Muskegon Museum of Art

I recently saw a post on Facebook from a local news outlet that the Muskegon Museum of Art had an exhibit of some of the costumes from the show Downton Abbey, so I made a plan to check it out with Nate while in the area camping.

We arrived about 45 minutes before they closed and got in to the museum right away. I would say that this museum is small but mighty, with plenty to see packed into a tidy footprint. The Downton Abbey exhibit was cool to experience, although I wish it had some more interactive elements. The costumes are so detailed and ornate, and it was fun to see them up close.

The rest of the gallery was interesting, with all kinds of art from traditional to more modern. I especially loved the Measure Twice: Sculptures of Ted Lott exhibit, with ornate building-like structures built into household items like side tables, chairs, and vintage suitcases. I don't think I'd come here every time I'm in Muskegon, but it was a fun stop while we were in town and I'm glad we went!

A wonderful museum with a delightful collection ranging from medieval to modern. The staff is very friendly & helpful.

Ah! We came to see the Dressing the Abbey exhibit, because we thought it was free. This part of the museum was not free on Thursday. However, it was worth the 15 dollars to pay to see the exhibit. My mom and sister and I love this show. We could not believe there was an exhibit with some of the clothes, furniture and art from the show, while we happened to be here in Muskegon, MI! The dresses were so pretty and detailed. The guard told us some dresses were made by costume designers, and some were original period pieces. He also told us that the clothes were not allowed to be washed, for fear they would fall apart and disintegrate. Which meant the actors had to wear the same clothes over and over and they got very stinky. I thought this was a great fun fact. The other art in the building was nice. It's not a big museum but, it was worth it to go.

A very nice museum which is very well lit. It was a very nice Atmosphere.

Not the largest of museums, however it was well done. They had some very nice exhibits. I didn't recognize any of the names but they were nice pieces.

The price is fair at $10 and the staff is super helpful.

Overall a solid 4 stars. Would I return? I think I would. On a side note I like the design of this gallery much better than Grand Rapids Gallery.

Small but expanding. Sounds as if they will have plenty of art for the space & it could be rotated in and out.

We enjoyed the pieces and it was a pleasant hour or so. Please don't begrudge them the entrance fee--this will be larger soon.

Very nice museum, which is surprising for such a small town. The museum is well organized and has a solid revolving display list. Membership prices are reasonable, so we bought a family membership and come for an hour visit every time there is something new to see. Because it is a small museum, it doesn't take long to see everything, but that's the nice thing about being a member and coming again and again. The gift shop is also nice, with lots of options for kids and local gifts. Parking is accessible and very easy to access. They seem to host a variety of events throughout the year and I am excited to continue checking them out.

I recently took my 12 year old son for a visit. We spent about an hour at the museum and both thoroughly enjoyed it! Free parking lot behind the building. We entered in the back. The woman working in the gift shop gave us a great overview of the museum. Her enthusiasm for the art was infectious. There is a water feature in the main lobby which creates such a nice atmosphere! My son got to see 4 pieces by his favorite artist, Picasso. Picture is of him with his favorite piece in the museum.

Muskegon Museum of Art is the most beautiful, impressive art museum I've been to in the state of Michigan (I'm counting the Detroit Institute of Art on that list as well and the MMA beats it, hands down). The permanent collection is bigger than one can imagine and they switch it up regularly. The special exhibits are to die for. They always have cutting edge, stunning works. And the people!! I can't begin to say enough about them. Incredible, kind, friendly...exactly the type of wonderful people you come to expect to find in Muskegon. Charles Hackley left an endowment to the museum and they use that very well, purchasing and curating a beautiful collection. (Insiders note: in the permanent collection, there is a number and year on each plaque. These indicate the year purchased and the number in that year purchased. ie 5/1894. Gives even more impact, to me, of how dear Charles Hackley's endowment is to the city he loved.) There is also a lovely gift shop with lots of unique things and the programs they offer are wonderful. The MMA is the embodiment of the grace and beauty of Muskegon.

Very beautiful place! You can just feel the history when you're here! I do recommend stopping bye and seeing the art this place has to offer.

Small, but very nicely done for a smaller town. Loved the display of Geary Jones frame weavings, which were fantastically original and creative. Too bad a few of the galleries were closed down.