Blown away by this unassuming, unexpected gem hiding in the US Midwest; holds up against world-renowned art destinations. The Impressionist collection alone would be worth an admission fee but it’s free. A can’t miss for real.

We spent three hours here on a Sunday afternoon in early September. We walked all around and say everything except the photography exhibit which was temporarily under wraps. Some rooms were cool in temperature and some were just regular air temperature. The Beautiful Disruption special interactive activity was not at all worth it. We had to return a few days later in the early morning to walk around the sculpture park outside, which was neat, because it was way too hot on Sunday and much cooler later.

I can’t say enough about how amazing this museum is. My family had been to a concert the night before. We wanted something fun to do before going home that afternoon. The weather forced us to stay indoors, so we chose this museum. We were so happy with our decision. After 3 hours we had toured most of the main floor. We never made it to other areas. When we arrived the person at the counter asked us a few questions and suggested we wait to buy tickets to the special exhibit since it was our first time visiting. He told us that we could purchase tickets at the entrance to the exhibit if we wanted to. He was so right! There is so much to see. I do wish that it was a little more kid-friendly. We love visiting museums and my kids know how to behave in these settings. Our 10 year old was asked to not do this or that a couple of times before attaching herself to me. I never thought anything of what she was doing. I understand they have a tremendous responsibility to care for this art. It might be a good idea to be more clear about their expectations for patrons. A sign or two would probably do the trick. We are already planning a trip back to Kansas City just for this museum!

We came to visit the special Monet exhibit and were pleasantly surprised by the Evelyn Hofer exhibit which was included. The Monet exhibit could have had more of his works owned by the museum, but it was still nice. Water lilies are always great to see. This museum is a must see. (FYI We’ve been watching for Wayne Thibaud’s Star Boat to reappear in the modern art area. Guess we are still waiting )

The Nelson should be at the top of your list when visiting Kansas City. I have been multiple times and it never disappoints! There is a lot to see both inside and outside! The mini golf course is a must when it’s available and the holes are replica of famous pieces in the museum.

Had a great Sunday late morning visiting the Nelson-Atkins art museum. It was free and they had a Festival of India program happening during my visit with lots of performances and activities. The exhibits were all interesting and I enjoyed walking through all the different sections. Friendly museum staff as well. It was a pleasant visit.

How had I not known about this world-class museum? Seriously. A heartbreaking Caravaggio that yanks you in from the hallway like a magnet. Outstanding collection of impressionists and post-impressionists. Greek and Roman sculptures. A few bell ringers by painters like Cranach the Elder. A fragment of a Bosch. Warm and welcoming staff. Although there were lots of school children, they were all respectful and engaged. The museum is free, though parking was $14. Totally worth it.

We spent four hours, including a delightful lunch at the museum cafe, and we could have stayed longer. This free museum is one of the best in the mid-west, if not the country! There’s something for everyone, including the lovely landscaped grounds. Tip—To avoid $14 charge for museum parking, get there when it opens at 10 am on the weekend & you’ll find lots of free street parking and in lots across the street.

Wow, I am truly blown away by how cool this museum is. My friend group and I spent a good chunk of time here and we could’ve stayed even longer. The museum itself is just stunning. Really cannot recommend it enough and all of the sections are just amazing.

We only went to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to see the outdoor sculpture garden including the Oldenberg giant shuttlecocks (4 of them on the grounds). There is metered street parking nearby and you can wander on to the grounds without any fee. There are many sculptures beyond the Shuttlecocks and a nice easily accessible path to follow. The grounds also have a mini golf course and a food vendor.