Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

Founded in 1842 by Daniel Wadsworth and open to visitors since 1844, the Wadsworth is the oldest continuously operating public art museum in the United States, with nearly 50,000 works spanning Hudson River School landscapes to Baroque and Surrealist paintings. Open Thursday-Friday noon-5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Monday-Wednesday; admission $22 (free for Hartford residents).