Current
American Art Pottery Collection
Highlighted in the collection are Iowa State Pottery and pottery from other Iowa companies.
Muscatine Art Center
Visitors to the Muscatine Art Center encounter paintings made by artists recognized around the world, fascinating objects connected to Muscatine’s past, beautifully crafted decorative arts, charming period rooms, and a Japanese Garden installed nearly a century ago. Learners of all ages can pique their curiosity through changing exhibitions, classes, and events.
Hours
Tues – Fri: 10am – 5pm
Thurs: 10am - 7pm
Sat & Sun: 1pm – 5 pm
Mon: Closed
1314 Mulberry Ave,
Muscatine, IA 52761
Get Directions
Exhibitions
Collections
Events & Classes
The Mansion circa 1910
Since 1965 ...
The Laura Musser Museum, later renamed the Muscatine Art Center, has been an important gathering place for the Muscatine community. Laura Musser McColm’s niece, Mary Musser Gilmore, and Laura’s stepdaughter, Mary Catherine Atkins McWhirter, jointly offered the home to the City of Muscatine and established a trust to aid in the maintenance of the house.
Over generations, Muscatine children have participated in school and youth group programs and studio classes, families have attended cultural events, adults have further developed their artistic skills and deepened their knowledge of local history and art related topics. Since 1976, the Stanley Gallery has displayed countless changing art and history exhibitions. Today, first time visitors and long time friends alike are captivated by the historic home, the collection, and the stories presented in exhibitions.
Collections
Current
Historic Toy Collection
Included in the Toy Collection are games, books, dolls and doll accessories and furniture, stuffed animals, wooden blocks and cars, and metal toys and ride-ons.
Current
Muscatine History Collection
A wide variety of artifacts, ephemera, photographs, and archives makes up the Muscatine History Collection.
Current
Costume Collection
The central pieces in the Costume Collection were owned by the Musser-McColm family.
Current
Mississippi River Collection
The Mississippi River Collection historically and aesthetically documents the cities, towns and communities along the mighty Mississippi from the headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico.
Current
Musser-McColm Family Collection
Furniture, photographs, dresses, paintings, glass, silver, diaries, music boxes, rugs and other decorative arts are among the items left by the Musser-McColm family.
Current
Mary Musser-Gilmore Collection
Mrs. Gilmore was an avid art collector, acquiring works by Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall, Camille Pissarro, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
Current
Iowa Regionalist Collection
The Iowa Regionalist collection features works by Grant Wood and his Iowa contemporaries.
Current
Early American Pattern Glass & Art Glass Collection
The glass collection consists of over 3,000 pieces of glass featuring a wide variety of patterns, colors, and forms, including American Art Glass and Early American Pattern Glass.
Events & Classes
Oct
10
Creative Sessions: Mixed Media Thankful Trees
Creative Sessions are free and open to cancer survivors, patients, and their support team. Artist Gina Kirschbaum will lead participants in this session. Advance registration required.
Sep
12
Creative Sessions: Mandala Stones
Creative Sessions are free and open to cancer survivors, patients, and their support team. Join instructor Terre Klipsch as you learn about Mandalas and create your own. Advance registration required.
Nov
8
National STEAM Day
Stop by to participate in some fun STEAM activities! No registration required. Free event.
Nov
30
Kids' Ornament Workshop
Create your own fun ornament to decorate your home for the holidays. Choose one project or two! Julie Lear will guide this fun workshop where you can create something fun just in time for the holiday season! Fee is $5 per ornament. ID 6607
Nov
23
Kids' Saturday Workshop- November
Laura Musser was born on this day in 1877. Laura and her husband Edwin McColm moved into the mansion at 1314 Mulberry (now the Muscatine Art Center) upon its completion in 1908. Laura was a fixture in the Muscatine community and frequently hosted garden parties, fancy dinners, and teas. Join Julie Lear to celebrate her birthday by enjoying an Edwardian-era tea time and making a tea party-related craft. ID 6606
Oct
19
Kids' Saturday Workshop- October
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and by those of Mexican heritage. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to remember and to celebrate loved ones who have died. Join Julie Lear to celebrate this holiday by creating an altar out of a cigar box. We will decorate it in the style of famous Mexican folk artist Frida Kahlo. ID 6605
Sep
21
Kids' Saturday Workshop - September
Romare Bearden focused much of his artistic career on unity and cooperation within the African-American community. He was considered "the nation's foremost collagist" due to his abstract use of collage in the 1960s. Join Julie Lear to celebrate his birthday by recreating a collage in the style of Romare Bearden. ID 6604
Aug
17
Kids' Saturday Workshop - August
American painter Morris Graves used the Mysticism aesthetic to explore the nature of consciousness. Join Julie Lear to celebrate his birthday by creating a bird inspired by Graves.
Aug
3
Guided Tours of the Historic Musser-McColm Home
Drop-in guided tours of the historic Musser-McColm mansion are back! Hear stories about the Musser-McColm family and have your questions answered. Reservations are not required to join one of these tours offered on the first Saturday of each month at 1:30 p.m. starting July 6th. Tours are free; donations appreciated.
Sep
7
September Tour of the Historic Musser-McColm Home
Drop-in guided tours of the historic Musser-McColm mansion are back! Hear stories about the Musser-McColm family and have your questions answered. Reservations are not required to join one of these tours offered on the first Saturday of each month at 1:30 p.m. starting July 6th. Tours are free; donations appreciated.
Aug
17
August Saturday Drop-In Art
Not sure what to do on a Saturday afternoon? Drop in for a quick make and take project. Miss Katy will guide you through the steps for this free activity.
Jul
20
July Saturday Drop-In Art
Not sure what to do on a Saturday afternoon? Drop in for a quick make and take project. Miss Katy will guide you through the steps for this free activity.
Sep
19
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker
Paint this bold and beautiful watercolor daisy on a bright blue background. ID 6608
Sep
26
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker
Let's try something new! Create this unique negative space forest using plastic wrap and watercolors. ID 6609
Aug
1
First Thursday in August with Katy Loos
Tap into your inner DIY-er! Join Program Coordinator Katy Loos on the first Thursday of the month to create fun projects. Classes meet Thursdays from 5:15 - 6:45 p.m. FEE: $15.00 or $13.50 for Friends members. All supplies are included in the class fee. Turn something as simple as a clothespin into a fun, custom wall mirror! We'll use fun and beautiful scrapbook paper and paint to customize the clothespins. Mirror measures 8" diameter.
Aug
18
Mini Masters Wednesday Morning
Every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Mini Masters is an engaging program for young learners (ages 2 to 7).
Aug
18
Mini Masters Thursday Afternoon
Every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Mini Masters is an engaging program for young learners (ages 2 to 7).
Aug
24
Pastel Workshop with David Garrison
Saturday, August 24, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Basic Principles and Sunday, August 25, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Applying Learned Skills
Sep
7
National Grandma Moses Day
Stop in Saturday, September 7 to make a mixed media landscape in the style of Grandma Moses, just in time for Grandparent's Day! No registration required. Free event.
Oct
4
National Taco Day
Come celebrate this delicious National Day! No registration required. Free event.
Aug
8
Civil War Program Presentation
Thursday, August 8, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Adults and kids are invited to “meet” Muscatine Civil War soldier, Daniel Parvin, and his wife at the Muscatine Art Center!
Aug
29
Booked on Art
Booked on Art August Meet Up Thursday, August 29, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the Muscatine Art Center Music Room
Jul
13
Animal Days
Saturday, July 13 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Meet Nadie the Barred Owl and make a mini cork owl and a recycled paper owl.
Aug
17
Yoga in the Japanese Garden
August 17th, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Fee: $5 per person
Aug
10
Animal Days
Saturday, August 10 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Slither along with some live snakes and make a paper plate snake and a pipe cleaner snake.
