Event details
- When: Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Where: Art & History Museums – Maitland, 231 W. Packwood Ave
- Category: Event
A one-hour guided walking tour takes visitors through the gardens and courtyards of the Maitland Art Center, a campus founded in the 1930s by American artist and architect J. André Smith as a haven for modern experimentation and creative freedom.
The tour traces Smith's life, from his childhood in Hong Kong to his service in World War I to the founding of the center, which he named Espero, a Spanish word for hope. His experiences and his Episcopal faith influenced the campus design, a blend of Mayan Revival architecture with embedded Christian symbolism and East Asian motifs. Over 2,500 carvings, sculptures, and reliefs adorn the grounds.
Guides also cover the community of artists who lived and worked there between the 1930s and 1950s, including Milton Avery, Ralston Crawford, and Doris Lee. Tickets are $4-$6, include three museums and the grounds, and are free for members. The tour is suitable for all ages and recommended for ages 13 and up.
Event listing published by Art & History Museums Maitland:
https://artandhistory.org/event/stories-in-stone-a-walking-tour-of-the-maitland-art-center-29/
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