Of the many things to do
in Nebraska, the Joslyn Art Museum is one of the best attractions
for art lovers. This standout Omaha
art museum boasts an immense collection that’s housed in one of Nebraska’s most
memorable works of architecture. The Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha is simply a
magnificent structure that mixes an Art Deco style with various Native America
themes. As such, this is the type of place where one can easily lose hours on
end, gazing at the wondrous art on display, or simply wandering around the building
and taking it easy in the café.
The Joslyn Art Museum dates back to 1931, when Sarah Joslyn opened it as a gift to the people in the name of her husband, the late George Joslyn. Since then, it has acquired numerous highly-desired works of art, and today visitors can view pieces by such masters as El Greco, Claude Monet, Jackson Pollack, and Lorenzo di Credi. Such pieces are owned outright by this Omaha Art Museum, and as such its permanent collections prove a veritable joy. These exhibitions include one focused on greek pottery, another showcasing Romantic, Realist, and Impressionist work from the nineteenth century, and one dedicated to the twentieth century’s leading artists, from Matisse to Pollack, Segal and Wesselmann.
The Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha is also renowned from its collection of Native
American and Western American art. The work of Karl Bodmer proves a particular
delight form the latter category; his watercolors detail a journey through the
iconic plains to the Missouri river frontier.
There’s an excellent, and recently renovated, sculpture garden at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha that proves an abiding favorite among visitors. Alongside the indoor spaces (which include a 1,000-seat auditorium), this garden is home to many events throughout the year, with the Joslyn Art Museum proving a mainstay on the Nebraska events calendar. Whether you’re here for the art, an event, or an educational program, make sure to save half an hour for a coffee as the museum’s café offers a great spot in which to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
The Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha is open all year round, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday, and midday to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Visiting times do vary on holidays, however, so it’s worth phoning ahead to check if your visit falls on one such day. An admission charge is applicable, although it comes in at under ten bucks, which really isn’t bad considering what’s on display. Concessions apply to large groups, senior citizens, and students, while kids aged four and under get in free.
Aside from this Omaha art museum, there are numerous other museums in the state
that are more than worth a visit. The Lincoln Children’s Museum in Lincoln
is great for children; it offers interactive exhibits where they can pretend
to be anything from a doctor to a radio personality. The Strategic Air and Space
Museum in Ashland also comes
high on many visitors lists of top attractions
in Nebraska. Here you can view full-size bombers in massive hangers, and
learn a fair bit about the bombs that so marked the battleground during World
War II. Other museums, such as the Museum of the Fur Trade, are a little further
a field; car rental proves
the best form of transport when looking to visit them in a day.