I’ve visited a lot of great art museums in PA, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, and the Carnegie Museum of Art. And while the Palmer Museum of Art in State College doesn’t quite reach the world-class level of these other institutions, it’s not as far behind as you might at first think.
The Palmer Museum of Art was founded in 1972 and occupied a building along Curtin Road in the center of campus. This location closed in May 2023, and the museum reopened in their new building adjacent to the Penn State Arboretum in June 2024.
I first visited the museum in its original location several years ago, but had a chance to check out the new museum just a couple of months after it opened.
It’s worth noting up front that while this museum is on a college campus, it’s not just a college art museum. Their collection contains over 10,000 artifacts ranging from ancient African and European art to more recent pieces from the likes of Andrew Wyeth, Charles Peale, Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, and Keith Haring.
Stepping into the new Palmer Museum is quite impressive as the building is beautifully laid out, and its 20 galleries make it one of the largest art museums in the region. Large windows can be found throughout the space, and they almost look like framed art as they look out on the serenity of the arboretum’s landscape.
Fifteen of the 20 galleries in the Palmer Museum of Art display a small portion of their permanent collection, while the other five galleries host temporary exhibits that general last a few months at a time. These temporary exhibitions typically feature works outside of the museum’s permanent collection, which means you’ll always see something unique when visiting.
I was incredibly impressed at both the quality of the art on display in the Palmer as well as the breadth of the subject matter. There’s a lot of variety in this museum, so if one gallery doesn’t particularly interest you, it’s like that the next one will.
Galleries are set up to largely put art from the same time period or location together, which offers a nice look into how different artists can interpret an era so uniquely from one another.
On the walls, you’ll not only find signage but also a tablet mounted to the walls in many of the rooms that allows you to really delve into the art pieces. This is a great extra feature for those that really want to understand some of the art on the display.
In addition to the three floors of museum exhibits, there is also a kids’ space with the museum that allows younger visitors to try their hand at art. It’s a great way to pass the time with kids during your visit to the museum.
Overall, the Palmer Museum of Art in State College is a fantastic art museum to visit and one of the best in the state outside of a major city. Having visited their old space, their new museum is a huge improvement, and is definitely worth taking the time to visit.
Looking for more places to visit nearby? Check out the best hiking spots near State College, Curtin Village at Eagle Ironworks, and the best things to do in Altoona.
Palmer Museum of Art
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Hours:Wednesday-Saturday: 11a-5p |
Cost: Free, Donations accepted |
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Website: PalmerMuseum.psu.edu |
Address: 650 Bigler Road |
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