Fine art. Puppies. Never the twain shall meet, right? Wrong, says the American Kennel Club’s Museum of the Dog, a St. Louis County museum which allows socialized dogs to stroll beside fine works of dog-themed art.
The museum was originally located in New York, but the American Kennel Club thought the museum would call more foot traffic in the Midwest than it would on the East Coast, and so St. Louis became all the more pet-friendly in the 1980s.
Stephen A. George, the executive director of the museum, said the museum also hosts many private events and weddings, which he thinks happen because of the location’s dog-friendly policy.
“All dogs are welcome if they are on a leash and if they are well-behaved, that’s fine,” said George. “We welcome them with dog biscuits and water bowls. They’re a wonderful part of the job.”
On Thursday’s St. Louis on the Air, George joined host Don Marsh to discuss what pooch-themed treasures are inside. This is part of our new summer series on the St. Louis area’s quirky and small “hidden museums.”
The museum rotates pieces of fine art featuring dogs, including paintings, jewelry, sculpture, bronze, porcelain and other forms. Currently on exhibit is the work of Lynn Terry, a local photographer who switched from human portraiture to that of dogs.
In the permanent collection, the Museum of Dog has several pieces by Maude Earle (considered the most well-renowned dog portraitist), Sir Edwin Landseer, James Ward and local artists Joy Beckner and Harry Weber.
The art in the museum ranges from the 18th century to the contemporary works and features galleries devoted to “Dogs of War,” movie posters and other special exhibits. One of the most interesting parts of the museum, George said, is being able to watch the progression of dogs through history in different works of art — you can see how they are treated differently during different areas of time.
For those interested in making their own dog-themed art, the museum also offers art classes for adults and children. Therapy dogs also make appearance at the museum and children can come read with them during the summer.
The museum, a non-profit that receives no funding support from the American Kennel Club, is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is located at 1721 South Mason Rd. It costs $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and it is $1 for children to enter. And in case you’re wondering, dogs are free. More information here.
We want your input finding museums. Have you seen any quirky ones recently? What should we explore? We are particularly interested in discovering 'hidden museums' in Illinois.
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This summer, St. Louis on the Air will introduce you to a few such museums in the region as part of a recurring summer segment. Earlier this month, we profiled the National Horseshoe Pitching Hall of Fame and Museum and the vacuum cleaner museum in St. James. You’ll also hear about other hidden museums that exist nationwide on Morning Edition later this summer. What should we explore?
St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary Edwards,Alex Heuer and Kelly Moffitt give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region.