In 1907, William and Florence Sloane began construction on a five-room summer cottage on the banks of the Lafayette River in Norfolk. Over the course of 30 years, they would expand their home from its origins as a summer retreat into a 42-room Arts and Crafts mansion nestled on 12 acres of gardens and grounds. As their home grew, so did their desire to bring an arts scene to southeastern Virginia. In 1937, the Sloanes turned their attention to repurposing their home as a museum. By opening the site to the public, the Sloane family created a new space for the arts and education in Norfolk. Today, visitors continue to enjoy their vision through an expansive art collection and acres of gardens and grounds.