities is the Maitland Art Center, formerly known as the Research Studio, founded in 1937 by visionary artist and architect J. André Smith (1880-1959), and benefitted from the generous financial support of philanthropist Mary Curtis Bok. MAC was a lively colony that hosted artists of national prominence, including Milton Avery, Ralston Crawford, Doris Lee and many others. In 1969, the City of Maitland acquired the MAC whose buildings are an example of “Mayan Revival” architecture, one of the few in the Southeastern U.S. MAC is home to a number of significant collections, including the artworks of its founder. The second entity, formerly known as Maitland Historical Society originated in 1970 as a result of a Maitland’s Women’s Club initiative to preserve Maitland’s history that evolved into incorporation formerly known as the Maitland Historical Society. Early members of the Society began collecting priceless stories and artifacts from local pioneer families and in 1977, the Maitland Historical Museum opened its doors. As the Society grew, it opened three additional museums to better serve its goal of bringing Florida history to life. The Society opened the Telephone Museum, a museum detailing telephone technology through the years, in 1982. In 1992 the Society’s greatest treasure opened to the public. The Waterhouse Residence Museum is an impressive example of Florida living in the Victorian period. In 1994, the Society added the Carpentry Shop Museum as a supporting piece to the home and a hands-on antique tool museum.

The Maitland Art Center campus is also home to a permanent collection of visual art starting with primarily works by founder, André Smith However, over the years 114 new acquisitions have been made and the collection now holds a small assortment of work by the Bok Fellows and local artists. It is the intention of A&H to form an acquisition committee whose primary responsibilities are to grow the collection, by acquiring works by founder and artists J. André Smith.

Quarterly sessions of studio art classes are offered each year. Adult art classes are offered for 12 weeks during Fall term and 9 weeks during Winter, Spring and Summer terms. Instruction in painting, drawing, sculpture, pottery, metalworking, printmaking, and jewelry design educate and inspire both amateur and professional artists. Children’s Art classes are offered for 6 weeks per session and are offered 8 times a year. During the summer months, the children’s classes meet three times a week for two weeks to allow for family vacation plans, and depending on the public school systems schedule, three or four sessions are offered, MAC also produces the Annual Children’s Art Festival. This free annual event for children is held on the grounds of the Center. Children participate in Make-it Take-it art activities that allow children to engage in hands on creativity, and free performances and demonstrations by a variety of local organizations. MAC annually sponsors one $500 scholarship as part of the High School All State Art Competition. One winning Orange County student selected at a juried competition at the Florida State Fair receives $500 to pursue their artistic gifts through education or other student needs. A weekly Sketch Club is offered to all who wish to sketch the human body. This is an intensive 3 hour weekly session. Hats, Teas and History-A hands-on two-hour education program where participants take part in a tea party and learn about Victorian etiquette, essentially experiencing an outing as a young Victorian lady. A tour of the Historic Waterhouse Residence Museum is included. Special programs for Girl Scouts are offered. Carpentry Crew-A hands-on two-hour education program where each participant learns about antique woodworking techniques in our Carpentry Shop Museum, and builds a take-home item such as a toolbox. Includes tour of Waterhouse Residence Museum Maitland History Sleuths-an outreach program that includes a discussion of artifacts, a lesson on Maitland history, and an artifact analysis exercise. This presentation gives students the chance to use critical thinking skills, develop teambuilding skills, and gain an appreciation in modern advances. Carpentry Crew on the Go-brings the on-site Carpentry Crew program out to schools. Participants receive a lesson on history, including the life of Carpenter William Waterhouse, and build a take-home item out of wood using antique woodworking methods. Meet Mr. Waterhouse-a one-man play. Visitors can hear from "Mr. Waterhouse" and learn about his life as a Union solider, and his move to Maitland with his family. The Art & History Museums, Maitland produces and partners on many special events each year including the Annual Children’s Art Festival, Culture & Cocktails, An Evening in the Grove, pARTicipation, United Arts Arts Fest, Rotary Art Festival, Season of Light, Chamber Art Festival, Baldwin Park Arts Festival, Party in the Park, and more! A&H also hosts art and history lectures and offers “Gallery Walks” with many exhibitions. Tours of the A&H’s museums are available by appointment for children and adults. The Maitland Art Center offers changing exhibitions of quality artwork and tours can be arranged to visit working artists' studios. The Maitland Art Center tours explore the legacy of visionary artists and architect Jules Andre Smith. The Waterhouse Residence Museum (built in 1884) provides an impressive example of Florida life during the Victorian period. Its counterpart, the Carpentry Shop Museum, contains a collection of antique tools. The Telephone Museum details telephone technology through the years, as well as tells the story of the rise of a local telephone company. Finally, Maitland Historical Museum offers a timeline of Maitland's history, as well as a changing exhibition space. The Maitland Art Center campus offers 6 to 8 changing art exhibits each year. Historically these exhibitions have centered around the history of the Research Studio and some of Central Florida’s best regional artists. The nest stage in the A&H’s growth is to continue to support Central Florida artists, but also feature the work of prominent Southeastern and National talent. Exhibitions at A&H are a part of its educational programs with the Orange County Public School System. The Art Center is an approved field trip site for 4th and 5th grade students in Orange County. Student field trips divide students into small groups 20-25. One group is led by a trained docent to view the current changing exhibit and following an introductory presentation are encouraged verbalize their impressions of the works on display. A second group visits with one of the working artists in their studio to experience the creation process first hand. The third group is led by a trained docent on a tour of the grounds of the center to learn about its unique architecture. Each group cycles through each of the three experiences. During the grounds tour students are encouraged to produce a crayon rubbing of one of the carved cement elements in the unique flooring of the carved cement elements in the unique flooring of the Art Center. In this way each student leaves with not only greater understanding of the artist’s journey, but their own personal piece of artwork to remember and enhance the experience. In 2011, a private funder has also granted A&H funds to enhance the art activity for the students. This enhancement will start in March 2011 and offer the students a deeper understanding of the creative process.

In 2010, the Executive Committee spent 7 months reviewing and revising the Art & History Museums, Maitland five year strategic plan covering FY2011-FY2016. The Board of Directors a new and integrated Board representing members of the Maitland Historical Society and the Maitland Art Center adopted the plan in February 2011. The A&H will regularly review and adjust its Strategic Plan. Plans for expansion and a capital campaign are in the future. A&H will embark on a master planning and capital campaign project to expand facilities to increase program offerings. A major focus of this plan will be to increase exposure of our hidden location and create a pedestrian friendly connection between our two campuses. A $1 million donation from the Morgan Group provides a solid foundation for the capital campaign.

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members

Appointment required: Yes