Absolutely spectacular experience here. I reached out a few days before we planned to visit to see if we could reserve a wheelchair for my Mom, who is experiencing some mobility issues. They responded to my email immediately and were more than happy to accommodate us. Coming from Albany, this is a bit of a drive at about an hour. The first part of the drive is fine but as you get closer to Williamstown on Rt 2, it can be challenging in bad weather. The museum and grounds are absolutely spectacular. Signage leading to the museum is great and we were able to locate it right away. They have a convenient drop off area that's perfect for those with ADA accessibility needs. Parking was convenient, easy and plentiful. Check in was a breeze and they had the reserved wheelchair waiting for us. The museum is absolutely gorgeous, clean, well lit and phenomenally well curated. There are great works by Renoir, Degas, Manet, Monet, Sargent, and Mary Cassat. I was impressed to see they also included a number of lesser known formal artists in their new acquisitions. There was a great sculpture by Edmonia Lewis, a sculptor of African American and indigenous descent active in the late 1800s, that was very impressive. Bathrooms were immaculately clean. They have a cute station near the bathrooms with free postcards. They will even mail them for you! This place is a little out of the way, which I later learned was because the founder, Sterling Clark, wanted to ensure the artworks were safeguarded in a remote location in case of a war targeting major cities. He lived through WWII and had to flee France and had some of his property destroyed there. Another amazing feature of this museum is their remarkable museum store which has the usual museum store items like bags and scarves and magnets and postcards, but also has an amazing and well priced selection of art books. The most expensive book I purchased was $20 for a softcover on the history of the museum and my fiancé scored a gorgeous hardcover book on the Renoirs for only $15. Staff again here was friendly and kind. We can't wait to go back and check out the grounds and trails when the weather is warmer. If you're driving here from distance make sure you've got a full tank of gas and are comfortable driving on some back roads. We drove back to Albany in a snowstorm on Rt 2, which was a bit harrowing. read more

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I went to see Corot, but also ended up admiring Renoir and George Inness, a Montclair local. The Clark is situated in a bucolic college town whose scenery made me think of Wuthering Heights. Maybe because we went at a time when spring should have been sprouting out, but winter lingered and light snow even showed up, casting a gloomy atmosphere. Haru, enjoyed exploring its surroundings while I shivered. I noticed though that some patrons were chatting disruptively. read more

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What an amazing place and I feel so fortunate to have visited. Firstly, the grounds and surrounding area are beautiful. There are trails and a couple pieces of outdoor art that can be freely enjoyed. The museum also offers free admission for a variety of groups (veterans, people with an EBT card from any state, you Massachusetts teachers, etc). I love that this makes the art more accessible. The museum is larger than I expected and has multiple pieces by well known artists like Renoir, Degas, Monet, and Van Gogh. There are also paintings and sculptures from a variety of artists that I wasn't familiar with.. Theres the main museum then the Manton Research Center which had American decorative arts and a small glass collection. I enjoyed the reflective water in the sitting area outdoors and want to see the cows next time. read more

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Where do I start?! How about.. WOW! I came here with my pops and girlfriend for their first Sunday's Free Day on November 2nd. You could literally spend an entire day here admiring and analyzing all of the beautiful artwork. From Claude Lorrain and John Singer Sargent to Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec, they had so many of the greats. What makes this place even more special is that you're invited to wonder the outsound grounds as well! From trails to vast fields to outdoor sculptures and structures.. there is even more to see. I can't wait to return during the snowy months and participate in their Project Snowshoe. Essentially, you're able to borrow a pair of complementary snoe shoes to help you discover the 140 acres of unparalleled beauty. read more

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Living two hours away, it's a haul to get here, but lovely scenery is everywhere on your way. You may arrive at the Clark Art Institute already feeling inspired, but there's more to come. This glossy campus is actually pretty family-friendly. My kid was given a sketchbook and pencil outside the permanent collection building, then had the joy of filling with the images and views of her choice, plus a plain air sketch while we ate outside on the patio. Yes, bring a picnic! As beloved as the Clark collection is, the traveling exhibitions are always memorable too. Viewing guides gave a closer look at the traveling works, and can also be found with other goodies in the well-lit museum shop. Knowledgeable and pleasant staff throughout, and hiking trails for another day. Can't wait to come back! read more

Clark Art Institute - Degas sculpture - Museums Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

This is a must visit museum in Western Massachusetts! Go for the art and enjoy the beautiful grounds with water ponds and walking trails and an educational center, oh and a cafe and wonderful gift shop. The Clark offers hours of art exploring with special exhibits and permanent collections, and there were 6 outdoor sculptures to discover. We saw the British Women artists activists and Berenice Abbott photo exhibits. We wandered for 3 hours thru several buildings finding visual treasures along the way. The village of Williamstown is charming for its local feel of the few blocks long downtown. Restaurants, college shops and a classy gallery there too. The Clark is a great destination when traveling out to this part of the Berkshires! read more

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Loved this museum! Many different pieces to look at. Very spacious and the outside view is next to mountains. Would love to come back again! read more

Clark Art Institute - Pretty Dancer - Museums Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

This may be the best museum in the state and definitely gives MFA a run for its money. Yes, it's not as large and diverse (art-wise) as the aforementioned Boston museum, but the addition of natural beauty and hiking trails gives this museum an advantage. Since I love impressionists, this museum was my jam. However, there's a decent amount of other European and American art. There's a more hidden collection of American furniture and glass in the library. Speaking of, if you like books and libraries, the Williams College art library is housed here. It has that mid-modern design and has a decent amount of books. The gift shop has the museum books for sale, but heavily discounted when I came. The cafe was okay, with the usual higher prices. I had a chicken sandwich, which was passable. The museum fare is about equivalent to ones around Boston. However, when I came, admission was for two days. So I could come back the next day when I show my receipt. We did some hiking around the grounds the first day, did some museum-ing towards the end of the first day, and then finished up the next day. read more

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Surrounded by rolling hills and lush mountains, this minimalist building makes a striking and yet elegant presence. The modern interior combined with the reflection pools immediately bring a sense of tranquility. Inside, you'll find paintings and sculptures by some of the most renowned European and American artists. A real gem in western MA! read more

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As Sustaining Members, we visit the Clark often. A major Metropolitan Museum in the country, their standing collections are varied by artistic style and time period. Their dozens provide thoughtful tours. Periodically they have fascinating large exhibits which change. We attend their lectures, music and educational programs. All of the care and attention is provided to visitors as requested. Their Museum Store has worthy offerings in all price ranges. In season, the double, reflecting pools are perfect for relaxing outdoors. There are walking trails for short walks or extended hikes. The luncheon menu is varied, and very reasonably priced and delicious. They are building a new wing to house a bequest of the Tavitian Collection of 331 European artworks. Admission is free 1/1 to 3/31. read more

First visit here, and wow, what a beautiful, high-quality art museum it is! We spent several hours admiring the galleries and their displays of some amazing fine arts works. We're fans of impressionism, and the Monets, Renoirs and others are just dazzling. The crowds aren't huge -- at least not on this say -- so we could get close to the hanging works, study them and step back to admire them all without having to contend with many others trying to do the same. The galleries cover a wealth (literally!) of fine art and sculpture; their collections are outstanding. The museum has beautiful grounds, too, though it was pouring rain when we visited and force us to stay inside. that wasn't a chore, however, and it afforded us more reasons to savor what the Clark has to offer (including its well-stocked gift shop). There's a large parking lot and a very nice cafe downstairs. What a treasure! read more

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Really enjoyed my visit here this week. The staff is friendly and helpful. I really enjoyed the tour I did with one of the docents. You definitely could spend all day here as there is so much to see. The food in the cafe is excellent, I recommend getting a ham and cheese panini. If it's a nice day, be sure to go for a walk on one of their trails. read more

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"Fumee d' Ambergris" !!! I fell in love with John Singer Sargent's painting and travelled here just for this. There are two other paintings of his on either side. read more

Clark Art Institute - This is what I came to see in this beautiful art museum. - Museums Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

I was amazed to see Degas Little Dancer in Williamstown, MA. I really enjoyed the collection. I think you need an hour or two here. On a nice day there is a beautiful reflection pool and trails to explore They also offer a wonderful student discount that all students should take advantage of read more

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One of the best museum experiences you'll have on this side of the world. Highest of recommendations.

There are lots of nice trails throughout the woods behind the museum. You can use AllTrails for a map or the museum's website has a map of the trails as well. read more

Clark Art Institute - Trail behind the museum - Museums Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

Wow! Wish I lived closer to explore this wonderful Museum frequently. I love how they took the original old building and added glassed walkways connecting the newer part . The architecture is stunning the variety of the collection. If you're in the area, you absolutely have to set aside a day to explore . read more

One of the greatest small museums I the country.Has expanded and always has special exhibits that are great like current Lethiere. Curated by art historians.Plus fabulous permanent collection begun by the Clarks. Excellent research library with helpful people. Worth a visit anytime! read more

Clark Art Institute - Monet, Seascape, Storm 1866 - Museums Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

Simply an amazing museum with a world class collection. So comfortable. Catch a lecture on the expansive campus. Great architecture and planning. A bit expensive, though. read more

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Beautiful art in a beautiful setting. Military service recognized (free admission), so uncrowded & strollable. The current exhibit "A Room of her own: women artists-activists in Britain 1845-1875" was enlightening and movinh. read more

Loved our visit to The Clark. Worth the trip from Boston. Stayed overnight to make it a relaxing visit. Incredible collection of paintings, sculptures and rooms dedicated to old fine silver and antique glass. All with a backdrop of a country setting with open hills, fields and views of a skate pond w skaters. Made me feel we are looking at a Cahoon painting. 5 stars for the gift shop where I purchased some books. Nice selection of gift items, jewelry, house and clothing. All laid out in an appealing thoughtful way. read more

Clark Art Institute - Must see Degas - Museums Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

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We were visiting the Berkshires and our friends recommended the Clark. There is plenty of parking and the building is nicely designed. There is a lovely cafe and store, and nice restrooms. The art is wonderfully displayed, with my favorite being the impressionist art room. There are a variety of exhibits and displays. You can also explore outdoors, so we hope to return in warmer weather. There are trails, seating areas, and a reflecting pool. We had a very nice experience and hope to return soon! read more

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What a fantastic museum. I loved the Edvard Munch Trembling Earth exhibit they had running when I went. The other parts of the Clark's collection are wonderful too. I love Renoir and they had many Renoir pieces. I highly recommend visiting this gem of a museum in the Berkshires. read more

What an absolute gem! I was surprised to find such a great collection of art in the middle of nowhere in MA. My brother just graduated from Williams College, which is right next door, so we decided to check out the Clark Art Institute while visiting him. It was actually bigger than I expected and we toured for about 2 hours or so. I really enjoyed the room with the Renoir paintings. I highly recommend checking it out! read more

I've had the chance to visit many art museums, ranging from small local ones to large ones in NYC. Among them all, The Clark stands out as the most memorable museum I've ever been to. The art collection is truly elegant, and the outdoor scenery is simply magnificent. Anyone visiting this area should definitely stop by this museum. read more

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This is a outdoor tour of the Clark art institute, which was during a trip to the Berkshires. The reflecting pool was one of the highlights of the museum, as it is nice to enjoy a coffee while sitting outside and overlooking the greenery. We went up the hill to look for the sculptures outside, but due to the season they were in the middle of being disassembled already. Unfortunately there were also no cow sightings. Fall in the Berkshires is gorgeous, in the Clark Art Museum has a nice view on its hilltop. We're also able to see some of the artwork inside through the windows, but chose not to go in as we had limited time to enjoy the whole museum. Would definitely recommend this is one of the highlights of Williamstown. read more

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This review is for the extensive grounds of The Clark. During a post-vaccination trip to the Berkshires my family visited the Clark Art Institute outdoor exhibition called groundworks. Be ready to walk a long distance. Wear outdoor shoes. Maybe bring some water if it's hot. Wear sunscreen. If you aren't going inside the museum you can bring your dog, but keep it on-leash and be prepared to be approached by cows. Yes cows. The art was cool but the friendly cows were definitely the highlight of our trip. The reflecting pool wasn't so bad either. It is beautiful and serene with the sound of water gently cascading into the lower pool. A gorgeous spot for a picnic or a meditation session if you're into that sort of thing. read more

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Members! Myself and my family frequently visit the Clark. We could spend hours looking at the wonderful art displayed throughout the buildings. My wife gave me the gift of membership to the Clark for our anniversary. Best gift ever. read more

Amazing find in North Adams, MA. From Impressionists to classic Americana to glass and sculpture, all in a beautiful modern structure with lovely landscaping. Definitely worth a visit. read more

The Clark family wanted to keep their amazing collection safe from nuclear attack, which means we have world class art tucked in a mountainside. Always a pleasure to revisit the Renoirs, Cezannes and Pissarros -- and to sit with a Turner! The traveling shows are always excellent, well mounted. Topped off with a tasty cafe and gorgeous gift shop! read more

When I lived in Albany, I always wanted to get over to Williamstown and visit The Clark. I was home for a bit and wanted to go on a day trip with my friend. The Clark is about a 1 hour drive from the Capital District. This is a great rainy day activity! Full disclaimer, I'm not an art connoisseur, but I enjoy visiting the occasional museum. I've enjoyed artsy spots like The Broad in Los Angeles and NYC's mammoth Metropolitan Museum of Art (which has something for everyone), but some art museums don't aways interest me enough to visit. Parking was easy and it wasn't too crowded, even though we were visiting on a weekend day. I thought the building itself was very nice and modern looking. It was a bit cool on the day we went, but I noticed some nice walking trails on the property. I love the beautiful Adirondack chairs that are situated outside the museum, this would be a nice place to sit if you need a break from touring the museum. The building where we entered had a cafe and coat room should you need either one. The museum does feature a large collection of European art. I think my favorite part was the Impressionist paintings, I'm more drawn to the lighter colors. I really enjoyed the oil paintings that were done on a copper panel. I also appreciated checking out the fine china and religious art. I love how when you wander through the museum you catch glimpses of the outdoors. There was an interesting exhibit downstairs in the main gallery about the history of the museum. This is located not far from the idyllic and scenic Williams College. Wow, what a gorgeous campus! I would recommend taking some time to explore the cute little town by the college! We only drove through since it was a cold day, but the shops and eateries looked adorable. Parking at the museum should be easy, they had a fairly large lot. You may wish to also consider a visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum, which is also in the scenic Berkshires. Rockwell museum is Americana style, but I love the stories he tells in his paintings and I think it's very relatable to most of us. read more

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The Hill of Buddha, in northern Japan, features a seated Buddha set into a massive stone cylinder underground. Only the head of the Buddha can be seen from ground-level. It's an incredibly bold but tranquil design by Tadao Ando, the same architect responsible for The Clark's addition in 2014. I haven't been here since before that time. Ando's design pivoted The Clark from small traditional museum shut off from the elements to one that embraces the gorgeous landscape of The Berkshires. Nature is a crucial part of the experience. Trails surround the museum. Open the glass doors of the simple entrance and you are confronted with a massive rectangular pool visible through another set of glass doors. To the immediate left is the light-filled lobby. Concrete, stone, wood, and glass throughout this addition emphasize integration with the natural setting. Unwinding yourself to a state of relaxation is the intention and it makes it all the better to appreciate the stellar collection. read more

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Simply the best. Inside. Outside. Food. Permanent collection has a lot of impressionist art. There is currently a Rodin exhibit. Try to take the guided tour. You'll learn some very interesting things about Rodin. read more

Clark Art Institute - Museums Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

A gorgeous building holding incredible art from artists we've all heard of. I could spend a full day here and still come back again and again. The massive glass in the walkways lets in tons of light and provides a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape. The gift shop is equally lovely. There are a nice variety of art installations and a feeling of privacy within the smaller rooms to enjoy the pieces. read more

World class art museum in a small town. Well worth a visit if you are nearby. If you ever studied art history, you will find many familiar pictures and sculptures on display. read more

The Clark Art institute, surrounded by beautiful grounds, houses a beautiful collection of Old Masters paintings of Italian, Dutch and Flemish origin. Artist's works by Botticelli, Piero della Francesca, Renoir, and many 19th century impressionists, Degas, Manet, Monet, Gauguin, plus American artists, John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, are here to name a few. The buildings are surrounded by beautifully landscaped hiking trails and a reflecting pool. Definitely worth a visit when in the Berkshires. read more

Clark Art Institute - Beautiful grounds and reflection pool - Museums Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

Small and accessible; top of the shelf collection especially of glass; beautiful, walkable grounds.

An incredible museum tucked away in the Berkshire mountains a small town where you wouldn't be necessarily looking for a world-class museum. Over the last 50 years I've been going here both when I lived in Western Massachusetts and even when I came to visit California when I live there. I just went to see the Posada graphic arts exhibit which was compact and beautifully curated. And then I noticed an exhibit on Rodin marbled and castings. Outside of some of the large major museums like the metropolitan I don't think I've seen a more beautifully curated and well written exhibit. Superb. Their regular collection as someone most beautiful pre-raphaelite paintings that are a treat for the eye. Don't pass through the Berkshires without going here read more

Perfect size - not too big or small. Great works of art, beautiful grounds and great trails that make a nice visit even if you don't set foot inside the museum! There are some works of art on the grounds and they're working on adding more. During the pandemic, they're selling timebound tickets to keep the number of people manageable, and there are signs posted of each room's occupancy limit. They were fairly well followed by the visitors. There were many staff members around and they will remind people if they forget to put their masks on. read more

Clark Art Institute - Reflecting pool - Museums Near Me - Williamstown, Massachusetts

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We went with our 5 year old and 8 year old girls. We started out taking a walk up the hill then along the fence towards the reflecting pool. The grounds are stunning. Unlike anything we've seen with all of the extra space. Plenty of tables and chairs outside for chatting or enjoying the scenery. At the check-in we received a special sketch book and scavenger hunt fir the kids. The girls loved it! The art inside was amazing. Everyone we encountered was helpful. The museum shop had so many great books about art for kids. This museum is a true gem. read more

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