The Cummer Museum at 65: New Acquisitions Show Runs to April 18, With $20 Tickets, Free College Admission Midweek and a $3.5 Million Bequest Behind New Purchases

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is marking its 65th anniversary with an exhibition of recent additions to its permanent collection, and the show stays open through April 18, 2027. "The Cummer Museum at 65: New Acquisitions" opened Oct. 2, 2026, according to Visit Jacksonville, and it is on view at 829 Riverside Ave. in the Riverside neighborhood. The museum says the show pairs recent purchases and gifts with works that have been promised to the collection for the future.

What the show is

The museum describes the exhibition as a celebration of its growth, its community and the legacy of founder Ninah Cummer, according to the Visit Jacksonville listing. A museum's permanent collection grows through purchases, gifts and bequests, and this show puts that process on public view. A Jacksonville Today feature published Nov. 5 was titled "The Cummer at 65 highlights ever-expanding collection, sheds light on the art of acquisition."

The museum's public listing does not name the individual artists or works in the show, so this article does not either. Visitors who want to know what is on the walls should check cummermuseum.org or ask at the front desk. The exhibition runs about six and a half months, from Oct. 2 to April 18, so there is time to see it more than once.

The money behind new purchases

One source of acquisition funding is a $3.5 million bequest from the estate of the late philanthropist Betsy Lovett, announced in December 2025 and described by Jacksonville Today as one of the museum's largest gifts ever. The money is intended for buying new works for the permanent collection. Lovett, who died Oct. 26, 2021, served as chair of the museum's board of trustees and as president of the Cummer Council, according to the same report.

The museum has not said which pieces in the anniversary show, if any, were bought with the Lovett bequest. The Cummer's collection holds more than 5,000 objects spanning ancient Egypt to the present day, according to the December 2025 report. Museum CEO Kimberly Noble said at the time that Lovett "often shared that one of her earliest childhood memories was dancing in Mrs. Cummer's gardens."

Hours

The museum is closed Mondays, according to its visit page. The hours listed for the rest of the week are below, and the museum notes that its calendar should be checked for special closures. Hours on the museum's site can show a different "today" schedule on special days, so confirming by phone is wise.

The museum was closed Saturday, Nov. 7 for its Sapphire Soirée anniversary gala, according to its website, and was scheduled to reopen Sunday, Nov. 8 at noon. The Cummer Gardens close at the museum's closing time or at dusk, whichever comes first, and may close in bad weather. Visitors should check the museum's website for current hours before they go.

Admission

Adult admission is $20, according to the museum. Seniors 65 and older, military members and educators pay $18, and students ages 6 to 17 pay $18, though the page lists both 17 and 18 as the upper age for students. Children 5 and under and museum members are free, as are visitors who show an EBT, SNAP or WIC card.

Current identification is required for discounted categories, according to the museum. The page also mentions free admission days but does not list them, so check the calendar before you go. Because discounts depend on identification, college students and educators should bring a school or work ID.

Parking

Museum lots are across Riverside Avenue from the entrance and at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Post Street, according to the museum. Paid parking through ParkMobile began Sept. 1, 2026. On weekdays and Sundays the rate is $2 for the first two hours and then $1 per hour, and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. it is a flat $10. Members park free, and visitors who pay admission get 50 percent off parking with a validation code from the front desk.

A short history

The museum describes its exhibition as honoring the legacy of Ninah Cummer, its founder, according to Visit Jacksonville. Wikipedia lists its establishment date as Nov. 11, 1961, which fits the 65th anniversary this year. The grounds include formal gardens, among them an Olmsted Garden, an Italian Garden and an English Garden, according to the museum's photo records on Wikimedia Commons. Those gardens are part of why many visitors pair the show with a walk outdoors.

The museum is at 829 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32204, and the phone number listed by Visit Jacksonville is (904) 356-6857. Hours and prices can change, so confirm them before a trip. For current hours and special events, see cummermuseum.org.