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
Dec
10
Sant-O-Rama - December 10
Get into the Holiday spirit! Drop in Sunday, December 10 between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. to create Santa related crafts with Miss Julie in the Musser Mansion. There is no fee to participate in this workshop and no registration is required.
Dec
7
Holiday Open House - December 7, 2023
Join the fun on December 7th and be among the first to purchase ornaments from the competition and enjoy live music, hors d’oeuvres, and wine/beer. Explore the historic house decked out for the holidays!
Dec
25
Closed for Christmas December 25 & 26
The Muscatine Art Center will be closed Sunday, December 25 and Monday, December 26 in observance of Christmas. We will reopen Tuesday, December 27 at 10:00 a.m.
Dec
31
Closed for New Year's December 31 & January 1
The Muscatine Art Center will be closed Sunday, December 31 and Monday, January 1 in observance of New Year's. We will reopen Tuesday, January 2 at 10:00 a.m.
Nov
23
Closed for Thanksgiving November 23 & 24
The Muscatine Art Center will be closed November 23 & 24 in observance of Thanksgiving. We will reopen November 25 at 1:00 p.m.
Nov
1
NOVEMBER EVENTS
Check flyer below for at-a-glance information on what is happening at the Muscatine Art Center during the month of November. Call us at 563-263-8282 for more information on classes, programming, and to sign up.
Dec
9
Wire People with Miss Heather - December 9 - Ages 9+
Pleasant Valley School District art educator Heather Seibel will lead this FREE kids class where kids will create a figure using wire. Call 563-263-8282 to sign up.
Nov
19
Red Barn Studio - Butterfly Button Mosaic - November 19
This fall, join artist Vada Baker to create unique mosaics using pearl and vintage hand-dyed buttons, beads, and gems. Advanced registration required by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
Dec
10
Red Barn Studio - Snowman Button Mosaic - December 10
This fall, join artist Vada Baker to create unique mosaics using pearl and vintage hand-dyed buttons, beads, and gems. Advanced registration required by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
Dec
2
Gingerbread House Workshops - December 2, 1:30 pm & 3:00 pm
A family favorite is back! Miss Julie will lead this special workshop where participants can build and decorate their own made-from-scratch gingerbread house! Workshops will be held at 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Call 563-263-8282 to register. Fee is $12 per house. More details below.
Nov
18
Artist Workshops for Kids - Georgia O'Keeffe Painting - November 18
Take a journey to the deserts of the Southwest and paint a landscape in the style of Georgia O'Keeffe. Top it off with a 3D clay cow skull like the ones she painted in her beloved New Mexico. This free class is open to kids ages 7 to 14 and their families. Please register by November 17 by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
Dec
10
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. See below for updated calendar.
Dec
10
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.
Nov
30
Adult Studio- Pen & Ink Drawing with Heather Seibel - November 30 (NEW DATE)
Pleasant Valley School District art educator Heather Seibel leads this class. Explore pen and ink techniques while documenting your favorite memories and experiences in a post card-sized format! The small layout allows for multiple mini artworks if you are a fast worker. No experience necessary. All supplies included. Class fees are $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Call 563-263-8282 to sign up.
