Museum History Interactive Timeline

1891Founding of Leland Stanford Jr. University and the Leland Stanford Jr. Museum
1894Leland Stanford Jr. Museum opens to the public
1906Historic earthquake destroys two-thirds of the building and museum collection
1945Neglected museum closes
1953Establishment of Committee for Art, volunteer membership organization
1963Professor Lorenz Eitner, new chair of the art department, begins museum revival
1985Establishment of B. Gerald Cantor Rodin Sculpture Garden
1989Loma Prieta earthquake severely damages museum, which closes to the public
1991University brings Thomas K. Seligman to Stanford as the John and Jill Freidenrich Director, the 1st full-time directorship
1995 Groundbreaking of new wing and restoration of historic building
watchVideo about the reconstruction of the museum
1999 Revitalized museum reopens as Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts
2011 Retirement of Thomas K. Seligman
2012 Connie Wolf begins as the John and Jill Freidenrich Director