Permanent Collection

In 1977, a group of Park Rapids citizens borrowed money from a bank to acquire an astonishing collection of over 40 European paintings. This collection, which spans six centuries, had been painstakingly preserved by art restorer Gabor Nemeth and brought to the United States after World War II. It had been widely accepted that St. John’s University would be the beneficiary of the collection, but Gabor ultimately chose the site of his summer home, Park Rapids, as the permanent destination for these works.