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 – 5pm
Mon: Closed
1314 Mulberry Ave,
Muscatine, IA 52761
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
May
31
Red Barn Studio - Watercolor and Ink Heron - May 31
Use the line and wash technique to create this graceful heron illustration. Vada Baker will guide each step of this versatile technique, combining loose, translucent watercolor washes with pen and ink line work. No experience necessary. To register by May 29, please call the Muscatine Art Center at (563) 263-8282.
Jul
13
"The Great Zoo Escape" Theatre Camp with Footliters Traveling Playhouse- July 13-17, 2026
Footliters Traveling Playhouse is back this summer with another FREE musical camp for children ages 7-18! Campers will audition, rehearse, and perform a musical alongside three professional teaching artists. This high-flying adventure emphasizes the power of teamwork and being yourself. This project is supported by Muscatine Charities and the Quad City Arts, through the Arts Dollars re-granting program, supported by The Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency, The Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, and the Quad Cities Community Foundation - Isabel Bloom Art Education Endowment, and the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. To register, please contact Annette at ahovland@muscatineiowa.gov or 563-263-8282.
May
16
FREE Artist Workshops for Children - Pen and Ink Drawing with Miss Heather - May 16 - Ages 10+
Bring a picture of your favorite animal, food, a landscape, a character, or whatever else inspires you! This class, led by Pleasant Valley School District art teacher Heather Seibel, is for those who love to draw and want to explore more ways to add value and depth to their drawings. We will learn pen and ink techniques such as stippling, hatching, and scumbling to create textures and value and explore line weight. Stretch your art skills while elevating your drawings to the next level! To register by May 14, please call the Muscatine Art Center at (563) 263-8282.
Jun
14
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker- Wildcat Den State Park - June 14 - Recommended for Intermediate and Advanced Painters
Enjoy layering watercolors and gold metallic paint to create this stunning landscape of the trail to Steamboat Rock at Wildcat Den State Park. This class is recommended for intermediate to advanced painters. To register by June 12, please call the Muscatine Art Center at (563) 263-8282.
Jun
6
FREE Artist Workshops for Children with Miss Julie - Eric Carle's Birthday Butterflies - June 6
Beloved author and illustrator of many picture books, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar created colorful and whimsical collage art. Celebrate Eric Carle’s birthday by creating your own butterfly collage. To register by June 4, please call the Muscatine Art Center at (563) 263-8282.
Jun
13
FREE Artist Workshop for Children - Beaded Felt Bowls with Miss Brianna - June 13
In this class, you will handcraft decorative beaded felt bowls in a variety of sizes and colors. These soft-sided, but sturdy containers are perfect for organizing trinkets, jewelry, or keepsakes. Make your own beaded felt bowl. Supplies are provided. No experience necessary. To register by June 11, please call the Muscatine Art Center at (563) 263-8282.
May
9
FREE Artist Workshop for Children - Salvador Dali's Zoo with "Miss Julie", Saturday, May 9
Students will sculpt animal figures inspired by the 1948 painting "The Elephants" by Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali. Students will paint a stark 3-D landscape in which to display their sculpture. All supplies provided. To register by May 7, please call the Muscatine Art Center at (563) 263-8282.
May
7
FREE Artist Workshop for Children - Koinobori with "Miss Brianna", Thursday, May 7
Koinobori with “Miss Brianna Thursday, May 7, 5:15 - 6:45 p.m. Craft Koinobori to celebrate Children’s Day. Draw fish patterns on colored papers, then hang the streamers outside to fly in the breeze. Supplies are provided. No experience is necessary. To register by May 5, please call the Muscatine Art Center at (563) 263-8282.
May
1
APRIL EVENTS
Check flyer below for at-a-glance information on what is happening at the Muscatine Art Center during the month of April! Call us at 563-263-8282 for more information on classes, programming, and to sign up.
Apr
11
Artist Workshops for Kids with Miss Julie - Botanical Portraits
This free class is open to kids ages 7 to 14 and their families. Please register by April 9 by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
May
1
Mini Masters Wednesday Mornings @ 9:30 a.m.
Mini Masters is a free class that meets Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Reservations required. Call 563-263-8282 to register. These classes are free!
May
1
Mini Masters Thursday Afternoons @ 3:30 p.m.
Mini Masters is a free class that meets Thursday afternoons at 3:30 - 4:15 p.m. Reservations required. Call 563-263-8282 to register. These classes are free. See below for updated calendar.
Apr
2
Clay Flowers with Heather Seibel - April 2 (build) and April 16 (glaze)
Celebrate the arrival of spring with these cheerful garden sculptures! You will use a variety of tools to shape and texture clay flowers that can be displayed in the garden, flower pots, or table centerpiece. Sculpt your flowers on April 2. Glaze them on April 16. Register by March 31.
