Norman Rockwell Museum

If you’re a Norman Rockwell fan, this museum is an absolute must-see. I visited on a particularly snowy day, so I didn’t get to see the grounds, but the museum was absolutely delightful. Admission is $25 for adults and I appreciated the suggestion of starting the touring downstairs. They had a short film on Rockwell and an astonishing selection of his Evening Post covers. Upstairs featured more of his paintings and I believe if you visit in the Springtime, you can get a tour of his studio. My only complaint is that I would have loved to see more! Norman Rockwell is one of the few artists who I enjoy ALL of his work. I also could have done without the current Jazz Age exhibition, not because it wasn’t well done, but I felt it took away the focus from Rockwell. The museum and Stockbridge present a best opportunity for a day trip, so if you have the time take the opportunity and GO!

In addition to all of Norman Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post covers, on display were numerous of his early works as well as some of this later works, including works on social commentary. His brilliant way of illustrating a moment of time that is a rich and full experience is masterful. The gift shop inside the museum holds many worthwhile keepsake treasures. We loved the Jazz Age Illustration pieces on display as they overlapped the same timeline as Rockwell’s. This is a definite must-see experience for every Norman Rockwell fan.

A visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum is an experience not to be missed. The grounds and buildings are very well-kept. Rockwell was an incredible artist, and seeing so many of his magazine covers and other artworks was a delight. He was a true master of capturing the human spirit. We also had the pleasure to see an exhibit of Walter Wick's Hidden Wonders, and some great sculptures on the grounds.

I just visited the museum and like to say it was a beautiful experience for me and my wife. We were even able to pick apples at the Rockwell apple grove, that was one of the things on our bucket list. The whole museum and grounds are well worth the visit. I never expected to see all these amazing paintings and structures on the grounds. The building where he lived in and did his paintings, that is a must visit and is worth the price. So don’t miss that if you visit the site.if you new to artworks like me, then it would be and educational experience for you. Enjoy 😉

We were on a short driving tour of the Berkshires and we stayed in Lenox as a base. Each day, we drove out to see various historic sites like the gilded age mansions and of course the Rockwell Museum. Due to our schedule, we had to visit on the day the museum is closed to the public. So we parked and walked all around the grounds around the main building and down to his studio. Lots of outdoor sculptures to look at as we walked around.

Great place to visit when you are in Berkshire, Massachusetts. It has big collections of his painting about all American life in his periods. He was a great portrait painter too. His last painting was in 1963 at the end of that year for Saturday Evening post of New York with the portrait of JFK who was assassinated in November of 1963 the estate is quite large with pastoral feel. Anyway I learned it elsewhere that his life was not as happy as he portray in his paintings because if the painting was not happy one the journal with rejected it. So the paintings were the projections of the life he wish he had. His real life was that of unhappy, insecure and sad and depression somewhere in between. I do enjoy this museum. It was my second visit here. The last time was nearly 10 years ago.

Norman Rockwell Museum. There are some nice grounds that you can walk and it was the right time of the year with the apples were just falling out of the tree. Museum was very clean with plenty of things to see. Had the entire collection of Saturday evening post covers. Definitely recommend if you’re in the area.

They don't give any real information about Norman's life in Arlington VT. He had 2 homes in VT. One he accidentally burnt down. The second, Rockwell's Retreat, is right down the road. It has been lovingly restored including his studio which, with the help and love of Arlington people who knew Norman and were his models, gave the new owners so much insight that it is truly like walking into the studio and expecting to see Norman. Don't stop just at the museum in Stockbridge, go up 7A highway to Rockwell's Retreat in Arlington VT. If you love Norman's work, then you can't leave out the years of his life in Arlington.

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I really enjoyed the museum and all of the art of Norman Rockwell's. Their exhibit they are running of Tony Sarg's marionettes and artwork is very cool too. There are walking trails outside you can wander about. It's a beautiful place to visit.

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.

Norman Rockwell covers of The Saturday Evening Post were a part of my youth in a small MidWest town. I believe part of the reason I learned to read well at a young age, was because of my enjoyment of 'his' magazine ( and, of course, McCalls with the paper dolls;) This museum is definitely fascinating with over 300 covers from early 1900s to 1963, when his last cover was of JFK. The museum store and the attached, open-air Runaway cafe were equally pleasant. I had the garden salad that was crisp n fresh-a perfect stop on the viranda with gorgeous views of the grounds and distant mountains.

Although I am a fan of Norman Rockwell, I have to give a negative review based on the following: We diverted to see the museum while headed down the Taconic State Highway, and added the 60 mile trip deviation from the interstate to see the museum. Rt 90 is a toll road just FYI We arrived late in the day due to traffic and scheduling issues, and as such were reticent to buy tickets because we had limited time to see the exhibits; I was assured by the elderly matron there would be sufficient time and unfettered access to everything. So I handed over the 40$ admission for me and the wife, which I felt was a little steep, but began the tour nonetheless. We were unimpressed. Very few actual renderings and paintings on display.; a lot of magazine covers though. We wanted to see his studio, but was told there are no more tours for the day, so yes, there are schedules for that, we were well past the last one when I purchased my ticket even though I verified with the attendant there would be no restrictions. There was a large exhibit from another artist on display, which I estimate took about a third of the museum; I did not drive there to see his work and was pretty disappointed. Took a brief tour of the nearby picturesque town (so it has been described) but it was less than a block long, most things closed and the Red Lion Inn everyone recommended for food was fully reserved. My opinion, is a big swing and a miss; likely going to dispute the charge with Amex that's how upset I am over the misrepresentation prior to my purchase.

How can you not be a Rockwell fan? Even if you are not, this is a first class tribute to probably the most relatable of American artists. You start with a very informative 10 or 15 minute film that gives you a great background on Rockwell, his life and how he viewed his art. In the room is a collection of all the Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers that are original. It was a great start. We all know so many of his works and they are collected here. We ate at Joe's Diner in Lee, MA before we came here which was the setting for The Runaway. Besides the cover Rockwell did several Civil Rights paintings that were displayed.

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.

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.

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.

The grounds are delightful. Overlooking the Berkshire mountains was breath taking and impressive. It really is no wonder that Norman himself would get inspired with views such as that. The museum itself was great but I think I was expecting more for the price. We were done seeing everything in about an hour and a half including the videos they have. Maybe it's because of Covid and things are limited now. They did say that they plan on opening his studio up again for tours, but right now all you could do is see the grounds surrounding the actual studio which again; was beautiful but the trip felt a little uneventful. I would love to return to Stockbridge, but not necessarily the museum itself.

We had a rainy day in Lenox mass so took advantage of exploring the Norman Rockwell museum. If you just want to walk the grounds and look at the very interesting modern sculptures, there is no fee. To enter the museum you pay admission. Before my visit, I did not have a good appreciation of Norman Rockwell's talent and artistry. Now he is one of my favorite all-time artists. As the impending hurricane Henri was approaching (first hurricane to this area in 30 years), we took advantage of exploring the grounds as well as Norman Rockwell's studio. We spent about an hour and a half in the museum itself. You should plan to spend perhaps 2 to 3 hours in total here. So many neat stories of Norman Rockwell's life, and his portrayal of the American story. Quite memorable.

Enjoyed the tour. Worth the price of admission to see and experience the legacy of Norman Rockwell. The original pieces are incredible.

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

Nice experience not too out of the way. We took the guided tour of the studio. Very informative in quick time. Plan for dining before or after you arrive as there are few options in Stockbridge. See my Red Lion review.

Cute little place; I really enjoyed the way they laid out the exhibition. It was an illustration of race which they set up chronologically but peppered in some of Norman Rockwell's stuff that fit the theme. I really enjoyed the recent works in this exhibit. They had others, a Lincoln exhibit which also included some of Rockwell's related pieces. Pretty location and a pleasant staff there. We didn't go into his studio, ran out of time.

Amazing museum with all of his masterpieces in one building. The 4 freedoms are there. The staff are super helpful and pieces are more incredible in person than what you see in magazines or online photos. Worth a trip if you're in the North Adam's, Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge area of Western Massachusetts

It's $20 per person to get in. If you have a teachers card you get in free. It was pretty cool. Well kept and clean. The pictures are of a cool stone sculpture outside. The videos gave information which was well put together and interesting. It is not a big place but the gift shop is cool. It's a one and done place where it's cool to see once but don't really need to keep going back. Beautiful Norman Rockwell art :) my favorite was the room full of his post covers! Staff friendly and professional

The staff was fabulous. Nice layout of all Norman's works. Wonderful gifts shop. Something for everyone

Lovely museum with a great history. We enjoyed the chat at rockwells studio and the new artists installation.

Loved this place! We took the 1 hour guided tour and the guide was very informative. We then spent another hour or more looking at the art work. They have a great gift shop with friendly staff. Very wheelchair accessible! They have accessible restrooms, an elevator to access the lower level. There is plenty of handicap parking, however only a couple had proper lined out space between the spaces. There is signage leaving the parking lot directing you to the path on the left which is less of a steep grade than directly up the hill.

I visited the Norman Rockwell Museum on a really beautiful day. It was a Monday holiday during peak leaf peeping season and the place was packed! The grounds and buildings are just beautiful. I thought the museum displays and information was nice but it wasn't very large. One of the rooms was dedicated to an exhibit on 1960s advertising that wasn't even done by Norman Rockwell. It is a very beautiful space and I'm glad I got to see it. If you keep driving a bit further you can see the Housatonic River which is pretty breathtaking and the town of Stockbridge is picture perfect as well! Really nice autumn day!

I love this museum. Next time, we will come without my kids so we can spend more time enjoying this amazing place. I loved the pictures and the stories behind them. Some of them were so moving, especially Norman Rockwell's pictures of segregation and racism. I also loved the pictures depicting the transition from childhood to becoming a young adult. His vision was so unique and beautiful - something that a collectors plate does not capture. While we were there they were also having a Hanna-Barbera expedition. It was fun to see all the old cartoons and the collectible toys. The museum store was really nice. They had lovely reproductions of most of the work in the museum. The staff was also super friendly.

Very nice grounds and intro movie. But very few Rockwell paintings. There are other exhibits a la woke from same era which although kindred to Rockwell's sentiments of the day, seem politically positioned to gain grants or favorable tax favor from the government. Ie "where's the beef."? Apparently several of Rockwell's paintings were sold at auction to bail out the museum. Too bad.

Beautiful grounds. Plan on packing a picnic lunch if you are visiting the museum. Teachers are free for the museum so bring identification. I started downstairs where you could view a video about Norman Rockwell. Then continued upstairs to the gallery area. Outside you can visit his studio. They also have a cut outdoor cafe.

Visited for the "Enchanted" Fantasy artwork exhibit. As a long-time Magic The Gathering fan, it was really cool to see the context for some of my favorite cards. Norman Rockwell's stuff was nice as well. I learned a lot about this legendary artist. The gift shop was cool too, I got some cool Norman Rockwell merchandise

What a fantastic museum! Norman Rockwell captured Twentieth Century America like no other illustrationist. The Museum is an incredible display of his works as well as telling Rockwell's life story and his artistic process. If you have admired his work you will love the museum. If you're not a fan, you will be. The museum offers a brief movie that takes you through Rockwell's career and is a good way to start your tour. A docent provides an excellent presentation with more depth and will answer questions. And do not miss Rockwell's studio after visiting the museum. It really brings his work together. There is a nice gift shop as well as a restaurant on site.

Classic paintings from the master. Great tribute to this American painter. There are four main galleries, plus a display of his 200+ post covers.

Visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum was one of the top highlights of our recent trip to the Berkshires. My wife is a huge fan of Norman Rockwell, so we knew we had to hit this place early (we got here a short while after opening). Although I'm not as big a fan as my wife of this illustrator/artist, I, too really enjoy Norman Rockwell's work and was excited to see more of his work up close and learn more about him. Altogether, we spent over 3 hours exploring this attraction (that's saying something--it's not exactly a big place), and yet I already find myself wanting to go back to explore more. The museum not only helped me learn more about Mr. Rockwell's work, but it also helped me grow an even greater appreciation of this American icon. When we arrived at the museum, the first thing we did was place our coats in the coat room. Although I wouldn't recommend placing valuables in there (they do have lockers available, but there's nobody personally supervising your coats), I actually felt very safe putting our coats and scarves there. In fact, there's a real feeling of "home" in this place and everyone seems very excited to be there. We then headed to the admissions stand to purchase our tickets ($20 per person, with discounts for students, kids, older adults, etc.). Overall, it's a great value! They also offer membership, which will help you save if you plan to visit often. Another great feature of this museum is that they offer iPads and audio tapes for a small charge, or you can simply access the museum website on your own device using their free wifi. Most paintings/illustrations include a number at the top of their respective information plaques to quickly locate the additional info (audio and text) on your device. A short while after we arrived, we learned there would be an 11:00am gathering in the main hall for anyone who wanted to learn more about Norman Rockwell. A museum educator arrived promptly at 11 and explained the history and details of several paintings and how they related to the artist's life (in many cases, she was also able to discuss the exact locations in nearby Stockbridge that inspired the setting and the models Mr. Rockwell used in one or often recurring illustrations). She spoke for about 30 minutes (providing some really interesting information) and then gave us some more details about the events of the day (and the best way to explore the museum). For the next 3 hours, my wife and I moved from painting to painting (there are 400 located here) on both floors of the museum. We used our iPhones to access additional information and spent time discussing what we loved about our favorites. There are so many details in each illustration (and such a rich story in the simplest of images) that we really found ourselves losing our sense of time and taking it all in. We also enjoyed the lower level, which is easy to miss but includes a short video (about 5 minutes long) describing Norman Rockwell's life and work. Before leaving, I'd also recommend stopping by the gift shop. You can purchase everything from small magnets to large canvas paintings (framed and shipped directly to your home). We of course left with a few souveniers to take home. Overall, both of us enjoyed every aspect of this museum. I would visit again in a heartbeat!

This is a true gem hidden in the Berks. Online reservations required. The bathrooms were nice and the gift shop had everything we could hope for. I must have bought $25 in postcards! The café outside was adorable and delicious. Customer service was top notch everywhere. This was our favorite museum on our road trip across America because Rockwell has a knack for humorous facial expressions. We loved the basement exhibit of every cover he did for the Saturday Evening Post. The opener exhibit (not Rockwell) was cute until I realized it had some adult themes so I pulled my children to the next wing.