Sarasota Special Interest Libraries 5401 Bay Shore Rd Located on a 66-acre estate on Sarasota Bay, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was established in 1927 as the legacy of John Ringling (1866-1936) and his wife, Mable (1875 to 1929). Recognized as the official State Art Museum of Florida, the Museum of Art offers 21 galleries of European paintings as well as Cypriot antiquities, Asian Art, American paintings, and contemporary art. The Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing hosts a variety of traveling exhibitions throughout the year. The estate features the spectacular C� d' Zan (andquot; House of Johnandquot; ), a waterfront mansion that was restored in 2002. The Circus Museums, including the Tibbals Learning Center, display the world' s largest miniature circus, costumes, wagons, performance equipment, and other artifacts chronicling the history of the Circus. The estate also features Mable Ringling�s Rose Garden, completed in 1913, and beautifully landscaped grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay. The Museum offers numerous cultural and educational programs, including courtyard concerts, andquot; Third Thursdayandquot; socials on C� d�Zan' s terrace, lectures, workshops, children�s programs, teacher training sessions, and public tours. The Museum also houses an art conservation laboratory, a 65,000 volume art library, and archives. Included on the estate are the Treviso Restaurant, Banyan Caf�, two gift shops, and acres of parkland and gardens with banyan and palm trees among the wide variety of native and exotic plants. Sarasota FL Special Interest Libraries John and Mable Ringling Art Libr www.ringling.org Official State Art Museum of Florida; European paintings; Cypriot antiquities; Asian Art; American paintings; contemporary art; traveling exhibitions; C� d' Zan; House of John; waterfront mansion; Circus Museums; Tibbals Learning Center; miniatu Official State Art Museum of Florida; European paintings; Cypriot antiquities; Asian Art; American paintings; contemporary art; traveling exhibitions; C� d' Zan; House of John; waterfront mansion; Circus Museums; Tibbals Learning Center; miniatu Business Reviews John and Mable Ringling Art Libr Testimonials