Paine Art Center & Gardens

As a wedding photographer, I’ve photographed hundreds of different wedding venues, but there’s something undeniably special about The Paine Art Center and Gardens. The historic estate, intricate architecture, and stunning gardens create many beautiful backdrops for your wedding photos. (Which is why I hosted my own wedding here!!) I also LOVE the staff here. Everyone is so welcoming, kind, and professional. This truly is an all-around incredible venue that creates unforgettable memories.

Visited the Nutcracker Story throughout the Paine Art Center. Absolutely gorgeous! They have a scavenger hunt for mice, beautiful trees, the rooms follow the Nutcracker story, a beautiful gift shop and the Sugar Plum Fairies Cupcake Cafe. This was my second year visiting and I will go again. All ages and boys and girls, mom's and dad's and Grandpa's and Grandma came to visit and smile! Highly Recommend!!!🩰 This was based on a self guided tour.🥰

We attended the Paine Art Center Nutcracker event for the guided tour with live music, acting and guest ballet dancers. It is marvelous. The building is a museum on its own, but the holiday decorations are outstanding. There are 76 different Christmas tree very ornately decorated. Actor and dancers were great. We'll go again next year. Be sure to book your trip ahead, it fills up months ahead.

The Paine Art Center and Garden is a very nice little art museum and Garden. They have a lot of special traveling exhibits that come and go which is impressive for such a small museum. Overall, the museum and gardens are great. The only issue I have is the museum is very small and it does not take long to walk through without a special exhibit which is a bummer. This is a small problem though. If you are in Oshkosh or from Oshkosh you should visit this museum and garden.

What a lovely place! The Fox Cities is blessed to have the Paine Art Center and Gardens. We did a walk-through during the Christmas season and were the lighted by all of the decorations! It would be really amazing to check out the nutcracker show as well.

This place is very boring. It has the same boring decorations every year. please improve it. I’ll bring my seven-year-old and my three-year-old here and I think they almost died of boredom. I’m not even joking. My kids asked me if we drove one hour for this. There are also barely any staff members. it’s also very cold and toys can have their clothes taken off easily. some of the decorations were cool, but they are very similar and they are the same as last year and last year and last year and last year. The decorations are also very similar and repetitive. We would love the place if they could maybe try and redecorate at least a little bit.

I drive up here frequently for their gardens and special exhibits. The Nutcracker Castle at Christmas is a must see. Bring children! Borrow them if need be. It's delightful to see the children's reaction to the Nutcracker story unfolding as they walk through the decorative mansion.

As a vendor(DJ, Exceptional Entertainment) that travels all over the state of WI, I can honestly say that the Paine is a top my list for venues to work with. Their staff is knowledgable, friendly and very easy to work with. They truly care about making every wedding the absolute best it can be. The outdoor ceremony areas are absolutely gorgeous. Uplighting truly transforms the space adding a splash of color to the room. If you're looking for a place that truly cares about you, you're looking in the right place.

YOU GUYS. My husband and I came here during the day - during the annual light festival - and it was by far, one of the coolest things ways to spend the day. The house itself is very cool to tour -- the history, the 3 levels of rooms, the decor, the vibes, the insanely cool architecture, all of it was worth the $12 price tag of a ticket. With the installations all over, it created a fun vibe and way to experience the Paine family estate! The gardens are gorgeous -- featuring all kinds of flowers, plants, a fountain, water features, super pretty views and romantic vibes. We spent a good hour wandering the property and would easily return on a future visit!

The Nature of Light exhibit was so beautiful both indoor and outdoor. The sculptures were amazing and the displays very creative. It was nice to see a performance at the midway point and also have wine and beer and snacks available. There was a nice gift shop at the midway point as well.

Great night light experience through the gardens, would love to come during the day sometime too. Added bonus were the hula hoop show and the poi show. Loved it! The art pieces were amazing!

Great rotating exhibits. I've been to their Hmong tapestry and Rodin sculpture exhibits and both were wonderful. (Rodin was better, as it was incorporated throughout the mansion). The garden is gorgeous and the mansion is quite interesting. Lots of spots for stunning photos. Fall and spring were each its own beauty. I should try it in the summer and winter as well.

This is an exceptional exhibit!!!! It's magical; it's beautiful/ breathtaking; it's stunning; fun; and certainly a very special experience. !! The " outdoor light entertainment performance" was also great. Having a drink in the relaxing conservatory was a very nice way to end our evening. I didn't purchase a " lit" piece being offered for sale; but I have plans to go back . I felt there was a nice variety of items available to purchase outside. I did not go inside,YET, this year. But, have done so in the past and enjoyed as well. I consider it a MUST SEE .... and am thrilled our community has this available. The Paine is an outstanding setting for this. The " staff" were exceptionally helpful, insightful, kind, etc. The 8 of us had a fabulous time! .... ... talked a lot about it the next day!! FYI: We had a dinner at a nearby restaurant and walked to the Paine.

Beautiful garden. If you've got a guest house not attached to your primary house, you'll probably find friends here!

What a simply enchanting place to visit. The grounds are pristine, the manor house is splendid and the exhibits were breathtaking. The staff were very helpful and every customer experience was thought out and executed spectacularly. We went to see the Oxford insect photography exhibit. That was a joy and fascinating. If their next exhibition is as well done, we may make it a habit of stopping by. Plus, from what I could see, Paine makes a great event space.

I never knew of this place but that isn't a surprise since I had only once been to Oshkosh at the EAA museum decades ago before moving back to Wisconsin. My sister heard about the Christmas tree/ Nutcracker display and bought tickets. So we drove on up on a December Monday morning with a reservation in hand. I was thoroughly stunned by not just the Christmas displays but the house itself. Wow what a beautiful building and an interesting history. The woodwork in this former lumber baron's palace is awe inspiring. We watched the video in the lower level after touring the home where we learned much about the builders and the history. The Christmas decorations were fantastic some of the best I have seen. The candy cane room was our favorite - very whimsical. The staff was very helpful and friendly. I am guessing even with reservations this place would be jammed on weekends in December. It would be worth a return trip to see their gardens in summer. Highly recommended.

Wow, we came here just in time before the rain came pouring down. Admission is reasonable and able to see all the rooms too. My son was pretty patient and we enjoyed seeing both indoors and outdoor garden. There is a detached meeting space which was huge for weddings. Overall, it is a nice property and had a nice basement space for kids to do arts and crafts. I would have wished they had some program for my son to enjoy. But, he was quite content with puzzles and some paper to doodle on.

So fun!! I went to this today and I had a lot of fun (These photos are only during the nutcracker) It was so well decorated!! They really took their time, there was 61 mice and too many nutcrackers too count, they also have a gift shop, and restrooms! -Kid friendly -Not pet friendly( unless service animals)

Wow! Really! Wow! I have not seen the Paine during the day, so this review pertains to their Nature of Light show in the evening. I purchased the pass to see the mansion and grounds, and I was so very impressed! You have to look at some of the pictures since words won't do. I went thinking I would be in and out in less than an hour, but spent over two hours there. We also watched a light dancing performance too, very fun. By the way, the staff is very friendly and informative. Very, very nice and welcoming people.

Tibetan Monks Mandala exhibit did not disappoint! The Paine Art Center is beautiful on its own and worth a visit but this weeks exhibits has been one for the record books. I took my honey to the Paine for the first time on Monday for his birthday dinner. It was his first time and Monday's we discovered are free courtesy of Community First Credit Union (thanks guys )! We spent the afternoon walking through the mansion and viewing the stunning photography exhibit. The overall theme was about how this incredible rich culture lives with love and compassion, a must see in itself! It didn't stop there though... in the back of the museum grounds were monks creating a beautiful mandala made of sand. This creation was created over the course of the week and they have morning meditation sessions that the public could attend. This is something you've gotta see for yourself! There are a few days left before they leave so get there quick!

The Paine just gets better year after year. I grew up in Oshkosh and have been to the Paine many times. Now as an adult I appreciate their exhibits even more. The Nutcracker in the Castle Dec/Jan is a must see. Each room represents a part of the Nutcracker story and the design and decoration is stunning. Throughout the year in addition to their many exhibits, they offer classes in the newly built conservatory. I attended a flower arranging class as well as a wine and painting class. Really fun!

We got tickets to Nutcracker in the Castle for my elderly parents. While I knew my mom would love the tour, I was concerned about her ability to walk the entire thing. Within minutes of arrival, the staff (or perhaps volunteers) offered her a wheelchair and did such a great job making sure she and my dad got through the tour. And of course, the holiday decor is unbelievably gorgeous!

After reading the reviews and talking to locals, I went here expecting to be floored. I was... well, not impressed. I mean, it's fine, but not spectacular. Main gallery had Chihuly glass, which was pretty cool. The gardens were small and, maybe I'm jaded, but not all that impressive. The house is a mansion, but it was never lived in, and I got a sense of a recreation of something that never existed. Bedrooms, etc., set up as if the family were there, but it's just speculative. Impressive architecture. Docents were a bit snotty, and clustered by the entrance talking amongst themselves instead of wandering and being helpful.

The Paine Art Center always has beautiful exhibits and the loveliest gardens. Most recently, I visited with family to see the Nutcracker In The Castle exhibit and it was really impressive. Beautiful Christmas trees decorated within an inch of their lives! They're kind of works of art themselves. In the warmer months it is an absolute must to tour all of their gardens. They've also had really impressive exhibits like, Tiffany Lamps, Andy Warhol, film costumes, Norman Rockwell, etc.

If you've been to the Taj Mahal, Biltmore, Hearst Castle, Windsor Castle, Empire State Building, Gugenheim Museum, Eiffel Tower, Falling Water or the Parthenon and you are inclined to tell people you've been to such places you might be disappointed w/the Paine. If you live like 99% of the country you will be impressed and awed by the Paine details.

Came here with my parents to see the Nutcracker exhibit. The museum is laid out like a house and each room was decorated with different nutcrackers and Christmas trees. The exhibit was on the main and second floor. There's a lower level, but I think there was something else was there. There's also a lot of beautiful paintings and furniture. If you're taking pictures, don't use your flash...my Mom got yelled at for that lol. If you've never been to the Paine, go when it's warmer out so you can walk through the garden. If you love the arts, then this is the place to go in Oshkosh.

This was my first trip to the Paine, and I was very impressed. All the woodworking and architectural detail that the house has, especially the wood scrolled trim indoors by staircase, were really nice. We saw a Floral exhibit, put on by various floral merchants in the area. The various dinner tables in the Great Hall, all themed, were wonderful. Perhaps a few more floral displays throughout the rest of the house would have been welcome. All rooms clearly labeled as to original intent and features. The refurbished Coach House had more flowers. Enroute to the Coach House, I could see the various garden bed shapes outlined, waiting for Spring to come to life again. A coupon got us 2 for 1 entry, so, a great price. A nice winter pick me up for a weary gardener! I'll be back for the tulips. I hear they are great.

For a museum outside a major metropolitan area this is "As good as it gets!" I took my wife there today because of her love of art and gardens. The current exhibition is a collection of family portraits by the American Impressionist Wm. Merritt Chase. Very interesting. An enthusiastic docent was there spreading her knowledge. We then proceeded to check out the rest of the mansion, its fancy furnishings and the other art they have. Very interesting also because of the wide variety of stuff. The aboundant art pieces are well labelled for the most part; that helps make roaming the mansion more interesting. The architecture and features such as elaborate carving is very interesting. Then we went outside to tour their gardens. There are about 5 gardens with different themes, e.g. a formal garden. They are small compared with an awesome place like the Minnesota Botanical Gardens but still had an excellent variety. We learned about their winter Nutcracker performances in their Great Hall and other rooms. It sounds pretty cool. Adult admission in $9. Overall in summer it is, as Nicole V. says about Nutcracker time, well worth the money.

Came during the holidays for the nutcracker house. Really quite beautiful. Worth the trip and money. The decorations are inspiring and festive.

A wonderful place for assorted entertainment/Venue. I have officiated several weddings here and the couples have always been satisfied with the Paine's staff management of their big day. The gardens are exceptionally beautiful and kept up by a horticulture garden club of Oshkosh (Good job people!) The attractions change seasonally. Winter always brings The Nutcracker. Support the center by buy purchasing season passes. http://www.thepaine.org/

I'll be honest, the boyfriend and I have a membership, but we mainly use it to take friends from out of town -- we hardly ever just come here ourselves. However, a variety of friends and family have enjoyed the Paine, so the membership has more than paid for itself. Plus, you get 4 guest passes when you buy a membership, which apparently you can just give to people to use (I'm a little slow on the uptake sometimes). Entry is casual, and with a membership card, they just wave you in and ask how many today. Enough of a membership commercial, on to the actual house and gardens! The house is neat, but not really that large, so it can get a little old after repeated visits. The Downton Abbey exhibit was a huge hit with my family, but beware of going between exhibits -- we accidentally went while they were taking down the Nutcracker, and it was pretty meh. They have a ton of herbs and edibles (Swiss chard, artichokes, etc.) in the gardens, but when the boyfriend asked if he could pick some, they said no. So, you're growing all this stuff to die on the vine? Kinda weird. Overall, it's an interesting piece of history, but not a regular spot for me.

The wood working in this place is breath taking. All the carvings in the wood and not to mention the beautiful furniture. The first time I visited was for the "Downtown Abbey" show case this summer with my mother and a friend. We were more interested in the building than the clothes. I came back for "Nutcracker in the Castle" and honestly that was amazing. I took my husband with me and he was in love with the architecture and decorating of the building. We also loved that they had each room decorated like part of the story. I think if you have never been you need to stop in to see this place.

This is a lovely art museum in a lovely old mansion with fantastic gardens. I was here for the Chihuly exhibit which was really fantastic. Gorgeous stuff at a gorgeous venue. I'd love to see it decorated at Christmas!

Meh. I was recently in Oshkosh because the hubby wanted to attend the famed airshow. I found out about Paine during internet searching and made my plan to go there expecting a lot more. Somehow the website and other sources made out like the gardens were THE thing about it. I was expecting acres and acres. It was more like a big backyard. Very disappointing. Back home in LA I can visit the much more expansive Descanso, Arboretum, or Huntington. These gardens were SAD. The house was nice but since it was never lived in it did leave one a bit cold. The special exhibition was of Matisse prints. Fine, but that killed 5 minutes. What I do recommend is going kitty-corner across the street to the Oshkosh Public Museum. Fantastic! And two bucks cheaper than Paine! One can easily spend a couple of hours in the OPM, which is chock full of exhibits about the history (western, native & ancient) of Oshkosh and the Lake Winnebago area. Terrific.

We visited the Paine for the Nutcracker in the Castle and were blown away we brought friends from Chicago with us and they said it was as great as Chicago events. Land of the sweets was sooo cool!

I attended a wedding here and it was pretty neat. I didn't know about this place beforehand. The mansion is very nice with detailed woodwork that's really gorgeous. Definitely worth checking out!

I love going to the Paine art center in the spring time it's absolutely beautiful. The staff does an amazing job!