Currier Museum of Art

I've been to museums all over the world from the Getty to the Met to the Louvre, and from free parking to congenial ticketing to the cafe and galleries, the Currier is in my top favorites. It's such a cool space and history of how the museum came to be. Mix of modern and classic. The cafe has maybe 75' high ceilings, very airy, fantastic coffee and food menu. Thanks to the Curriers for making it possible! The tour of two Frank Lloyd Wright houses was well organized, informative enough to have felt like a true lecture, and very convivial with the guides and guests. Totally worth a drive specifically to the Currier for the museum and home tours (which you can check the ticket availability online. Museum entrance is currently included in the house tour ticket price.)

I cannot tell you the last time I was this entranced by an art museum. It is the perfect size to absorb in a visit, not overwhelming or complicated. Well-curated with regularly rotating special exhibits. They also host special events every 1st Thursday of the month from 5-8pm where admission is free and they have a speaker come talk. There is also a very tasty cafe in the middle of the museum. Cannot recommend this place enough!

I try and immerse myself in as many art museums as I can. While I am not a fan of modern art, I found that this collection was a great blend of combining different aspects of art, and they have a great amount of space, and their staff was pretty great too. I can’t wait to go back. And the lavender lemonade at the cafe was pretty great. ❤️

Worth the hour drive from boston. Great display and dont miss the Wright houses tour. Staff is extremely knowledgeable and very nice and outgoing. Exhibitions are somewhat disorganized, but it has its charm. Dont miss the patio cafe.

An excellent mid-sized museum. Large collections ranging from ancient to modern. Wonderful gallery space and the cafe’s food was great. I am beyond impressed by their not 1 but 2 excellent Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian homes available for tours. Both are in remarkably good condition. We went way way out of our way to see this museum and it was so very worth it.

Museum was lovely as always. Some exhibits change, making for a fresh, always awe-inspiring experience, with friendly, informed docents at the ready. The Frank Lloyd Wright houses tour was exceptional. New Hampshire is so lucky to have such exemplary and well-preserved examples of his architecture, and awesome Currier Museum guides to show them to us. The cafe's food ranges from regular to unusual, and is a delicious treat.

Love that they are a blue star museum! And LOVE the two Frank Lloyd Wright homes

The Currier Museum of Art is a nice small art museum that offers a lot. The museum has works by renowned artists such as Monet, Hopper, Cole, Homer, and Wyeth. There are also traveling exhibits and a nice collection of contemporary art. What sets the museum apart are its tours of its two Frank Lloyd Wright designed houses. The two houses are the Zimmerman House and The Kalil House are the only two Frank Lloyd Wright houses built in New England. The museum puts together a nice tour of the houses led by volunteer docents. The tours present the history of the houses and the architectural ideas and genius of Frank Lloyd Wright. The Zimmerman House is probably the better of the two houses. However, at the Kalil House you can actually use the furniture and touch different objects in the house. This is unique for most houses designed by Wright, as at most other houses you cannot do this. Both houses were designed by Wright in his later career. Photography is allowed at both houses as well. If going to the museum you should sign up online for the tour of the two houses. The tour takes two hours with a bus ride provided by the museum. The tours are popular so you will need to sign up early. The house tour price includes admission to the museum. The museum offers both great works of art and architectural history.

It's a smaller museum that packs a good punch. The exhibits are great, the place is clean, and the staff are friendly. You get free parking and the admission price is reasonable.

What a treat to visit this Art Museum, a rare find indeed! In town to visit family and went to this museum. It's a small museum by most comparisons but it has some incredible art. I was happy to find a van Gogh, a Monet, a Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keefe and sculpture by Frederic Remington. The Staff here is wonderful, plenty of free parking and an overall delightful experience.

Enjoyed my first visit to this museum. It is small. I covered two floors under an hour. I like the ambience. Great staff at entry, however, the security in the art rooms seemed to be constantly in my way. I have never experienced this in a museum before. I almost tripped over a couple of them more than once. They didn't seem to be looking where they were going. It was weird. I like the cafe space, however, I was disappointed with the Thai chicken bowl. The salad greens were past, the rice seemed like instant with a strange texture, and the chicken was in a sauce that seemed like bacon jam with a bit of Thai chili. The sauce was overwhelming. I wouldn't get it again. Free parking. I got in free. It is worth visiting if you are in town. I plan to come back and do their Frank Lloyd Wright tour.

We recently became members of the Currier Museum. Today I realized I couldn't find my digital membership card. I suspect I never received it because I placed the welcome email into a folder I named Currier Museum. I called the museum. A very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable person named Ken answered. He told me we could come in and give our last name. He added my husband to the membership because we do not share the same last name. He also arranged for another digital membership card to be sent. He was so helpful! The current exhibit on Abstraction is wonderful! Looking forward to seeing the upcoming Raphael Barontini exhibit!

Stopped into this little Museum on a whim. They have their own parking lot and it's very easy to park. The staff is friendly. The museum collection was a very nice surprise. Not very large but just enough for the length of our usual attention span. The cafe is really lovely and reasonably priced and you get to eat in the lovely atrium decorated with two huge Sol LeWitt murals. They have two Frank Lloyd wright houses which are completely separate. You have to pay extra for them, and they take you on a little bus to the sites which they won't divulge. Interesting because I never knew they were Frank Lloyd wright homes in New Hampshire. We saved that for another day.

We stopped in because we really had no clue what to do when we visited Manchester and I am so glad we chose to do so. The building is wonderfully prepared and you are able to go from one area to the next and not miss anything. The art work presented was outstanding, how can one not be inspired and awed by the work of masters. In addition to all of the artwork they also have a snack shop which had live entertainment, which provided a respite and an opportunity to get a bite to eat while listening to some soothing live music(nice touch). I absolutely loved this place, 2 floors of art, from different time periods and parts of the world. If you are in Manchester, do yourself a favor and stop in, you won't be disappointed!!! By the way, the people working at the museum were really nice and pleasant.

On a very hot June Wednesday,I was fortunate enough to spend a delightful day at the Currier Art Museum.I especially relished their fine,but not encyclopedic collection of Old Master European Paintings.I saw splendid paintings by Niccolo Pietro Gerini("Virgin and Child With Saints and Donor",Late Medieval Painting)"Lorenzo Costa("Portrait of Lady",Italian Renaissance),Joos Van Cleve("Holy Family",Netherlandish Renaissance),Hendrick Goltzius("Helen of Troy",Dutch Mannerism),Mattia Preti("Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian",Italian Mannerism),Jan Molenaer("Card Players",Dutch Master),Jan de Bray("Banquet of Anthony and Cleopatra",Dutch Master),Jacobus Vrel("Young Person Seated by Window",Dutch Master),Matthias Stom("Judgement of King Solomon",Dutch Mannerism),Domenico Fetti("Parable of Wicked Husbandman",),and Claude Joseph Vernet("Storm",18th Century),among others.I appreciated fine sculpture by Antonio Rosselino("Virgin and Christ Child"),Giovan Montorsoli and,Pedro de Mena("Saint Peter of Alcantara Confessing To Saint Theresa") I also savored delightful 19th and 20th Century European paintings by John Constable("Dedham Lock and Mill"),Alexander Rothaug("Fates"),Claude Monet("Bridge at Bougival",French Impressionism),Vincent Van Gogh("Beach at Schevingen"),Pablo Picasso("Woman Seated On Chair"),Max Pechstein("Allegory of Eve",German Expressionism),Georges Roault("The Clowns"),and Josef Scharf("Man Praying"),among others. Being at the Currier Art Museum was a special treat.I only mentioned a few of the things that I enjoyed.,

The museum is near Downtown Manchester and they have various exhibits which includes two of Frank Lloyd Wrights houses. The museum offers tours of the home and provides shuttle service to the tour of the homes. The staff are extremely helpful and courteous. If you are in the area you should definitely visit. I also toured both homes and will give a separate review on that check in.

I have this thing in my head that tells me that the only good art is only in New York and Washington. I love to prove it wrong by landing at amazing museums like the Currier that have terrific art. "Hey, voice! That's a Picasso! That's a Johns! That large one is a de Kooning! That chair is an original Frank Lloyd Wright." So much fun. This isn't a very large museum. You can easily see everything and spend time with the art and be done in 90 minutes. That's okay. The art is nicely spaced, the galleries are laid out well and the structure is quite lovely. The free parking and the free wifi are a big bonus. Great to see this museum in Manchester spreading culture outside of New York. [Review 10454 overall, 221 of 2019.]

I'm a big fan of Frank Lloyd Wright's work and I was thrilled when I heard the Currier acquired another of his homes. To think we have two of his designs to actually tour right in Manchester. I wasn't expecting much. On other tours in Chicago and Phoenix rooms were blocked, the tours were crowded and moved slowly with each guide going on and on in a lecture type format. Ok. I love his work, but even I don't want to just stand around. BUT, this Currier tour was nothing like that. Both homes were wide open. We even got to walk through the outside gardens. The guides, Andrea and Karen waited for our questions and then would give us the pertinent information in a way that is much more meaningful. For the first time, I feel like I got to experience the house rather than be herded through with a monotone talking track in the back ground. Way to go Currier for making this one of the must do activities in New Hampshire.

I drove here to see 'The Blue Trees,' Konstantin Dimopoulos' concept executed by a horde of volunteers -- thanks, volunteers -- of applying environmentally safe pigment to 100 trees. That's a lot of labor but the result is sublimely beautiful especially on a bright sunny day when the high branches of the trees almost disappear into the blue sky. The Currier is a rather tame museum. It's a compact jewel box -- a great place to view art -- whose collection won't offend sensibilities. The most provocative work on display may be Richard Estes' painting of New York City's long-departed 'Baby Doll Lounge,' an infamous but quaint club back in the day. More than a few musicians and artists were regulars. It disappeared as the city's gritty character marched toward sanitization and sky-high real estate prices. There are some fun works on display. Ralph Eugene Cahoon Jr's 'Mermaids in Disguise,' from the late 20th century looks like it was painted two hundred years prior. Contrast that work to William Jennys' 1802-1805 portraits of a man and woman. Aside from the clothing, these portraits look like they could have been painted this year. I've seen this couple shopping in Brooklyn, I swear. I would have driven across the country to see my favorite work here, Marisol Escobar's 'The Family' from 1963. This was an influential assemblage that made the cover of Time Magazine decades ago. Marisol -- she liked to be known by her first name only -- was an influential artist and her pieces are in museums around the world. Some of her stuff is truly iconic. With that said, I think that, before her death, she faded from importance and that's too bad. Her creativity was unique for the time and her oeuvre is sophisticated but quite accessible. There aren't many hurdles to understand and appreciate her art.

The Currier Museum of Art is one amazing gem in New England and it puts New Hampshire's largest city in the cultural map. Approaching the Currier Museum, the imposing neoclassical building stands on a knoll, creating a pleasant curb appeal. Turning the corner into the small parking lot, the gigantic but unmistakable Botero sculpture of heavy-set people adorns the main entrance. Once inside, one becomes transfixed on the extensive selection of art pieces dating to the 1600s Dutch painters Jan de Bray, Isack Van Ostade, Jan Molenaer, and Matthias Stom. Italian painters like Mattia Preti. Picasso. Remington. You name it. The staff is amazingly friendly and knowledgeable. A definite, must-see in New Hampshire.

I liked this museum. I spent an enjoyable afternoon perusing the various of art. It's not very big and I was able to view everything to my satisfaction in a few hours. Would recommend to anyone visiting the area.

So fresh and delicious!!! If you like art and food this is a good place for you. I love it! It's like your eatting in a garden that's inside. They have fun festive menu items and cocktails that change with the seasons. All fresh ingredients with fun menu items to match the season. Plus you're in an art museum what's more serene and fun than eating in art.

The Currier Museum of Art features a collection of significant paintings, sculpture, & decorative arts by world-renowned artists through the centuries ~ an exceptional venue worthy of a 2-3 hour visit. Thousands of culturally-varied treasures are brilliantly exhibited in 12 pristine galleries. The focus is on American & European works. The Winter Garden Cafe is modern & conveniently located in the huge atrium, which gives the feeling of an indoor courtyard. Food & beverage selections were limited & average. There is time to grab a snack before or after the Frank Lloyd Wright Zimmerman House Tour (a must for architectural enthusiasts) or to take a break from strolling through the dozen galleries.

A fantastic, little museum. It's very well done as well as world renowned. It's worth visiting. You won't regret it.

Excellent museum. Not very well known but worth the search and drive. Really good variety of art (genres, historic time frames, styles and mediums - and a really good spectrum of artists). Little known (at least I had no idea) is that they have a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home = The Zimmerman House as part of the museum property. They have a nice little cafe right in the middle of the museum as well.

I dig smaller museums as I have ADHD and I get bored and lose my attention after so many hours looking at art. Not here. The Currier is just the right size and I was done in about an hour and a half. We came early on a Saturday morning, (it was free NH residents day ) and the exhibitions on display here Monet (which I had seen before at the MFA and The Paris of Toulouse- Prints & Posters from MoMA- which was fairly cool. Also which took me by surprise was the Grandma Moses and the Georgia O'Keeffe paintings. Very cool!

ADMISSION The museum itself is $10 for adults and if you choose to do the Zimmerman house tour, then it's $20 for adults which includes the museum. This place is a wonderful place to explore for the artist in you. Plenty of students come here on lazy weekends to appreciate art and do drawings of them. SPECIAL EXHIBITS: JOHN BROOKS Photography is not allowed in the special exhibits. However, it is allowed for anything in the permanent collections. I was amazed by the wooden furniture that John Brooks made with pine, oak, etc. It flowed so naturally that it looks something straight out of a JR Tolkien book- fantasy like. This was the highlight for me but the permanent collection was good as well. PERMANENT COLLECTION Plenty of painting to see here- European and New England as well. Picasso, O'Keefe, and Monet to name a few. There are two levels to see all the permanent collections. The basement is just classrooms and lecture hall for seminars, lectures, and workshops. Check online for more info. WINTER CAFE We got lunch here and the selection was limited on the weekend. They ran out of turkey for the simple sandwich. However, we got the chicken salad sandwich with cream of broccoli and salad. It was interesting that our dishes came with popcorn sprinkled with some seasoning as well. Overall, price was reasonable and we also got a discount with my parents' membership card. GIFT SHOP Honestly, we didn't spend much time. It is pretty small and I wanted to look for postcards. If we had more time, I would have picked something out to mail to my sis.

Nice varied collection on multiple levels, there's a little something for everyone. My main criticism is their lighting leaves much to be desired. For paintings too close to the track lights I couldn't even see the work without standing at a weird angle.

Just visited with my family. We have never felt so uncomfortable at any museum before. 3-4 security wondering back and forth following us around. Odd. Felt welcomed in the gift shop as we were leaving. Never again will I go there or suggest friends should go there while visiting New Hampshire.

A nice little museum! If you are looking for something to do in Manchester, this is a good place to start. They have a good mix of art from the famous to unknown contemporaries. You'll have a good time here for sure. The only unfortunate thing is that the museum is on the small side. Especially when exhibits are undergoing renovation to prepare for their next exhibit. Don't get me wrong, this museum is worth the price of admission ($15), and is a lovely place, but I planned a day trip to Manchester around this museum and was left with a lot more time in the day than expected.

Very weird and unfriendly atmosphere. We are frequent visitors at the large art museum in our home city, so we and our older teenage daughters were excited to go to this museum during our stay in Manchester . In every room, security guards were walking near us and closely watching us. When I pointed at a plexiglass-covered map, a guard stepped up immediately and scolded us about not touching the art. He then went on to tell several other workers that we had touched something. My 17 year old has a small backpack purse and she was stopped twice during our time to tell her to wear it differently on her body (she complied politely both times). Is art something to share, inspire, and enjoy? ... or merely something to protect? As art lovers, we were disappointed that the employees and atmosphere ruined this experience for us.

It had been a couple of years due to the Pandemic, so my friends and I were especially eager to visit our "old friend" again. Delightful new arrangement of the exhibits! Love the size of this gem. So easy to take your time in the main floor galleries, enjoy a delicious lunch in the cafe, then head up the stairs to finish the experience. Currier, thank you, thank you, thank you! You are beautiful.

Great museum! A little bit of everything. Paintings from the 1400s to the present day. Next time I'm making plans to revisit the Frank Lloyd Wright home!

This is one of the best places to eat. I got the tuna melt and it was out of this world. My lovely wife got a peanut butter sandwich with Fluff. All ingrediencies were pure and organic. I love Jiff. Thank you. We will be back.

Small museum doesn't have the voluminous collections of Boston's MFA or the excellent furniture and Asia trade collections of Salem's PEM but it does have a lovely, well-organized and extremely accessible collection from old Dutch masters, through colonial New England to contemporary art. While some of the modern artists (O'Keefe, Picasso, Wyeth, Sheeler, Rothko, Rauscha) seem to be represented by one minor piece, it's still a great survey of art with excellent wall text that's neither too snobby, nor too obvious. Also the FLW Zimrman house is incredible. A small but well-stocked gift shop, light-filled atrium cafe and free parking round out a museum well worth a day trip. .

This art museum soothes my soul. To think, this museum located in, of all the places in the world, Manchester, NH contains to the best of my recollection today only one each of my favs -- Picasso, Matisse, Sargent, one permanent piece by Monet and now another on a limited engagement by Monet. I know that doesn't seem like much by these great artists, but think about it some more. If anyone in the whole entire world wants to see these specific pieces, they have to travel to little 'ol New Hampshire USA to do so or I supposed wait until they're on loan somewhere else more prominent. Wow! Sends shivers down my spine. In addition, the museum is so aesthetically pleasing, including the cafe where I stopped to get a sandwich and salad for a modest price. It allowed me time to regroup to continue my stroll through the museum at a leisurely pace. Note that on Saturdays until noon, admission is free. Other times, use your AAA auto membership for a $1.00 discount. I still need to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright house as part of the museum's collections. Oh, and a recent acquisition includes one of his chairs. Not bad!

With only a few hours time to fill before catching a flight from Manchester, I had the good fortune to find my way to this delightful museum. The building design is not typical for museums which adds to the fun factor. I was told it originally opened as a bank but the stock market crash quickly put it out of business. Nice repurposing of an existing structure, if that is the case. The permanent collection is filled with famous names and excellent works by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper, Henri Matisse and more. That alone would make a visit here worthwhile. The collections include classic works from European artists, modern and contemporary art plus special exhibits highlighting select artists. And the information posted next to the art works provided great insights that helped me to appreciate each work more and discover elements within the art that I otherwise would have overlooked. Bravo! Free lockers provide safekeeping for backpacks and coats. A cafe offers a nice selection of sandwiches, soups, beverages, baked goods and more in a lovely and comfortable setting and the gift shop offers a good mix of merchandise for all ages. Located a few blocks from the main roads of downtown, it is an easy walk from many hotels and nearby restaurants. Enjoying art always makes me happy. And I was happy to have enjoyed art at this museum.

We went for Mimosas and Music at the Currier today and it was a delight! Many different food stations - all looked very appealing, fresh and delicious! It's only available on the second Sundays of the month and you need to make a reservation. You can do the reservation online. Very easy. We went for a birthday celebration and it was lovely. Bar had a number of choices. Will definitely be back!

Free on Saturdays before noon for NH residents; honors memberships with several other museums, including the Danforth Museum of Framingham, MA. Decent amount of parking in a lot; plenty of street parking in area, Cafeteria has a nice variety of decently priced snacks and drinks. A number of varied collections--none should be called extensive, but rather representative of periods; Shaker, baroque, Rococo, modern, cubist, and more. I don't recall seeing any Impressionist style art. There are several areas and rooms focusing on introducing the kids to art, On the day I visited, the special exhibit was "For Freedom", which was inspired by Roosevelt's and Rockwell's The Four Freedoms. Great exhibit. I recommend everyone see it. As it was a Saturday morning and admission was free for NH residents, parking was tight and the museum was crowded. Within a few hours the crowd had thinned. I'm pleased to say that people were polite. Definitely worth a visit.

This museum is a little smaller than I'm used to. That doesn't change the fact that there are amazing works of art here. This is a gem in the city of Manchester and for people who enjoy art and museums, not one to be missed.

When you walk into this museum, not only will you feel like you have just stepped outside of New Hampshire , but for art-lovers off all sorts...it's like a breath of fresh air. To see such famous historical artists names is such a pleasure. The museum itself is well taken care of and highly organized. It also includes a cafe. I highly recommend everyone see for themselves.

Was followed by the staff all the time. Would have better time browsing the paintings on the Google images instead of coming there.

Musty! Allergy sufferers beware! Mildew hit me right away in the foyer/gift shop. Large exhibit, furniture, and Europe rooms were also quite bad. Attacked my throat and my lungs. Hours later, I still have laryngitis. Could only stay 30 minutes. Museums, of all places, need dehumidifying/pure air systems. This was the worst I've ever experienced anywhere. If I had spotted just one such review, I would have stayed away or at least would have been armed with allergy meds! Also, quite small esp. relative to the admission price. Had I been able to take my time, I would not have spent more that 90 minutes. Should have asked for a refund! Skip it and go to Boston.

I went today for special free programs celebrating the week off from school. Obviously, the Currier is not as big a collection as the MFA, but it does have the advantage of a friendly staff and free parking. Also, the 'winter garden' cafe is much less expensive and has healthy snacks. They have wine, beer, juice, milk, etc. They have veggie plates, pita chips and tabouille, cheese varieties with grapes, etc. As for the collection I found it quite well rounded. They have a lot of local artists and subjects. They also have the big names; a Singer Sargent, a great Wyeth, Picasso, Chagall, Monet, a sculpture by Rodin, a lamp by Tiffany,etc. I enjoyed the regional furniture, pewter, pottery, sculpture and glass collections. As it is not as sprawling and clogged with art students as the MFA, you can easily see the whole thing in a few hours. They also have great kids programs making it a nice outing.

The Currier is yet another example of the kind of New England museum I've grown to love: deeply rooted in its community, collections that are linked to personalities or artists of the area and interesting rotating exhibits. In California, my former home, a museum like the Currier was a rare bird. Although not large by any means, I enjoyed their American collection the most. Great examples of 19th and early 20th century New Hampshire landscapes and landscape artists, with a few Bierstadt, Hassam, a Wyeth, Hopper and some beautiful colonial furniture thrown in for good measure (some Herter Brothers, too). Having never seen the Currier in its previous incarnation, I was impressed by the new public spaces. Some nice European pieces as well. A small version of the 'encyclopedic' museums such as the MFA and the Met. I look forward to coming back and seeing the Frank Lloyd Wright house under the museum's care.

I went to the Currier for the Backstage Pass: Rock & Roll Photography exhibit. Not having realized that they also offer tours of the Zimmerman House, the only Frank Lloyd Wright home open to the public in New England. We went before noon on Saturday to gain free entrance. We were able to get a reservation for the Zimmerman tour as well. At $20, $16 for students, it seemed a bit pricey. I will say I was happy to have seen it, never having seen a Wright house up close. My favorite piece was "The Family" by Marisol Escobar. Since I could probably sit for hours and watch Fusion II spin so I guess that's a close second. We enjoyed the museum and especially enjoyed the original entrance and foyer area which now leads to the cafe. We went to the cafe for lunch and split a sandwich. Word to the wise, without checking I purchased a $4 iced tea. Since my sandwich was only $9 I thought $4 for a tea was a bit steep. Overall it was a lovely way to spend a Saturday with the BF. I would definitely go back, making sure to go when it is free to get in.

Went to the Saint Gaudens exhibit and it was superb. The contextual components of explaining Saint Gaudens work was fabulous. The bust of Shaw and some of the soldiers were worth the visit alone- if you, like I, love the Bronze relief of Shaw and the 52nd Massachusetts Regiment, this section of the exhibit is worth the visit alone. Visitors are able to get close to the exhibited sculptures and examine the stunning work. Plaster casts juxtaposed with bronze castings allows for some comparison of the intricacies of the work. Sketches, scale drawings with measurements, and a displayed sculpted wood/metal, andsemi precious stone panel from JJ Astor's home also illustrates the depth of Saint Gauden's abilities. Letters to Saint Gaudens from President Theodore Roosevelt are fascinating and funny. This is a not to be missed exhibit. Also went through the rest of the first floor- terrific glass paperweight exhibit including from contemporary glass artists from New Boston NH - The Ayottes. Only a few minor criticisms. We were glad to have a library pass since we had reduced admission. The admission price is $15/pp for adults This seems a little pricey. And there were some errors in the descriptions of the modern art area. The art throughout has little focus on diversity - it is geared to white european based artists. But that being said, it is still a great place.

I enjoyed the tour guide. They have several guided tours, and there's also an audio tour. The collection isn't huge, but they have some choice paintings like an early Monet. I like their one Monet better than any of the Monets at Boston's MFA. This early Monet seems more like realism than impressionism. Part of the museum's collection is the Isadore J. and Lucille Zimmerman House designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Zimmerman-house tours must be booked in advance, and I think it's only available from April through December. I'm from Massachusetts and I'm not very familiar with Manchester. It seems to be more like a big college town than a city.

A really good local museum. Too bad the recent addition totally destroyed the original building entrance and flavor. Whoever designed and approved the prison-like add on will definitely be condemned to art/architecture hell.

Somehow, I had never been here, but always wanted to visit this museum so close to home. So, we ventured to Manchester on a dismal late spring day with our local library passes which took care of the admission price for both of us. Fantastic! Being a weekday, the place was not crowded and we were able to roam the many rooms of displays to our hearts content. Some of the items exhibited belonged to the museum and others were on loan from other places. Everything was nicely displayed with relevant information posted with each item. It was mind provoking to see paintings by such artists as Monet, Grandma Moses and Picasso. Even though there may have only been 1 each, it was a privilege to have the opportunity to see them and so well worth the visit. There was also a special exhibit on display when we were there---Killer Heels on loan from the Brooklyn Museum of Art. There was an extra $8 charge to see this and since my general admission had been free I figured why not, plus I love shoes! I am so glad I did. There were shoes of all kinds dating back to the 1600s to today! The style of many was amazing and an architectural feat unto their own. Can't ever imagine walking in some! Great exhibit! Overall a great experience! Will hopefully go back again soon!

We went on a Saturday to see the special exhibition, Backstage Pass: Rock & Roll Photography, in town from Maine. We took the tour and got to see the Karen Karnes pottery special exhibition as well as the Currier's permanent collection. Both of these were pleasant surprises--the Karnes works were beautiful, and the permanent collection has works from Monet, Picasso, and O'Keefe among other artists--from the Americas, Europe, Asia, and New England. I used my NHPR Member Card for 2 for 1 admission. We'll return to the museum to spend more time in the Backstage Pass exhibition, hopefully on a Saturday morning, because it was just that awesome. We didn't eat at the Winter Garden cafe, though it is certainly a lovely space. Looking for some postcards of the paintings and photographs I particularly admired, I stopped into the gift shop, but I had no luck finding any. I'd also like to see the Zimmermann House at some point too. All in all, our museum visit certainly made for a pleasant Saturday afternoon.

What a grand day! Very knowledgeable staff and excellent exhibits! What a gorgeous, thoughtfully crafted museum with intricate art detailing in the building itself! I'd highly recommend taking the time to mosey into the gift shop as well. They have some very interesting finds.

Killing time between airport pickups, I stopped by here in late August. They had a wonderful special exhibit on photojournalism from the VietNam war, along with lots of handwritten comments by visitors - all very moving. There broad range of art on display is pretty amazing for a small town in NH - from Italian Renaissance to contemporary. Had lunch in the "cafe" here - serene setting but pretty dull food - sandwiches and salads. Tasty enough, and I guess who can't expect too much as I bet they don't get a lot of business.

We arrived for the Zimmerman House tour early so took the opportunity to go through the museum since it was included in the fee. It's a small museum, but has a nice collection of art, glasswork, furniture, pewter ware. I was very impressed to see they had a Van Gogh, Monet. Renoir and even a Rubens! The special exhibit on the Viet Nam was very moving and very well done. They had places where you could write you thoughts about the war or write to a current service member and express your gratitude for their service to our county. A very nice touch.

I took a group of residents here from the retirement community I work at, and I must say, the staff - especially those working in the café - were fantastic. Very patient with us and accommodating. The museum itself is just enough to get through in 2 -3 hours, especially if you are visiting with elderly individuals. For myself, I especially enjoyed the Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit, and the beautiful paintings in the American Art portion of the White Mountains and Mount Monadnock. Living in New Hampshire, I have seen many of those spots in person, but I never get tired of seeing Mt Monadnock or Chocorua. Lovely gift shop and easily accessible. Would highly recommend to others - our residents had a fantastic time!

Excellent museum with very strong permanent collection. My favorites are within the modern and contemporary collection; highlights include Picasso, Marsden Hartley, Louise Nevelson, Arthur Dove, Glenn Ligon. Also great representation of early European, and great representation of NH artists as well. There is an on site cafe in the Winter Garden which provides a nice spot to un wind afterwards. The Currier is a true gem in New Hampshire.

Unless you're in Manchester without anything to do or a local of New Hampshire, this isn't a place worth an extended trip out of the way to visit. Sure you can appreciate it as a part of New Hampshire's little museum to call their own, but unless you have a connection here it's bleh. The "Winter Room" was the newly created cafe area. Wandered around the galleries in about 45 min. Went cause Saturdays 10am-12am were free. Free parking.