Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art

Nestled into the side of Lighthouse Hill, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art is a uniquely peaceful retreat. The Museum presents the art and culture of Tibet and the Himalayas to a world audience in order to educate and inspire others in the value of this significant cultural heritage. Established in 1945, the Museum was founded by the pioneering American woman Jacques Marchais (1887-1948), an important collector and respected expert in Tibetan art. Designed by Marchais, the rustic complex of fieldstone buildings resembles a Tibetan mountain monastery. These historic buildings represent the first Himalayan style architecture to be built in the United States, and it was the first museum in the world solely dedicated to Tibetan art. The surrounding landscape design, which Marchais named the 'Samadhi Garden,' feature a fish pond, meditation cells and many of her original plantings. The museum's distinctive setting highlights and enhances the experience of viewing the art within.