Enjoy the beauty of 5,000 years of art from more than 30 countries. The Hermitage Foundation Museum and Gardens features a collection of more than 40,000 pieces, including Tang Dynasty terracotta, Persian rugs, ceramic tomb figures and the work of early 20th-century painters and sculptors. They were collected over a 30-year period by wealthy New Yorker, Florence Sloane.
The Hermitage Museum started out in 1908 as a five-room vacation home for Florence, an avid art collector, and her husband, William. By 1936 the property had been expanded to 42 rooms to serve as a museum and the couple’s principle residence.
Some of the pieces are organized in specific collections and others are arranged in a seemingly ad hoc fashion in various rooms. Pick up a brochure at the museum’s front entrance as it includes a suggested viewing itinerary.
Admire paintings by contemporary American Masters at the Florence K. Sloane Painting Gallery. Examine a wide variety of textiles including early Coptic tapestries, 20th-century Spanish lace and some of Florence’s own dresses. There are also 45-minute guided tours, starting on the hour, that visit fifteen galleries on the museum’s ground floor.
Don’t pass up the opportunity to view temporary exhibits. They are presented in the two Changing Galleries on the second floor.
Devote some time to exploring the museum’s 12 acres (4.8 hectares) of gardens, forest and wetlands. Venture into the Walled Garden that features azaleas, daffodils and irises. Savor some tranquil moments in the Rose Garden. Look out for migrating birds and crabs as you stroll along the boardwalk that’s positioned over the wetlands area.
Situated near the Lafayette River, the attraction is approximately ten minutes by car from downtown Norfolk. Free car parking is available. The Hermitage Museum and Gardens is closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.
