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MUNSON

Discover art, history and culture in the heart of Utica at MUNSON. The cultural institution brings together a renowned art museum, historic Fountain Elms mansion, performing arts and educational programs, making it a must-see destination in the Mohawk Valley.

About this Attraction
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    The Museum

    MUNSON’s Museum of Art features a renowned collection spanning American art from the 18th century to the present, along with rotating exhibitions and special programs. The museum’s collection includes paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, works on paper and prints.

    The museum is housed in an International-style building designed by architect Philip Johnson, which opened in 1960. Its expansive galleries provide a striking setting for both the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.

    A large, rectangular modern building with tall, smooth concrete walls, small windows, and a staircase leading to a dark entrance stands surrounded by grass and a low hedge under a partly cloudy sky, reminiscent of the striking architecture found near Onondaga Lake State Park.

    The Collection

    MUNSON’s American art collection features works by artists including Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, Asher B. Durand, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and Louise Bourgeois. Highlights include Thomas Cole’s The Voyage of Life, a four-part series painted in 1839–40, as well as significant collections of American modern and contemporary art.

    The museum also houses an extensive collection of American decorative arts, including furniture, pottery, glass, silver and other objects from the 19th century.

    Spacious Munson art museum lobby with a central staircase, sculptures on the floor, paintings on the walls, and a large Shadow of the Sphinx exhibit banner above the stairs. Two people view the art.

    Step Inside Fountain Elms

    Next to the Museum of Art, Fountain Elms offers a glimpse into 19th-century Utica. The Italianate mansion was built between 1850 and 1852 for Helen and James Watson Williams and is now home to decorative arts collections, period rooms and changing exhibitions.

    Visitors can explore rooms furnished to reflect the high-style interiors of the 1850s while viewing paintings, furniture and decorative objects from the museum’s collection.

    Ornate Victorian-style living room with two purple chairs, a marble fireplace, gold-framed mirror, patterned wallpaper, elaborate carpet, chandelier, and a view into a bedroom with a canopy bed—capturing the timeless elegance often found in Munson-inspired interiors.

    Plan Your Visit

    General admission to the Museum of Art is free year-round, unless otherwise noted for special exhibitions or events. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Mondays.

    Free parking is available behind the Museum of Art, accessible from State Street. Visitors can also stop by the Museum Shop for books, jewelry, home décor, toys and other gifts.

    Where is Munson?

    310 Genesee Street
    Utica, NY 13502

    Directions

    Take Amtrak to MUNSON

    Experience MUNSON via Amtrak to Utica Station (UCA). The historic station at 321 Main Street is served by Empire Service, Maple Leaf and Lake Shore Limited trains, connecting Utica with destinations throughout New York and beyond.

    MUNSON is approximately one mile from the Utica Amtrak Station at 310 Genesee Street. From the station, visitors can take a short taxi or rideshare trip to the museum, or walk through downtown Utica.

    Don’t forget to use Amtrak’s See New York and Save 15% discount!

    Get 15% Off