Lowe Art Museum

The Lowe Art Museum is the University of Miami's distinguished art museum, set on the leafy campus in Coral Gables. It traces its roots to 1950, when the University opened its first art gallery, and was formally dedicated in 1952 thanks to a gift from Miami philanthropists Joe and Emily Lowe. In 1972 it became the first museum in Miami-Dade County to earn accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, cementing its place as a cornerstone of the region's cultural life.

The Lowe's permanent collection spans roughly 19,500 objects and more than 5,000 years of human creativity from every inhabited continent. Highlights include renowned holdings of Asian, Ancient American and African art, an important collection of Native American works, and European Renaissance and Baroque paintings from the Samuel H. Kress Collection. Rotating exhibitions and the dazzling glass gallery keep the experience fresh for repeat visitors.

Visitor tip: the museum is easy to reach via the University metrorail station and pairs well with a walk through Coral Gables' Mediterranean streets. Allow a couple of hours to take in the breadth of the collection, and check ahead for special exhibitions and free-admission days to round out your Miami culture day.