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
Nov
22
The Christmas Magic Lantern Show
The American Magic Lantern Theater is an authentic Victorian big screen extravaganza. The shows are America's only professional recreations of the 1890s combination of projected images, live drama, and live music that led to the creation of movies. Join us for a free public performance at Central Middle School's auditorium on Friday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct
31
Halloween at the Muscatine Art Center
Drop in on your Trick-Or-Treat route for a Halloween snack and a craft you can take home. Come find us on the front porch of the historic Musser Mansion, 1314 Mulberry Avenue, Muscatine. Free. No registration required.
Nov
9
Voicing a Cause, Voicing a Self: Jane Addams at the Hull House
History presenter Helen Lewis, who portrays Jane Addams for the Great Plains Chatauqua Society, will give a free program on Jane Addams and the Hull House in full period costume in the Muscatine Art Center's Music Room.
Nov
21
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker
Combine the ocean and deep space by painting this whimsical watercolor whale with a dazzling star background. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. ID 6613
Nov
14
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker
Bring this happy sea turtle to life with calming ocean watercolors. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. ID 6612
Oct
31
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker
Capture the beautiful colors of fall in this serene scene of a covered bridge. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. ID 6611
Oct
24
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker
Feel festive for fall with these beautiful watercolor pumpkins! Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. ID 6610
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.
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
Nov
2
Drop-In 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.
Nov
7
First Thursday with Katy Loos
Hate the harsh chemicals and expensive price tag on all your household cleaners? Want to reduce the usage of off those plastic containers? We do too! Join Katy for a "learning" DIY class! You'll learn how to make some of your own household cleaners using common, natural ingredients. Attendees will receive instructions and printed tips on where and how to buy ingredients. Plus, choose a sample of one to take home!* Fee is $15.00 or $13.50 for Friends members. ID 6615
Oct
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).
Oct
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).
Oct
12
Iowa History 101 Mobile Museum in Muscatine - October 12th & 13th, 2019
If you can't make it to the State Historical Museum of Iowa in Des Moines, why not let it come to Muscatine? That's the idea behind the State Historical Society of Iowa's "Iowa History 101" mobile museum, a bright blue, custom-built Winnebago that travels the state's highways and back roads to share stories from the past. The museum on wheels currently houses a 300-square-foot exhibition called "Iowa History 101" and is filled with artifacts from the State Historical Society's collection. The mobile museum will visit the Muscatine Art Center from Thursday, October 10th through Sunday, October 13th, and will be parked in our Cedar Street parking lot for easy access. Free tours are available during the mobile museum’s open hours, which are Wednesday and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. More information is available by contacting the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
Oct
11
Iowa History 101 Mobile Museum in Muscatine - October 11, 2019
If you can't make it to the State Historical Museum of Iowa in Des Moines, why not let it come to Muscatine? That's the idea behind the State Historical Society of Iowa's "Iowa History 101" mobile museum, a bright blue, custom-built Winnebago that travels the state's highways and back roads to share stories from the past. The museum on wheels currently houses a 300-square-foot exhibition called "Iowa History 101" and is filled with artifacts from the State Historical Society's collection. The mobile museum will visit the Muscatine Art Center from Thursday, October 10th through Sunday, October 13th, and will be parked in our Cedar Street parking lot for easy access. Free tours are available during the mobile museum’s open hours, which are Wednesday and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. More information is available by contacting the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
Oct
10
Iowa History 101 Mobile Museum in Muscatine - October 10, 2019
If you can't make it to the State Historical Museum of Iowa in Des Moines, why not let it come to Muscatine? That's the idea behind the State Historical Society of Iowa's "Iowa History 101" mobile museum, a bright blue, custom-built Winnebago that travels the state's highways and back roads to share stories from the past. The museum on wheels currently houses a 300-square-foot exhibition called "Iowa History 101" and is filled with artifacts from the State Historical Society's collection. The mobile museum will visit the Muscatine Art Center from Thursday, October 10th through Sunday, October 13th, and will be parked in our Cedar Street parking lot for easy access. Free tours are available during the mobile museum’s open hours, which are Wednesday and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. More information is available by contacting the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
Oct
24
Booked on Art
Booked on Art October Meet Up Thursday, October 24, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the Muscatine Art Center Music Room.
Nov
15
Holiday Open House
Returning this year is the Friends of the Muscatine Art Center’s Heartfelt and Handmade Ornament Competition and the Holiday Pop-Up Shop. All ornaments are on view from November 15th through December 15th. The shop is open from November 15th through January 5th. The season kicks off with the Holiday Open House on Friday, November 15th from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets include two drink tickets and are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $10 for children 18 and under. Enjoy live music, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction / ornament sale.
