Joslyn Art Museum – Top Free Thing To Do In Omaha For Art & Architecture
Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha features 12,000+ works of art, sculpture gardens, and award-winning spaces. Admission is free for all ages, year-round.
Jul 15, 2025756 Shares11.1K Views
Origins & Gift
The Joslyn Art Museum was established as a gift from Sarah Joslyn in memory of her husband, George Joslyn. She donated $3 million in the late 1920s to build the museum and create an endowment for its future. The building opened to the public on November 29, 1931, with the promise that it would always be free and accessible to all. Sarah Joslyn wanted the museum to serve as a place of learning and culture for everyone in Omaha. The museum’s first exhibits were made up of local art collections and items donated by the Omaha Art Institute.
Architecture & Growth
The museum's original structure is a classic example of Art Deco design. It was created by architects John and Alan McDonald and gained attention for its pink marble exterior and carved stone details. In 1994, a major expansion added the Scott Pavilion, designed by Norman Foster. This section introduced a large atrium and more space for exhibitions. In 2024, the museum opened another large addition—the Rhonda and Howard Hawks Pavilion. Designed by the global firm Snøhetta and a local partner, the new space added 42,000 square feet of galleries, a new atrium, and improved outdoor access to sculpture gardens.
Collection & Reinstallation
The Joslyn Art Museum holds over 12,000 works of art that span 5,000 years. The collection includes European paintings, American Western landscapes, Native American pieces, ancient art, modern photography, and sculpture. In 2024, after nearly 100 years of displaying its artwork the same way, the museum reorganized its entire permanent collection. Native American works were no longer separated but instead placed alongside other American art, giving a broader and more inclusive view of American history and culture.
New Galleries & Acquisitions
The new Hawks Pavilion created more space for the museum to show its growing collection of modern and contemporary art. One highlight is work by Ed Ruscha, an artist originally from Omaha. More than 100 new pieces were added for the reopening, and galleries were redesigned to make cultural and historical connections more meaningful. Many of the new artworks reflect different communities and stories, featuring artists such as Simone Leigh, Hank Willis Thomas, and Dyani White Hawk. This change shows the museum’s effort to represent many voices in the art world.
Sculpture Gardens & Public Spaces
Joslyn’s grounds include two major outdoor spaces—the Peter Kiewit Sculpture Garden and the Dorothy and Stanley Truhlsen Discovery Garden. These gardens opened around 2009 and feature walking paths, plants, and outdoor sculptures. The 2024 expansion also added new landscaped areas to connect the buildings and provide more space for visitors to relax outdoors. These areas include native prairie grasses and flowers, which are designed to reflect Nebraska’s natural environment while showcasing art in an open setting.
Admission & Visitor Experience
General admission to the Joslyn Art Museum has been free since 2013. Visitors can explore galleries, gardens, and public areas without paying a fee. Inside the museum, there are also classrooms, a café, a gift shop, and places for lectures and community events. The museum offers guided tours, studio art classes, and educational programs for children, adults, and schools. Everything is designed to make the museum welcoming and useful to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Cultural Impact & Recognition
Joslyn Art Museum is the largest art museum in Nebraska and one of the most important cultural landmarks in the Midwest. Its recent $100 million expansion brought international attention. The new design has won awards, and critics have praised its focus on community, diversity, and accessibility. Museum leaders say the goal is to make Joslyn a place where all people feel represented and inspired. It plays a key role in Omaha’s arts scene and serves as a resource for students, tourists, and local residents.
Artwork Highlights
Some of the most famous pieces in the museum include “Stone City, Iowa” by Grant Wood and “Portrait of Dirck van Os,” which comes from the circle of Rembrandt. The museum also holds a strong collection of art by Karl Bodmer, a Swiss artist known for his detailed paintings of Native American tribes in the 1800s. On the outside of the museum, sculptor John David Brcin carved large stone panels showing scenes from history and culture, which are a defining part of the building’s original Art Deco style.
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