Museum of the Dog to open in New York with world’s biggest canine fine art collection

The museum is moving back to the city after a 30-year absence

Museum of the Dog has hundreds of hounds on display (Facebook/Museum of the Dog)

A museum dedicated to all things canine, Museum of the Dog, is opening in New York City next month.

The American Kennel Club is launching the space, which will feature hundreds of hound-related fine art pieces, on 8 February in midtown Manhattan.

It sees the return of the museum after a 32-year absence, during which it was moved to West St Louis County, Missouri.

“We’re headed back to New York City where our Museum first started,” says the museum website. “We are saddened to leave St Louis, Missouri and our colleagues who lovingly grew and cared for the collection over the past 30 years.

“However, we’re thrilled to take our extraordinary museum of canine-related artwork to mid-town Manhattan where it will be housed in the same building as AKC headquarters with access to their library, archives and collection.”

The opening is timed to coincide with the 142-year-old Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which will start a few days afterwards.

The space will hold several hundred paintings, prints, sculptures, bronzes, porcelain figurines and decorative objects featuring dogs, as well as interactive displays showing man’s best friend throughout history.

Artists whose work is on display include Edwin Landseer, Maud Earl and Arthur Wardle.

There’ll also be a well-stocked library and gift shop, plus plenty of digital exhibits, including a “Find Your Match” booth that takes visitors’ photos and tells them which dog breed they look like, “Meet the Breeds” touchscreens enabling visitors to find out more about different breeds’ traits, and an app for children featuring Arty, a virtual tour guide (who also happens to be a dog).

The first exhibition is called “For the Love of All Things Dog”.

“This museum is a beautiful ode to man’s best friend and we are thrilled to bring these pieces and exhibitions to new audiences,” Alan Fausel, executive director of AKC Museum of the Dog, told USA Today.

Admission will cost $15 for adults and $5 for children under 5.

The opening follows the launch of the world’s first interactive marijuana museum in Las Vegas.

Cannabition opened on 20 September 2018, exhibiting the world’s largest bong (24ft tall and fully operational) and cuddly fake marijuana buds.

The attraction is aimed squarely at destigmatising marijuana use, according to museum founder J.J. Walker.