Adolphus Busch Hall
Encyclopedia
Adolphus Busch Hall is a Harvard University
building located at 27 Kirkland Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. It is named for brewer
and philanthropist Adolphus Busch
, former president of the Anheuser-Busch
company, who contributed $265,000 to its building fund.
The hall was designed by architect German Bestelmeyer
to house Harvard's Germanic Museum. Its cornerstone was laid in 1912 and the building completed in 1917, but it was not opened to the public until 1921, officially because of a lack of coal.
The Germanic Museum evolved into the Busch-Reisinger Museum
, the only museum in North America dedicated to the study of art from the German-speaking countries of Central and Northern Europe. The Busch-Reisinger was located in Adolphus Busch Hall from 1921-1991 and the hall continues to house the Busch-Reisinger's founding collection of medieval plaster casts, as well as an exhibition on the history of the museum.
The hall also hosts concerts on its world-renowned Flentrop
pipe organ, which was made famous by organist E. Power Biggs
, who broadcasted and recorded his long-playing records there.
The hall is also home to Harvard's Minda de Gunzberg Center for European Studies. Its courtyard contains a copy of the Brunswick Lion
.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
building located at 27 Kirkland Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. It is named for brewer
Brewer
Brewer may refer to:*Brewer, someone who makes beer by brewing*Brewer , a disambiguation page that lists people with the surname Brewer*Brewer, Maine, a city in southern Penobscot County, Maine, United States, near the city of Bangor...
and philanthropist Adolphus Busch
Adolphus Busch
Colonel Adolphus Busch was the German-born co-founder of Anheuser-Busch with his father-in-law, Eberhard Anheuser. His great-great-grandson, August Busch IV is now on the board of Anheuser-Busch InBev.-Biography:...
, former president of the Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
company, who contributed $265,000 to its building fund.
The hall was designed by architect German Bestelmeyer
German Bestelmeyer
German Bestelmeyer was a German architect, university lecturer, and proponent of Nazi architecture.-Life:...
to house Harvard's Germanic Museum. Its cornerstone was laid in 1912 and the building completed in 1917, but it was not opened to the public until 1921, officially because of a lack of coal.
The Germanic Museum evolved into the Busch-Reisinger Museum
Busch-Reisinger Museum
The Busch-Reisinger Museum, opened to the public in 1903, is one of two museums in North America dedicated to the study of art from the German-speaking countries of Europe. The other museum is the Neue Galerie, located in New York City. The Busch-Reisinger joins the Fogg Museum and the Arthur M...
, the only museum in North America dedicated to the study of art from the German-speaking countries of Central and Northern Europe. The Busch-Reisinger was located in Adolphus Busch Hall from 1921-1991 and the hall continues to house the Busch-Reisinger's founding collection of medieval plaster casts, as well as an exhibition on the history of the museum.
The hall also hosts concerts on its world-renowned Flentrop
Flentrop
Flentrop is a Dutch company based in Zaandam that builds and restores organs.-History:It was established in 1903 by Hendrik Wicher Flentrop from Koog aan de Zaan. Hendrik, originally a house painter by trade, was an organist at the church at Zaandam, and started a piano - and organ trade...
pipe organ, which was made famous by organist E. Power Biggs
E. Power Biggs
Edward George Power Biggs , more familiarly known as E. Power Biggs, was a British-born American concert organist and recording artist.-Biography:...
, who broadcasted and recorded his long-playing records there.
The hall is also home to Harvard's Minda de Gunzberg Center for European Studies. Its courtyard contains a copy of the Brunswick Lion
Brunswick Lion
The Brunswick Lion is a monument and probably the best-known landmark in the city of Brunswick . It stands on the Burgplatz square in front of Dankwarderode Castle and Brunswick Cathedral...
.
External links
- Harvard Art Museums website
- Harvard Art Museums Collection Search website
- Harvard University website
- Busch-Reisinger marks a century