Deshong Art Museum

Deshong Art Museum
Image from The Architectural Review Magazine in 1918
Map
EstablishedSeptember 30, 1916
Dissolved1984
LocationDeshong Park, Eleventh Street and Edgemont Avenue, Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates39°51′16.8″N 75°21′40.6″W / 39.854667°N 75.361278°W / 39.854667; -75.361278
TypeArt museum

The Deshong Art Museum, also known as the Deshong Memorial Art Gallery, was a public art gallery located in Deshong Park at Eleventh Street and Edgemont Avenue in Chester, Pennsylvania. The building displayed the art collection of wealthy businessman Alfred O. Deshong from 1916 to 1984. He donated his art collection, mansion and 22-acre (8.9 ha) property to the city of Chester after his death. At current valuations, the donation would be worth over US$24 million. Deshong Park was created from his donated property and the museum was built there in 1914. From 1961 to 1978, the building was used as a library but fell into disrepair and suffered theft of the art collection.

In 1979, a teenage boy was convicted of stealing US$300,000 worth of paintings over a three-year period by taking them off the wall and sliding them out of the museum's windows.[1][2][3]

The museum trust was dissolved in 1984. The museum building and park were given to the Delaware County Industrial Development Authority and the art collection was moved to Widener University.

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  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Spencer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Schaefer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).