• 1901: The Toledo Museum of Art is launched by 120 charter members and presents exhibitions in the Gardner Building at Superior Street and Madison Avenue. Edward Drummond Libbey is elected president of the board.

• 1903: George Stevens and his wife, Nina, are hired as director and assistant director, respectively. Mr. Libbey purchases and remodels a building at 1216 Madison Ave. for the museum s first home. Children are welcome to view art and attend classes for free.

• 1907: Mr. and Mrs. Libbey pledge $50,000 for a new museum building and call on Toledoans to raise matching funds they meet the goal in 20 days. The Libbeys donate six acres of land along Monroe Street for the museum.

• 1912: The new museum opens and the Libbeys insist their name not be attached to it.

• 1916: Edward Drummond Libbey pledges $400,000 for an endowment and once more challenges the public to raise matching funds. Toledoans again rise to the task and Mr. Libbey donates enough to finish expanding the building.

• 1919: The Toledo Museum of Art School of Design is created with classes for all ages.

• 1925: Edward Drummond Libbey dies, leaving a $1 million endowment for the museum.

• 1931: Florence Scott Libbey donates her late husband s assets to finish paying for an expansion. Construction employs 2,500 during the Great Depression.

• 1933: The Peristyle opens with a concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

• 1947: Otto Wittmann, director, launches the docent program to provide trained guides for museum tours.

• 1962: The Studio Glass Movement is born in a garage on the museum grounds.

• 1969: The Glass Crafts Building, the first museum-based glass studio, is constructed with support from Libbey-Owens-Ford, Owens-Illinois, and Owens Corning, the first museum-based glass studio.

• 1970s: Special displays for the museum glass collection are built with support from Harold Boeschenstein, Abe Plough, and William C. Levis.

• 1982: Renovations lead to creation of the Hitchcock Print Room, Glass Study Room, Canaday Gallery, and Grove Street entrance.

• 1992: The University of Toledo Center for the Visual Arts designed by Frank Gehry opens at the Toledo Museum of Art.

• 2001: The museum dedicates the Georgia and David K. Welles Sculpture Garden along Monroe Street. The Professional Arts Building across the street is renovated.

• 2004: Construction begins on the Glass Pavilion.

First Published August 18, 2006, 6:41 p.m.