Henry Walters

Henry Walters (1848 - 1931) was an American rail magnate (Atlantic Coast Line) and founder of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

When William Walters, his father, died in 1894, he bequeathed his collection to his son, Henry, who greatly expanded the scope of acquisitions, including his astounding purchase of the contents of a palace in Rome that contained over 1,700 pieces. In September 1900, Henry bought the three houses adjoining the property in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore his father had owned to house and display his collection. He had the site transformed into a palazzo-like building, which opened to the public in 1909 as The Walters Art Gallery. He died in 1931, leaving the building and its contents to the mayor and city council of Baltimore "for the benefit of the public." The Walters Art Museum opened its doors for the first time as a public institution on November 3, 1934.