Beautiful grounds and the layout of the Museum is wonderful. A very peaceful way to spend the day.

We visited last week with friends from Florida. I had been there previously and the entire Museum was devoted to Norman Rockwell with his iconic paintings. On this visit, we counted 20 paintings only by Norman Rockwell. To show my friends, the iconic ones that I wanted to share with them, we had to go to the gift shop and look at the postcards. And a lot of the work that they did show was critical about our country, criticizing, the founding fathers, etc. Without the founding fathers, we wouldn't have a country. We came to look at Norman Rockwell's paintings which always exemplified America, not to hear slanted views against our country. I think the title really should've been changed to "20 paintings by Norman Rockwell and then views by other artists." I also think it was too expensive to charge $10 for a tour of the studio on top of the $25 admission cost. read more

Great museum where 2-3 hours is all you'll need to see everything and enjoy a great time. Suggest a tour with tour guide for another 10 dollars. Easy parking too. read more

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This was a must see for my wife and I. A very informative museum on this talented man's life. We paid for a tour to have his art explained to us, it was very informative and well worth the price. They do not do a very good job of promoting the tour, so ask. There are walking trails around the museum grounds. The gift shop is very nice and has great quality items to buy. read more

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One of us is a fan of Norman Rockwell's art. If you love his work, you'll love this place. It is definitely a must place to visit if you are a fan of his art work. You can also walk around the museum ground. Plenty of parking space. read more

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Very interesting museum and very crowded museum. But if you can come in fall, all the better. It's a beautiful property in a rustic part of Massachusetts. Admission is pricey, but it was only $5 more to do the studio tour, but I recommend it. It's only 20 minutes but it's a short walk from the museum, and it's exactly how Rockwell left it, so it's really interesting to hear more about him and see his workspace. When I went, there was a Mad Magazine exhibit, and the inspiration to their humor from Rockwell's was apparent. There are a lot of his original works, and downstairs there is a video and a wall collage of all his Saturday Evening Post covers. There was a range of humor, insights, family, inspiration, fears, unity, Americana all across the board. His wit was unmatched, and his painting style is sophisticated seeing the brush strokes up close. Mad takes a lot of that tongue in cheek humor and carried through its publication, so this temporary exhibit really made the visit so valuable. The gift shop has a ton of Rockwell merch, so it's worth leaving some time for that. Even though the drive feels like it's not near anything else, I can see the quiet mountainy landscape can give a nice painting space vs. his time in NYC. It's worth the trek to make it out to this museum. read more

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What a great museum. Included in our New England fall foliage itinerary. All of Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers are here. As well as his Four Freedoms. Plus his original work studio that was relocated here. And so much more of his illustrations and works. Two weeks ago there was a MAD magazine special exhibit also. If you want to see his studio it's another ticket timed visit. There's a walking trail that leads you down to a river. The cafe was closed the day we visited. read more

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I've been to the Norman Rockwell Museum three times, and I enjoy it tremendously every single visit. Being a Rockwell fan certainly helps, but even if you're not, once you arrive and see his work spanning from 1916 to 1976, you're instantly hooked. His art captures so much of American life, and the background stories behind each piece make the experience even more special. If you appreciate this kind of work, the museum is truly a wonderful find! read more

Really enjoyed the Madd magazine exhibit. It's a very large exhibit covering all the years the magazine was published Enjoyed seeing the Rockwell paintings. The grounds are beautiful, worth walking (apple trees) for the vistas. The tour of his studio requires another fee. Really!! read more

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"Gotta hurry on back to my hotel room Where I got me a date with a pretty little girl from Greece She promised she'd be there with me When I paint my masterpiece" (Bob Dylan) The masterpieces are everywhere, and you'll recognize the images because you've seen them your whole life. The group of baseball umpires looking to the skies with their palms outstretched, checking to see if the rain has stopped. The police officer sitting on a diner stool talking to a little runaway boy. The young Black girl walking bravely with a police escort as she integrates a school and ignores the splattered tomato and racist graffiti on the wall. The laborer standing tall in a town hall meeting to speak his mind on a local matter. The Norman Rockwell Museum will simply awe you as you walk through the galleries and see these magnificent works of American art. The recurring themes I saw touched on family, children, technology (a worker installing a TV antenna to mark the birth of TV), patriotism, politics, equality, and human rights. Two exhibits really stood out. There's an auditorium where we saw a short film on the life of Rockwell, but what we saw on the screen paled in comparison to what we saw on the auditorium walls. Neatly mounted on three sides of the room were 323 framed covers of the Saturday Evening Post magazine - every one had a Rockwell painting on its cover, spanning the years from 1916 - 1963. Incredible! The other exhibit that affected me was a circular room with just four paintings, based on an inspirational World War Two speech by President Roosevelt. Rockwell summarized that speech with "The Four Freedoms" - Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear. That room and its four iconic images had the feel of a shrine or a place of worship to me. The museum also has a rotating display spotlighting other artists. The current exhibit showcases the work of Tony Sarg (1880-1942), a children's artist and puppeteer. The Sarg exhibit was terrific. Another unexpected high point was an interaction with a security guard who sternly asked me, "Sir, are you wearing a NY Giant sweatshirt?" When I said yes, he deadpanned,"you have to leave. " Then he smiled and lightened up as we had a nice conversation about the dismal seasons the Patriots and Giants were having. read more

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I love Norman Rockwell museum! I first went to the museum almost 20yrs ago, and I still love to visit it when I'm in town to see the Saturday Evening Post, all of Rockwell's paintings and the visiting exhibits--currently it's Tony Sarge's work. The grounds are gorgeous and worth a walk around; the lawns provide a beautiful setting for a picnic. Definitely visit if you're in the Berkshires and want to see some beautiful artwork that reflects a calmer time, but captures the humor, as well as dignity of the past. read more

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We had a perfect day to visit. Outside grounds are so well manicured! Can spend a nice afternoon. $25/ adult admission. There's a small souvenir store. When I went early Oct MAD mag exhibit was there. I needed a whole day to read through all the exhibit. So funny. It was packed when we went on a Saturday. read more

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Such a beautiful museum in a beautiful area. It's small but worth the stop. The museum staff is incredibly welcoming and informative. read more

Norman Rockwell Museum - Museums Near Me - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

I didn't expect this museum to be as well organized or as large as it is - I was very pleasantly surprised. Great exhibits. Amazing masterful work - the paintings are very good and must sees in person. Photos do not do justice. Beautiful grounds. Only complaint was that it was a little too crowded when I visited on a weekend afternoon with a reserved tour slot. That's a testament perhaps to the quality experience they offer. read more

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My husband and I loved the museum. The grounds were beautiful as well. It was very interesting. We learned a lot about Norman Rockwell...thanks we never knew before. The gift shop also was amazing!! Highly recommend stopping in! read more

We arrived here around 10:25 a.m. on a Monday. I'd recommend getting here as close to the 10 a.m. opening time as possible. They doe a large business in large tour buses. We got our tickets ($20 apiece) and paid ~ $5 extra for a 20-minute tour of Rockwell's studio (which runs ever 20 minutes). They make you check any backpacks in a locker, so it might be better to leave those in your trunk. When tour buses arrive, the line for the women's restroom can back up into the lobby for a few minutes. The studio tour is timed-entry (though a surprising number of people struggled with this concept so that the docent there kept having to shoo people back out during our tour). The docent was an older, enthusiastic lady. There was just one other couple there, which was apparently unusual / unexpected. Mostly this tour was more crowded. They moved the studio from downtown Stockbridge to this spot when they built the new museum in the 80s. They showed a drawing of the downtown area that Rockwell did (including his original studio in a business there). We walked down a marked path to a large metal bridge over a small river. It was blocked so there could be no car traffic. We had this to ourselves, and it was quite picturesque. We then toured the museum itself. Tour buses kept coming. It was crowded. We both enjoyed it. They had many original works including the Four Freedoms series in a central room. There were also other well-known works (slice-of-life magazine covers, portraits, works related to civil rights, etc.). I liked a large one of the Glynn Canyon Dam and a Navajo family. They give guided tours also, but they lasted an hour and I think there was an additional cost. There is a café under a tent where they sell boxed wraps and sandwiches. The selection seemed limited and we were in the mood for something a step up from this, so we drove a few miles to Stockbridge to eat lunch instead. Overall, I thought this was a highly worthwhile stop. read more

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I love this museum, so when back home in Albany, NY, I HAD to finally show my husband this gem he had not visited before. Generally, I am not a huge art museum fan, but this one contains so many endearing American masterpieces. Rockwell had a a charming way of depicting the middle class American lifestyle of the mid 20th century and capturing various heartwarming moments. Many of his pieces are quite charming, a few have a bit of an edge. This museum screams Americana! Even if you are not a Norman Rockwell fan, I am sure you will recognize at least a few of the pieces. I have to say "Freedom from Want," is my absolute favorite work of his, the idyllic scene of a happy extended family gathered around the dining room table for the Thanksgiving holiday. This painting makes me long for holidays with grandma and grandpa! Rockwell also created iconic "Rosie the Riveter," the female heroine of the World War 2 era. Be sure to note "Stockbridge at Christmas" (my other favorite) and go visit the nearby downtown that inspired it. read more

What an amazing museum of American art. Katherine our tour guide really knew how to passionately talk about the art and artist. She made you feel emotional about the pieces. read more

While Norman Rockwell is not my favorite artist (primarily due to his kitschy, sentimental subject matter), there is no denying that he was an unbelievably talented artist. Since this museum is a must visit in the Berkshires, I was compelled to open my mind more to his art. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that in addition to his typical Saturday Evening Post covers and the iconic Four Freedoms paintings, he also painted some more provocative works, including "Murder in Mississippi" which depicts the 1964 murders of civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. Also featured in the museum are works on segregation such as "The Problem we All Live With" depicting six year old Ruby Bridges entering school, escorted by US Marshalls. These paintings alone make the museum worth visiting, in my opinion. I can now appreciate he had a more serious side. Other items of note: the Museum is relatively small with all his Saturday Evening Post covers on the lower level and the larger, famous paintings on the main level. There is also a small shop. Bathrooms were very clean and well maintained. Outside there are some beautiful views near the artist's studio (which was relocated to its current location from its former location on Main Street in Stockbridge). As of May, 2024, pricing was $25 for entry and $23 for seniors and retired military members. The pricing seemed a bit high to me for such a small museum. Mass Moca's entry fees are similar, but for a vastly larger museum. We spent a couple hours here viewing the art and also the outdoor area. Don't miss the beautiful ancient lilac on the property. Free lot parking, very secure area. read more

Beautiful building and a very informative museum. I had a great learning experience overall. My only suggestion would be for the museum to better inform visitors about the availability of guided tours at the time of ticket purchase. While I was exploring one of the galleries, I noticed a tour happening nearby--it was engaging and insightful, and I listened from a respectful distance. Unfortunately, one of the tour participants approached me and, in a loud and rude manner, told me I didn't belong on the tour because I hadn't paid for it. His tone was unnecessarily harsh, and it felt more like he was trying to shame me than resolve an issue. It was an unpleasant moment in an otherwise excellent visit. read more

I was here for a private event. This included a little bit of History, a tour of the museum and a catered dinner. The gentleman from the museum who was tasked with providing a little history and background on Norman Rockwell was engaging and entertaining and knowledgeable. He brought the paintings to life in a way that wouldn't have happened without him. The work of Norman Rockwell is amazing; Creative, interesting and engaging. Prior to coming to the museum I knew that he was incredibly talented but I did not realize the extent of his social activism. He is most well known for his Saturday evening post covers. However, that is just a fraction of his work. The museum also had an exhibit of the work of Kadir Nelson. The majority of his work on exhibit was done during the pandemic. It was incredibly impactful. His work depicts world events particularly surrounding the impact on the African-American community. This event included cocktails and a catered dinner that was absolutely delicious. Began with a squash soup and warm fresh rolls. The entree was a turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, stuffing and green beans with fresh cranberry sauce on the side. Dessert was an ice cream sundae bar. This was set up on the soda fountain that allowed us to recreate the picture entitled "Runaway" The entire experience was memorable. read more

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Beautiful museum! Came while in the area and had a nice time. Surprised that there wasn't as much Rockwell work in the museum as I thought there would be. The downstairs area with the video had all the Saturday Evening Post covers, what an amazing body of work. Video was excellent and informative. The museum had an exhibition regarding racism and that took up most of the upstairs. Glad we visited! read more

Norman Rockwell Museum - Museums Near Me - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

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We had a wedding to attend to in Tanglewood, Lenox and when my husband found out this museum was nearby, our itinerary revolved around making sure we could go! It looked small from the outside, but the museum was two floors packed with Norman Rockwell's life, story, and art. We spent a couple hours here and could have easily spent an hour or two more really taking it all in. I really loved seeing all of the covers from Theresa Saturday Evening Post on the lower floor and seeing a few of those on the main floor with descriptions and his artistic process. Since we went in the winter, the studios weren't open, but it would have been really cool to check those out as well. I highly recommend going here! read more

Friendly staff, a great collection of pieces. Visited during the winter, would love to go back when the studio is open.

Honestly, the reason I visited the Norman Rockwell Museum today was for "Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration". It did not disappoint, I thoroughly enjoyed my time viewing that exhibit. I kinda breezed by the Norman Rockwell sections, I just didn't have the same level of interest as I did for the Fantasy art. The museum isn't very large, I was out of there in less than an hour. A nice, scenic drive in the area, the Fall colors are really starting to come out, as it is mid-October now. Overall, an enjoyable experience this morning, but doubtful I'll be back in the future -- it seems to be a "One & Done" type of thing. The Fantasy Art exhibit moves on after October 31st. read more

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I loved it here! I wasn't planning on stopping here but I was in the area and it was close to where I was staying. I loved walking around the grounds, seeing the installations and the scenic views. If you're in the area I would recommend stopping by here! They also have a gift store and other special events. read more

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Ordered a signed print $1500. Damaged when it arrived via UPS. And no document of authenticity. Ordered at the museum in Stockbridge. Took days to get someone on the phone. Never order from them again. Not trustworthy. read more

Highly recommend both the museum tour and the studio tour for the amount of information you will receive. Learned so much about Norman Rockwell, his work and his life. Impressive! read more

Fantastic experience. Who knew Rockwell was such a prolific painter with a social conscious. We toured the museum but skipped the studio. We also toured the grounds. The collection is very expansive and don't forget to leave time for the Tony Sarg exhibit. Plenty of things to see here for the kids as well. Ciao. read more

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This is a seriously dishonest business. I made the mistake of donating 39 paintings to these (.....) um.. people, and after 7 YEARS, they are still in storage. (Note: they were done by a very well known illustrator.) As far as Rockwells, they don't even have them on display most of the time I was told. They are a bunch of liars and thieves. Do not patronize them. I guess the staff gets to see the art you are driving and paying to see. read more

We loved visiting this small but impressive museum. Norman Rockwell and his iconic images still stand the test of time. And their current exhibitions are timely and inspiring. Their website states that they were founded in 1969 and that the museum is dedicated to the enjoyment and study of Rockwell's work and his contributions to society, popular culture, and social commentary. The Museum houses the world's largest collection of Rockwell's work, including 998 original paintings and drawings. Rockwell lived in Stockbridge for the last 25 years of his life. Rockwell's Stockbridge studio which was moved to the Museum grounds, is currently closed due to COVID-19. It includes original art materials, his library, furnishings, and personal items. Currently Featured at the Museum: FDR's Four Freedoms: Although the nation was not yet at war in January 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt used his annual message to Congress to proclaim the Four Freedoms as a de facto war standard to one and all. Check out their Quick Pics: They are short 5-minute videos that introduce you to selected Norman Rockwell images. These activities target grades K-6 (though older children and adults may also learn a thing or two!). Quick Pics are part of the NRM Curriculum Lab. During our visit, extensive COVID-19 safety protocols were in place. Timed tickets must be purchased, there was a museum staff member monitoring each room, limiting capacity to the room. Touring was essentially unidirectional, on a suggested path from room to room. Hand sanitizer was readily available and masks were required. The staff did a great job with this. Rockwell was a prolific painter and a social activist. We find his paintings amusing, inspiring, thought provoking and iconic. We strongly recommend a visit to this wonderful museum. read more

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Museum Review: Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA on August 9, 2024 Summer is almost over and I wanted to take my 3 kids to a great place in the Berkshires. I also wanted to bring my Chinese mother-in-law to see a bit of American culture that has shaped so many ideas and so much culture here. I was curious if I could really convey the meaning of the artist or could the artist communicate cross culturally without language. A couple years ago I read MY LIFE AS AN ILLUSTRATOR by Norman Rockwell and I thoroughly recommend it to any and everyone who is even remotely interested in this artist. We got there about 11:30 with a pass from my local library to get a discount. Upon arrival we drove through the parking lot and starting naming off all the license plates we saw. New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Arkansas, Maryland, Vermont, Canada, Florida... it was crazy. And that is probably just a Friday at the Museum! We got in and the people working there were wonderfully informative and my 3 kids were FREE! I only had to pay about 20 bucks for my mother-in-law and myself thanks to my local library MUSEUM pass. A couple days ago when I was planning the trip I double checked the website to see if there were an special exhibits. There was MAD MAGAZINE retrospective! What? Amazing. I have a bunch of old ones and more newer rehashed ones. This was going to be great. My oldest and youngest took off on their own and I took my daughter and Chinese mother-in-law into see the most famous paintings. I might have been annoying speaking in Chinese to her but I really wanted her to enjoy the time and not have any issues of comprehension. I used the classic concept of asking her "What do you see?" She observed, then I had to explain, "that stick with a cloth bulge at the end on the floor of the restaurant? That signifies the child is running away." The painting of the child finding a Santa outfit in his dad's dresser drawer was a tougher one to explain. She didn't know that it was an Santa outfit. The FOUR FREEDOMS was something else though. Thankfully I know the word in Chinese for FREEDOM and since my wife particularly likes the FREEDOM OF SPEECH one I didn't want to push my mother-in-law into likely any of them in particular. We went through and I explained each one. She understood. We even got to see the actual jacket worn by the man in the FREEDOM OF SPEECH painting, it was EXACTLY the same one. You could look and then look up at the painting and then look down again and then look up again. It was pretty cool. After this we went downstairs to show her all the Saturday Evening Post covers. We got through half of them and then everyone said we were hungry. We were. So we stopped in the 1940s and went out to the car to get our food. We ate out there due to the rain and when we came back we had more energy. We went around and finished the Magazine covers. She was taken aback by the presidential covers. There was one cover of an old man coming home for Christmas and a child happy to see him but going for his pocket which I assume had some Christmas money in it or some sort of a small gift for the child? I saw this one and adapted it to the Chinese culture and I told her this is like the old grandpa coming home during Chinese New Year and the kids are super happy to see Grandpa, but they immediately go into his pocket to grab his red envelope, his red pocket money or his lucky money. This is a tradition in Chinese culture all about giving Red Envelopes during the New Year. It's fun and the kids love it. After this I kind of lost track of my mother-in-law because she wasn't interested in Mad Magazine but I was. So I went in and started slow. I read many of the full pieces of art and even read them to my kids. I had a few patrons asked me if my kids understood. Well, since I have been reading them Mad Magazine for years, I hope they get it! But I could only go so far and so long. The kids got antsy. Thankfully the brought books so I found them later in the gift shop just hanging out. I got a couple things and wanted to get many more. Thank you Norman Rockwell for putting so many bits of our history onto canvas. Thank you for telling us your life story. Thank you for sharing our country's life story so that our future can see what life was like back then. Thank you to all the people who work there at NRM. It seemed very busy today. When more family members come to visit and when there are more exhibits, I will definitely come back. Now I have to use my 20 new cards and envelopes. When I'm done.... I'll be back! read more

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Great museum filled with Norman Rockwell's story and art. It took us under 2 hours to explore and was perfect stop during a rainy day. Adult admission is $25. read more

Norman Rockwell Museum - Museums Near Me - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

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We had a great visit! We especially enjoyed seeing the Saturday Evening Post covers from all the years read more

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Spent a few hours there on Wednesday looking at all of the beautiful works of Norman Rockwell. From the paintings to the covers of the Saturday Evening Post, it was wonderful to learn about his life and work. I would highly recommend a visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum. Friendly and helpful staff, and a nice gift shop. read more

The museum was peaceful, affordable, and a great visit. They have a huge collection and is located between quant towns!

The charm of this American treasure artist is on display at this well-lit well-laid-out museum. I've been there a few times over the years (most recently in December 2023), and it has always lifted my spirits. read more

I'm so glad we went to the Norman Rockwell Museum! The docent, Dan, was incredible. He told a story, and I learned so much more than I would have had he not been there. It's so lovely to meet someone who really cares about what they're doing and is a wonderful storyteller. The grounds of the museum are very nice too. A suggestion for the museum would be to monitor the number of people in each room because sometimes more people are in the rooms than allowed. read more

Norman Rockwell Museum - Museums Near Me - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Norman Rockwell and the British Museum my to favorite museums to visit. No one captured the human condition with as much depth, and clarity as he could. Mr. Rockwell was a stickler for details, collecting all types of props of articles, and clothing. He photographed multiple scenes Norman Rockwell, one of America's most iconic artist show the human condition in many idealistic settings through his years of cover illustrations for the SaturdayEvening Post. In later years he switched to more serious subjects such as racism, as depicted in Covers commissioned for Look magazine, and about WW2, and Vietnam. Visited the museum, walking the museum grounds with various art objects from different artists, and going into Rockwell's actual studio that was relocated from it's original local at his home in the town of Stockbridge is an opportunity that should not be missed when traveling through the Berkshire's. read more

Just wow! The museum is on a pretty scenic area. It's two levels. The bottom level has every cover of the Saturday evening post. Five decades of his work. It's absolutely astounding! Upstairs are most of his paintings. You see all the popular ones yet you also see ones that you've never seen that are quite insightful of his character and innovation at the time he lived. They also have traveling exhibits. I can't wait to come back in November for Jan Brett's exhibit. read more

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