Trammell and Margaret Crow bought their first piece of Asian art in the mid-1960s, and from that initial purchase has evolved a distinguished collection featuring pieces from China, Japan, India and Southeastern Asia, spanning 3500 B.C. to the early 20th century. The Trammell and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art opened to the general public as a permanent museum in December 1998, at 2010 Flora in the Arts District of downtown Dallas.

The Crows have traveled extensively throughout the world, but Asia is a favorite destination. "Our first visit to China came in 1976 right before Chairman Mao Tse-tung died," Mrs. Crow said. "Very few foreigners were allowed inside China at that time, but we received permission because of Dallas Market Center’s involvement with the Canton Trade Fair."

Tight restrictions on exports from China prevented the Crows from making many direct buys of art during their 14 subsequent visits to the country. The majority of their collection has been obtained from individual purchases through private dealers and auction houses, as well as through the acquisition of major collections, such as the highly respected Morrie A. Moss collection. In total, the Crow family has amassed more than 4,000 pieces of Asian art, among which the 569 best were selected, after extensive analysis, by a noted curator for inclusion in The Crow Collection.

"Trammell has always loved Chinese art; it fascinates him, especially jade," Mrs. Crow said. "And I’ve always appreciated English décor, which has been influenced by the Chinese for centuries. So it was very easy for us to develop this partnership, this love for Asian art."

Pieces from Japan, India and other Southeast Asian counties were added as the Crows traveled to those countries as well. Their children's interest in Asian art also grew, particularly in their son, Trammell S. Crow, who now serves as president of the Crow Family Foundation and oversees the development of The Crow Collection. His interest was spurred while studying Chinese religion and history at Yale University. He has since traveled extensively throughout Asia and has acquired numerous works of art from his travels.

Mrs. Crow said the art, which ranges from Chinese jades and Buddhist sculpture to Japanese crystal spheres and screen paintings, has been displayed extensively in lobbies, reception and office areas at the Trammell Crow Center, other office buildings, marts, hotels, and in the homes of the Crows and their children. A baradari, a gazebo used in gardens of Indian palaces and residences for relaxation and meditation, spent years on the lakeshore at the Crow family farm in East Texas before its selection for the collection. "Because the art was scattered between commercial buildings and our families' homes, we had little notion of what kind of a collection we had until pieces were gathered for the exhaustive selection process," Mrs. Crow said.

The idea for the museum came about when Mr. and Mrs. Crow, married for 56 years, decided they would like to keep the collection intact as a legacy for their six children, 13 grandchildren and the general public. At that point, the interior of the Pavilion at the Trammell Crow Center was redesigned and renovated to meet the special needs of a gallery displaying centuries-old art year-round.