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
Jul
12
"Till Death" Fundraiser - July 12th
"Till Death" Fundraiser takes place over the weekend of July 10th, 11th and 12th. Friday and Saturday features a dinner catered by Geneva Country Club. The Rendezvous will cater Sunday Brunch. To accommodate physical distancing, this event will be spread out, making use of indoor and outdoor spaces at the Muscatine Art Center. All proceeds benefit Friends of the Muscatine Art Center and their mission to support educational programs at the Muscatine Art Center. Sunday brunch features live music by Joey Peate following the meal. The performance will be held on the main lawn. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for the performance. Tickets are $35 per person.
Jul
10
"Till Death" Fundraiser - July 10th
"Till Death" Fundraiser takes place over the weekend of July 10th, 11th and 12th. Friday and Saturday features a dinner catered by Geneva Country Club. The Rendezvous will cater Sunday Brunch. To accommodate physical distancing, this event will be spread out, making use of indoor and outdoor spaces at the Muscatine Art Center. All proceeds benefit Friends of the Muscatine Art Center and their mission to support educational programs at the Muscatine Art Center. Friday night features wedding and love song music during dinner with DJ Calvin Lloyd. Tickets are $50 per person.
Jul
11
"Till Death" Fundraiser - July 11th
"Till Death" Fundraiser takes place over the weekend of July 10th, 11th and 12th. Friday and Saturday features a dinner catered by Geneva Country Club. The Rendezvous will cater Sunday Brunch. To accommodate physical distancing, this event will be spread out, making use of indoor and outdoor spaces at the Muscatine Art Center. All proceeds benefit Friends of the Muscatine Art Center and their mission to support educational programs at the Muscatine Art Center. Saturday night features live music by Joey Peate following dinner. The performance will be held on the main lawn. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for the performance. Tickets are $50 per person.
Jun
25
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Pretty Poppies Watercolor June 25th
Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Kits and video instructions can be provided to those who do not wish to attend in person. Call the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282 for more details.
Aug
13
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Acrylic Painting on Garden Flag August 13th
Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more updates.
Jul
9
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Garden Bath Time Watercolor July 9th
Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more updates.
Jun
22
Shadow Puppet Workshop with Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company
Virtual shadow puppet workshop with Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company, June 22nd, June 24th, June 26th, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Jun
1
JUNE EVENTS
Check flyer below for information on what is happening at the Muscatine Art Center during the month of June. Some sessions have been recorded and can be viewed online. Call us at 563-263-8282 for more information on classes and programming.
Jul
16
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Paper Napkin Necklace Pendant July 16th
Make your own unique necklace pendant with graphics from a paper napkin and silver jewelry findings. Chain included. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more updates.
Aug
20
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker- Serenity on the Sea Watercolor August 20
Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more updates.
Jul
1
JULY EVENTS
Check flyer below for information on what is happening at the Muscatine Art Center during the month of July. Some sessions have been recorded and can be viewed online. Call us at 563-263-8282 for more information on classes and programming.
Aug
1
AUGUST EVENTS
Check flyer below for information on what is happening at the Muscatine Art Center during the month of August. Some sessions have been recorded and can be viewed online. Call us at 563-263-8282 for more information on classes and programming.
Jul
30
Creative Sessions: Bookmaking July 30
Creative Sessions are free and open to cancer survivors, patients, and their support team. Brian Allen from the Figge Art Museum leads this session which will be held Thursday, July 30th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Advance registration required. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more information closer to the class.
Jun
27
Virtual Kids' Saturday Workshop - Antoni Gaudi June 27
Join Julie Lear to celebrate architect Antoni Gaudi's birthday by making whimsical sand castles in the style of Gaudi. Free. Register by June 26th. This will be a pre-recorded video. See below for details.
Feb
15
Take & Make Art
*UPDATE 6/16/2020: The Take & Make program is back. Our weekend hours are Saturday/Sunday 1-4 pm. Please wear a mask while in the building.* Need something to do on the weekend? Stop by the Muscatine Art Center and grab a Take & Make project! Every Saturday and Sunday during open hours.
Jul
2
Online Only - First Thursday with Katy Loos
This class will be pre-recorded and shared on the Muscatine Art Center's Facebook page and YouTube channel on the first Thursday of the month. See below for supplies needed.
Jul
5
Online Only - Mini Masters Wednesday Morning
UPDATE 6/1/2020: There will be no in-person Mini Masters on Wednesday mornings for the immediate future. Go to the Muscatine Art Center Mini Masters Facebook page to watch the weekly videos, and view other content related to tots. Check back with us for updates and other cancellations.
Jul
5
SUSPENDED- Mini Masters Thursday Afternoon
UPDATE 6/13/2020: There will be no Mini Masters on Thursday afternoon for the immediate future. Check back with us for updates and other cancellations. 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).
