SEPTEMBER 15, 1965 . Then Barbara Babcock Lassiter (left) and Elizabeth Holmes Benton, wife of Mayor M.C. Benton, cut the ribbon to formally open Reynolda House to the public.
A few short years before the opening of Reynolda House, the property was deeded to the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation where it was transferred to Reynolda House, Inc. Soon after, Reynolda leased the home to the Piedmont University Center, which coordinated work efforts between 17 different colleges and universities throughout the North Carolina Piedmont region. Executive Director of the Piedmont University Center Dr. Alvin Robert Keppel and his wife were hosts of the house while visitors toured .
Dozens of visitors from across the state arrived to catch the first glimpse of Reynolda House opened to the public. Notable visitors included Jeanelle Coulter, wife of then-governor Dan K. Moore; her daughter-in-law Fran Moore; and Anne Reynolds Forsyth, granddaughter of R.J. Reynolds.
Tours were held morning through evening on Wednesdays and by appointment only. Visitors got a chance to take in many choice works of art lent by the Babcock and Bagley families, as well as private collectors including Lime Banks by Andrew Wyeth, a head study by Anthony van Dyck, and Church at Froschhausen by Wassily Kandinsky (none of which are a part of our collection today). This collection would change and grow over the years until September 8, 1967, when Reynolda House re-opened and was dedicated as a museum of American art, which stemmed from 9 works of art collected by Barbara Babcock Millhouse.
Get the full story in our new book!
Read more about our history and the stories behind the collection in  Reynolda: Her Muses, Her Stories. Part chronicle, part memoir, this beautiful commemorative volume is available at in the Museum Store for $60.
Celebrating 100 years of Reynolda with the landmark exhibition Georgia O'Keeffe: Living Modern
Reserve your tickets in advance to experience this new look at Georgia O'Keeffe, as seen through the artists's wardrobe, paintings, and photographs of her made by some of the 20th century's most noted photographers. See how Georgia O'Keeffe carefully crafted her persona over her long career as seen in over 190 objects.

Reynolda House is the only Southern venue for this exhibition.

Image: Alfred Stieglitz (American, 1864–1946).  Georgia O’Keeffe , circa 1920–22. Gelatin silver print, 4½ x 3½ in. (11.4 x 9 cm). Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe, N.M.; Gift of The Georgia O’Keeffe Foundation, 2003.01.006. © Georgia O’Keeffe Museum