Oberlin College was founded in 1833 by two Presbyterian ministers. It is a highly regarded school, and a very historic institution. In 1835 it was the first college in the United States to admit black students, and in 1837 became the first coeducational college in the country. Its Conservatory of Music, founded in 1865, is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the United States.
We strolled around the campus. The architecture of the older buildings is very interesting. Many have red tiled roofs and Romanesque arches that reminded me a bit of medieval buildings in Spain. (The style however is inspired by Tuscan Renaissance architecture.)
The highlight of our excursion was a visit to the college's Allen Memorial Museum of Art, which was established in 1917. I had never been there before. I had heard that it had an excellent reputation, but I was still quite surprised to find such a fine little gem of a museum in a small Ohio town. It is considered one of the finest college museums in the country, and is ranked alongside the museums of Yale and Harvard. Admission is free.
The entry hall has a beautifully decorated ceiling.
Located around the entry hall are artifacts from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome, and a collection of classical Asian art.
One gallery is devoted to medieval and Renaissance art.
The next gallery contains works from the 16th and 17th century.
On the other side of the museum is a gallery of late 19th century and early 20th century art. Many famed artists such as Monet, Cezanne, Matisse, Modigliani, and Picasso are represented here.
While researching Oberlin to write this entry, I discovered that the Allen Museum also operates a nearby house that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is open to the public twice a month. Guess I will have to make another trip to Oberlin one of these days!
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