The Appleton Museum of Art is an art museum located in Ocala, Florida. It is affiliated with and governed by the College of Central Florida and has been since 2004.The Appleton Museum of Art houses a permanent collection of around 18,000 works including art and artifacts representative of European, American, Asian, African, Contemporary and pre-Columbian styles. It also displays certain exhibits on a temporary basis throughout the year. The museum is working to amass a collection of works specifically from Florida artists to represent the history and progression of Central Florida culture. Over time, the Appleton Museum of Art has established itself as a leading art museum in the South.HistoryIn 1982, business magnate Arthur I. Appleton gifted his horse breeding and training facility, Bridlewood Farm, to the City of Ocala. Construction began on the museum in 1984, with it originally intended as a place to conserve and display Mr. Appleton's private art collection. The building eventually opened to the public in 1987 as the Appleton Museum of Art, and over time the collection grew, and more works were added to Appleton's private collection.
