The Wadsworth Atheneum is an art museum in Hartford, Connecticut, founded by Daniel Wadsworth in 1842. It is the oldest public art museum in the United States and has a collection of over 50,000 works of art, ranging from ancient to contemporary. The museum is known for its holdings of European and American paintings, especially from the Hudson River School, Impressionism, and Surrealism. It also has significant collections of European and American decorative arts, costume and textile, and contemporary art. The museum hosts various exhibitions, programs, and events throughout the year, such as lectures, concerts, films, and workshops. The museum also has a library and archives that support research on the museum’s collections and history. The Wadsworth Atheneum is located in downtown Hartford, near the Connecticut State Capitol and the Old State House. It occupies five interconnected buildings: the original Gothic Revival building designed by Ithiel Town and Alexander Jackson Davis; the Morgan Memorial Building; the Goodwin Building; the Avery Memorial Building; and the Colt Memorial Building.