The William Benton Museum, popularly known as “the Benton”, is a relatively small art museum located on the main campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut. It is an active part of this vibrant community. In addition, the Benton is the Connecticut State Art Museum. As such, the museum not only as serves an art resource for the students and faculty of the University but also for the general public.

Home for the Benton is a pleasant-looking red brick building constructed in the 1920s. Along with several other campus buildings, it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The building's original role was to act as a dining venue for the campus - - a role recalled with “The Beanery,” the museum's cafe on the ground floor.

Upstairs are three large exhibition galleries. These were renovated in 2004, when the building was expanded. The galleries are used for rotating exhibitions of works from the museum's collection and for visiting exhibitions. The Benton also develops exhibitions that utilize both works from its own collection and works drawn from outside sources.

Although the museum officially opened in 1967, its roots go back to the days of the University's predecessor - - the Connecticut Agricultural College. In 1933, Charles Lewis Beach, a former President of the College, bequeathed his holdings of American art to the school along with a trust fund for the purchase of additional art. The collection has now grown to include some 7,500 works including pieces by Cassatt, Klimt, Leighton, Peale, Benton and Bellows. It covers the 15th to the 21st centuries but is strongest in Modern art and American art. Inasmuch as the exhibitions rotate, not every work in the permanent collection is on display at all times.

Given the size of the museum, it would be possible to gallop through in under an hour. However, on our visit, we found the thematic exhibitions challenging and provocative, thus warranting longer viewing. We also lingered over works by less well-known artists from the permanent collection.

In addition to exhibitions, the Benton offers talks, campus art tours, musical performances and family activates.

For more information on visiting, see the Benton's website.    

Places to see art - - Storrs, Connecticut - - William Benton Museum