Hi, Hugh,

Although not on your list of firsts, the Virginia
Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond was the first publicly
funded art museum in the United States. Judge John
Barton Payne, who had earlier donated his art
collection to the Commonwealth of Virginia, gave
$100,000 to the state in 1934 toward the creation of a
permanent building to house the collection. The state
provided the rest of the funds, and the building was
constructed partly as a WPA project. We opened our
doors in 1936. To this day VMFA maintains a unique
public/private partnership. The state provides
operating expenses, but all artwork is acquired either
by donation or through purchases using private funds
from our foundation.

Good luck with the list! 

Thanks,
Paula Doe
VMFA Docent Program Coordinator
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