The Art & History Museums Maitland’s unique architecture, beautiful gardens, quality exhibits and programming, and two sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places make it a must visit cultural destination. The Art and History Museums Maitland (A&H) formed in May 2010 with the merger between the Maitland Art Center and the Maitland Historical Society. With a combined 115 years of service, these facilities are integral to Central Florida’s cultural identity. The largest of the museums is the Maitland Art Center, formerly known as the Research Studio, founded in 1937 by visionary artist and architect J. André Smith (1880-1959.) The Research Studio benefitted from the generous financial support of philanthropist Mary Curtis Bok. The Research Studio was a lively colony that hosted artists of national prominence, including Milton Avery, Ralston Crawford, Doris Lee and many others. In 1969, the City of Maitland acquired the Research Studio whose buildings are an example of “Mayan