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
Jul
18
Footliters Traveling Playhouse - "The School for Spies" Final Performance - July 18 DOORS OPEN AT 6 PM!
The Muscatine community is invited to a free performance of The School for Spies, an original musical featuring local talent. From July 14 through July 18, area kids ages 7 to 18, auditioned, rehearsed, and will perform the musical alongside three professional teaching artists. The School for Spies is a brand-new production with a script from Katie Colletta and original music by Jason Sifford. The theater camp was organized by the Footliters Traveling Playhouse, part of the Coralville Center for Performing Arts. The camp was offered at no cost, thanks to the support of Quad City Arts, through the Arts Dollars re-granting program, supported by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency, The Hubbel-Waterman Foundation, and the Quad Cities Community Foundation - Isabel Bloom Art Education Endowment.
Jul
27
Red Barn Studio - Loose Brush Technique - July 27
Learn to paint beautiful watercolors using various techniques and learned skills. Follow along as artist Vada Baker guides participants through each step of the painting process, adding your own flair as you go. All supplies included. No experience necessary. Advanced registration required by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282. *FEES MUST BE PAID AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION*
Jul
31
Dried Flower Creations with Bonnie Buelt - July 31
Join flower expert and floral artist Bonnie Buelt of Island Floral to learn how to cut, dry, arrange, and preserve flowers from your garden. Participants will see a variety of techniques and finished design options for wreathmaking, wedding bouquets, and floral décor, and will make their own small dried arrangement to take home with them. Register by July 29 by calling (563) 263-8282. Fees are $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members.
Jul
26
Talking Art: Learning to Look - Saturdays, July 26, August 30, and September 27
Join artist Carol J. Anthony for this salon-inspired gathering. Through guided discussion, explore original works of art and strengthen your abilities to analyze and decipher art and the intent of the maker. This workshop will offer peer support to learn to look and discuss components of the artistic process. Beginning and established artists interested in developing constructive critique skills, as well as general art lovers, are invited to participate. No prior experience is necessary. Each session will begin by spotlighting a few works in the Muscatine Art Center’s permanent collection. Artists are encouraged to bring in a completed work of art or a work in progress for discussion of the critique elements that could be applied to their own works of art. Please register by the Thursday prior to the Saturday session by calling (563) 263-8282. Fees are $15 or $10 for Friends Members.
Jul
12
Artist Workshops for Kids with Miss Julie - "Dubuffet's Dogs" - July 12
This free class is open to kids ages 7 to 14 and their families. Please register by July 10 by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
Jul
22
"DRAGONS" - Mini Art Camp with Mary Alice Sessler & Nancy Foxen - July 23-26, Ages 8+
Art teachers Mary Alice Sessler and Nancy Foxen are at it again! This dynamic duo is back this summer with fun projects every day! You do not need to attend every day of camp, but the projects are meant to build skills and technique for the culminating activity. Call the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282 to sign up by July 22.
Jul
14
"The School for Spies" Theatre Camp with Footliters Traveling Playhouse- July 14-18, 2025
Footliters Traveling Playhouse is back this summer with another FREE musical camp for kids! This year the musical is "The School for Spies!" Camp is intended for kids ages 7-18 of any theatre experience. The weeklong camp and final performance will be held at the Muscatine High School. Contact Rachael at the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282 or rmullins@muscatineiowa.gov to register today!
Jun
29
Friends of the Muscatine Art Center Annual Ice Cream Social - June 29
Enjoy live music, games, crafts, ice cream...and SO much more! See below for details of the afternoon.
Jun
25
Save the Date: Jim Burr Historic Preservation Brew Night - June 25
Gather with the Muscatine Art Center staff, volunteers, and supporters, along with Jim's family and friends, to honor Jim's memory. Enjoy a "Jim Burr Preservation" Brew and purchase a collectible can to take home. Join us at Contrary Brewing, 411 West Mississippi Drive.
Jun
27
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.
Jun
27
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.
