Canine Treasures: Celebrating Dogs Through Art

If you're planning a summer vacation in America's heartland this year, you may want to consider a stop at the fascinating American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog, just outside of St. Louis, Missouri at Queeny Park.  For a modest admission fee, museum visitors can discover canine themes in over 500 paintings, drawings, watercolors, prints, sculptures and a variety of decorative art objects. The museum is located on 570 acres at Jarville House, a charming and historic (1853) Greek Revival-style home that has recently been expanded into a 14,000 square foot facility.

An Artists' Registry is maintained by the museum as a free resource to visitors and includes biographical information on over two hundred artists available by commission for dog portraits or dog-related art.  By invitation, works by members of the Artists' Registry are highlighted in special exhibitions held throughout the year.  In addition, a book and video library is available by appointment for research on dogs and animal artists.  A carriage house adjacent to the museum has been transformed into a gift shop that offers a wide array of gift items, books, jewelry, stationery and exclusive one-of-a-kind objects.

"Few museums are devoted to simple ideas that live forever, like love and devotion," says Barbara Jedd McNab, the museum's Executive Director. "This is never truer than in the case of The AKC Museum of the Dog, a very special and truly unique museum. Visitors are always amazed at the scope of the art collection and how much there is to see.  And, when you take into consideration the Dog Museum is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2007, just imagine how extensive this outstanding collection will be in another twenty-five years!"

The Museum is open year-round and available to visitors Tuesday - Saturday from 10 AM - 4 PM, and Sundays 1 PM - 5 PM (closed Mondays and holidays). Queeny Park is accessible from highway/ interstate 40/64 at the Mason Rd. exit or from I-270 by taking the Manchester exit to Mason Rd.  Indoor and outdoor rental space is available for business meetings, dog club activities and special events. For information on special exhibits, educational programs, how to become a member of the Artists' Registry or for information on a specific artist, contact the Museum by e-mail at: dogarts@aol.com

The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog
1721 S. Mason Road
St. Louis, MO 63131
(314) 821-3647
Fax: (314) 821-7381

Websites:
www.akc.org/affiliates/museum/aboutmuseum.cfm
www.museumofthedog.org