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
Apr
25
Red Barn Studio - Frilly Flowers Greeting Cards - April 26th
Learn to use this daubing technique to paint loose watercolor flowers. Add petals, leaves, and details with black pen. Each participant will create two unique greeting cards. No experience is necessary. Register by April 24.
Apr
18
Lincoln & Iowa's First Soldiers - April 18th
Browse the Muscatine & the Civil War exhibition and enhance your understanding of the life of Abraham Lincoln and the activation of units from Iowa to serve in the early war efforts. At 1:15 p.m., Lee Williams will portray Abraham Lincoln, emphasizing his character, humility, humor, determination, and compassion. Get a glimpse of Lincoln’s childhood, young manhood, career as a lawyer and statesman, and his presidency. At 2:30 p.m. author Dr. Randee Fieselmann’s presentation will open with a performance by Bob and Kristie Blake. A banjo player, Blake has recorded two songs made famous by the First Iowa Infantry. Then, Fieselmann will present on the First Iowa Infantry in a program based on her recently published book, The Union First: Community and Commitment in the First Iowa Infantry, which describes the very first young men from Iowa to enlist in the Civil War and their commitments to reunite the Union. Fieselmann has spent the last seven years researching the history of the First Iowa Infantry. Following the presentation, Fieselmann will sign copies of her book. More details about the book are available at www.theunionfirst.com. Books will be available for purchase at the Muscatine Art Center. No registration is required for either of these free programs. Parking is available in our Cedar Street lot or along Mulberry Avenue.
Apr
12
Projects to Go - "Celebrate Spring Take & Makes", available April 12 - 19
Visit the Muscatine Art Center during open hours to pick up a Take & Make bag with supplies to create Spring-themed crafts. Bags are free while supplies last.
Apr
25
Reading & Book Signing with Local Author Frank Kelly - April 25th
When he asked about family roots, Frank Kelly was told to let sleeping dogs lie, since his heritage was littered with horse thieves and rascals. In retirement, Frank researched the story of the immigrant who is the basis for this historical novel. The result is An Irish Dream, which follows Michael Patrick Kelly, a man of wealth who experiences loss as the people he loves in his impoverished corner of Ireland are taken away from him and starvation covers the land. Young Michael Patrick is determined to prosper and become a man of substance and prestige while he also pursues romance and friendship as “the great hunger” brings horror to all of Ireland. Drawing from deep historical research and personal family narratives, Kelly brings emotional depth and vivid detail to the struggles and resilience of 19th-century Irish life. Copies of An Irish Dream: Feast and Famine will be available to purchase at the book signing. The book is the first in a trilogy following the Kelly clan. Frank, who lives across from the Muscatine Art Center, and his wife Diane are both dedicated volunteers at the Art Center.
Apr
21
Bilingual Mini Masters Third Tuesdays @ 10:30 a.m. - April 21, 2026
The new Bilingual Mini Masters is a free class in partnership with the Diversity Service Center of Iowa to provide Spanish language translations. Classes are offered the third Tuesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. These sessions mirror the original Mini Masters classes with a storybook reading and art projects, but will provide the story and all instructions in both English and Spanish. These classes are free with no registration required.
Apr
9
Iris Scott Dogs with Miss Heather - Ages 9+
Learn fun ways to draw and paint dogs as they shake and move. This class explores movement, the art of Iris Scott and her method of mixing and blending paints by fingerpainting. Come get messy and leave with a fun animal painting. Register by April 7.
Apr
4
Adult Studio: Sakura with Brianna Rivers
Paint these delicate cherry blossoms, a beloved sign of spring, using acrylic paints. All supplies provided and no experience is necessary. Register by April 2. Fees are $20 or $17.50 for Friends Members.
Mar
28
Artist Workshops for Kids with Miss Julie - Civil War Craft - March 28
Children’s silhouettes were popular during the Civil War era, as an affordable and quick way to capture likenesses, with many remaining as the only portraits of individuals - including children - from that time. Participants will submit a child’s portrait in profile by email when they register. Register by March 26.
Mar
29
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker- Gold Leaf Koi Pond - March 29
Follow along as artist Vada Baker guides participants through each step of the watercolor process to create their own Koi Pond. Classic brush technique and gold foil will be used. Supplies are included and no experience is necessary. Class size is limited, so no walk-ins will be allowed. Register by March 27.
Mar
28
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.
Mar
28
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!
Mar
28
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.
