The Museum

Arthur I. Appleton and his wife Martha O'Driscoll Appleton, both enthusiastic supporters of the arts, realized Ocala was the perfect setting for a museum that would allow them to share their vast art collections with the public. Their collection of more than 18,000 objects includes European, American, Asian, African, Contemporary and pre-Columbian art and artifacts.

Tampa architect Dwight Holmes was hired to design the Appleton Museum of Art based on a sketch made by Arthur I.Appleton, and construction began on 44 acres of land, donated by the City of Ocala, on East Silver Springs Boulevard in 1984. The museum opened to the public in 1987, winning the American Institute of Architects Florida Award for Excellence.

To further learn all about Marion County's cultural gem, view this video on the history of the Appleton Family and the museum itself.