Milwaukee Art Museum
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The Milwaukee Art Museum is one of the country's largest art museums, and it is located along Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Art Association first opened the museum in 1888, and it was created by a collaboration between German panorama artists and business owners. Originally, the museum was known as the Layton Art Gallery, then the Milwaukee Art Institute, and then the Milwaukee Art Center before it transformed into today's Milwaukee Art Museum.
The exterior of the museum is known for its movable wing structure, a "brise soleil," that has its own wind sensors that automatically close the wings when winds reach 23 mph. The museum is also known for its 25,000 works of art, including vast collections by Georgia O'Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas, Andy Warhol, and many others.
How to Get There
The Milwaukee Art Museum can be accessed by car, bus, or foot when you take the Reiman Bridge, a pedestrian bridge that connects the museum to the downtown area. Milwaukee County Transit buses make stops within two blocks of the museum frequently, and there are Amtrak trains that run to and from Milwaukee and Chicago daily downtown.
Rent an RV For Your Visit to Milwaukee Art Museum
Visit Milwaukee Art Museum
The best time to visit this museum are the days when the winds are low so that you can see the building's wings outside. Inside, you should also take extra time to see the museum's Georgia O'Keeffe collection, which is the largest collection of this artist's work in the world. Additional collections that the museum holds are contemporary installation art, European Baroque painting and sculpture, European and American folk art, 20th-century Haitian art, and French prints from 1600 to 1900.
Ticket Information
General admission for individuals 12 years and up at this museum is $22 per day. For students, military members and veterans, and seniors over 65, admission is discounted to $17 per day. For children under 12 and any Wisconsin K-12 teachers, admission to the museum is free. To receive a discount or free admission, except for children's admission, be sure to bring a valid school, military, or other valid state-issued ID to the entrance. All tickets may be bought online before your visit through the museum's official website.
Special tickets are available for groups of 10 or more who want to explore the museum with a tour guide or alone. Group rates are $16 per adult and $5 per child under 17. Plus, you can reserve a tour guide for $25 when you book your tickets six to eight weeks in advance. Self-guided groups of 10 or more are also asked to reserve their tickets at least four weeks in advance.
For those who own or purchase a Milwaukee Art Museum membership, admission to the museum is free for every year that their membership is active. Members also get a 20% discount on parking at the museum, a 10% discount on museum shopping and dining options, and special preview opportunities for new exhibits.
Family-Friendly Options
Families or groups with children can especially enjoy Kohl's Art Studio at the Milwaukee Art Museum, which is accessible with general admission. This studio is a public space that is open on Saturdays and Sundays from opening to 4 p.m., and it offers art-making activities in which visitors can participate on a drop-in basis. Most activities are based on current exhibits and may rotate seasonally.
Another popular event for families to check out at the museum is Story Time in the Galleries, which is held at specified times monthly. During this event, guests of all ages can walk with a tour guide who reads a storybook about a piece of art and then encourages guests to create a drawing based on the story.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
When you visit the museum, start at the entrance level to see the European and Contemporary exhibits first. From there, head up to the Level 1 Mezzanine to view folk and Haitian art, and then check out the top level to see modern art exhibits. Lastly, head down to the lower level to view the photography exhibits and spend some time in the café before you leave. You may also take photos anywhere in the museum as long as you do not use flash, and you can always ask the front desk when drop-in guided tours will be taking place to tour certain exhibits with other visitors.
Milwaukee Art Museum Accommodations
Campgrounds Nearby
A list of campgrounds in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area wouldn’t be complete without Wisconsin State Fair RV Park, which is only half a mile from downtown Milwaukee. Located at the state fairgrounds, the RV park is open year-round and a great place to camp while you’re touring Milwaukee’s many urban attractions. The Milwaukee County Zoo and Mayfair shopping mall are just a couple of the nearby places to check out.
One of the better RV parks near Milwaukee for family vacations is Jellystone Park Caledonia. Located a couple of miles off Interstate 94 about 15 miles south of downtown Milwaukee, it’s a prime location for touring Milwaukee’s urban attractions when you don’t feel like staying at the resort. Jellystone Park Caledonia is part of the Yogi Bear Jellystone Park franchise.
Located in the heart of Racine’s countryside, Cliffside County Park Campground offers the right setting to create a relaxed and rejuveting getaway. This park comprises more than 230 acres filled with all types of mature tive trees and grassy campsites to stretch out on. Modern amenities such as warm showers, sinks, and flushing toilets are available.
Activities Near Milwaukee Art Museum
Things to Do
Museums
Many other museums are located within walking distance of the Milwaukee Art Museum, including the Betty Brinn Children's Museum and the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center. You can also walk just outside of the museum area to see the city's Abraham Lincoln Statue and the Cudahy Gardens.
Parks
For outdoor sightseeing, be sure to walk over to Juneau Park, a nearly 16-acre city park with many statues and a historic cabin. You may also access the Oak Leaf Trail system from this park, which takes trail users to points of interest like Lincoln Beach and Veterans Park.
National Sites
Weather, Safety & Accessibility
Weather & Packing
Visitors can enjoy the Milwaukee Art Museum during all seasons regardless of weather conditions since nearly all the exhibits are inside. However, the museum's outdoor Burke Brise Soleil, also known as the wings, only opens when weather and wind speeds permit, so those hoping to view this piece of architecture should plan their visit accordingly.
This museum offers lockers to all visitors for an added fee, so you can store umbrellas, jackets, and coats while you visit. Carrying umbrellas throughout the museum is not allowed.
Safety & Accessibility
In the event of a medical emergency, museum staff should be immediately notified so that first aid can be administered. For those who use wheelchairs or strollers, there are multiple elevators found throughout the building. There are also manual wheelchairs available for guests at the front desk.
Service animals are allowed in the museum, and audio guides are available for all guests to use on their own mobile devices with their own headphones. There are also family and gender-neutral restrooms available on the Café and Entrance levels of the building.
Conclusion
The Milwaukee Art Museum is a great destination for art and history buffs, and it offers family-friendly activities for children to enjoy. This art museum is just one of the many top art museums in the U.S. that can show you what local and international artists have to offer.
FAQ
You can camp with an RV in Milwaukee at the Wisconsin State Fair RV Park, which is open year-round. This campground offers full hookups to campers plus access to shower facilities.
Large RVs may not be able to park in the parking garage at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Instead, visitors should plan on parking off-site and taking a bus or ride-share to the museum.
Visitors should know that all backpacks and large purses are not allowed within the museum, so plan to leave your bags behind or use a locker provided by the museum. Visitors with children should also keep in mind that Kohl's Art Studio space is only open on the weekends.
The Milwaukee Art Museum welcomes visitors of all ages, and it provides family-friendly events and activities for guests each week, specifically on weekends. This museum requests that all children be accompanied by an adult at all times and that no one touches the artwork in the galleries.
This museum does not permit pets in the building, although service animals are welcome.