MMOA is an overachieving art museum for a city of this size. It's a large and varied collection…read morespread over numerous galleries on three different floors - though the prints collection in the basement is nowhere near as extensive as what you'll find on the other floors. Whoever on here said this was better than the Grand Rapids Art Museum was absolutely correct. This collection absolutely slays the Grand Rapids Art Museum. (I might even be so petty as to go back and drop them down a star.) This museum isn't an all day affair but it was perfect to while away some time in the afternoon in between a wedding down the block and the reception about a mile away my dad and I went to in July. I probably would've spent about an hour more here if I didn't have my father in tow. He moves pretty slow and I forewent my usual practice of touring a museum twice. Ordinarily I go through once taking in as much as I can, reading as many descriptions on the walls as my attention span can bear and keep my cellphone in my pocket the whole time. Then I go back through every gallery refeasting my optical orbies on highlights, looking for stuff I might have missed and snapping a bunch of photos. (If someone sees me on only the second tour they might think I'm a technology addled douchebag without much attention span though!) Anyways I would have loved the second go through here! In summer 2025 they had a special exhibit dedicated to Julia Child. I struggle to think of cooking as art but it's definitely a valuable skill - who doesn't love to eat? - and it can involve a little or a lot of creativity for sure. At any rate the special exhibit was extensive, fun and very educational. I knew very little of Julia Child and I learned a lot more. They even had a picture and description of Dan Akroyd playing her in a particularly brutal SNL skit! I learned she loved the sketch and showed it to friends at parties which I think is pretty awesome.

I recently saw a post on Facebook from a local news outlet that the Muskegon Museum of Art had an…read moreexhibit of some of the costumes from the show Downton Abbey, so I made a plan to check it out with Nate while in the area camping. We arrived about 45 minutes before they closed and got in to the museum right away. I would say that this museum is small but mighty, with plenty to see packed into a tidy footprint. The Downton Abbey exhibit was cool to experience, although I wish it had some more interactive elements. The costumes are so detailed and ornate, and it was fun to see them up close. The rest of the gallery was interesting, with all kinds of art from traditional to more modern. I especially loved the Measure Twice: Sculptures of Ted Lott exhibit, with ornate building-like structures built into household items like side tables, chairs, and vintage suitcases. I don't think I'd come here every time I'm in Muskegon, but it was a fun stop while we were in town and I'm glad we went!