The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Art museum · Rockhill
4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111
Highlights
Art collection spanning 5,000 years, plus a sculpture garden.
Art collection spanning 5,000 years, plus a sculpture garden.
"There are many Christian relics in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, but one is of particular interest. A glass vial among the gold and silver religious objects holds what is, upon closer inspection, undeniably a human finger bone. That finger bone is said to be that of John the Baptist, baptiser, disciple, and first cousin of Jesus of Nazareth. This coup of an artifact was purchased by the Nelson Trust, but before then was part of the collection of artifacts known as the Guelph Treasure, which was housed at the Brunswick Cathedral in Germany. John the Baptist’s right hand, the one with which he baptized Jesus, is said to be in the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Cetinje monastery in Montenegro. What is supposedly his head can be found in the Amiens Cathedral in France and other remains attributed to him (including a knuckle bone, an arm, and a tooth) were found in Bulgaria. Visitors wanting to see more holy fingers can venture further into the Nelson-Atkins museum, to the tremendous Caravaggio portrait John the Baptist in the Wilderness, where the finger and the rest of the saint sit in the woods in gloomy, shadowy contemplation." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
"There are many Christian relics in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, but one is of particular interest. A glass vial among the gold and silver religious objects holds what is, upon closer inspection, undeniably a human finger bone. That finger bone is said to be that of John the Baptist, baptiser, disciple, and first cousin of Jesus of Nazareth. This coup of an artifact was purchased by the Nelson Trust, but before then was part of the collection of artifacts known as the Guelph Treasure, which was housed at the Brunswick Cathedral in Germany. John the Baptist’s right hand, the one with which he baptized Jesus, is said to be in the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Cetinje monastery in Montenegro. What is supposedly his head can be found in the Amiens Cathedral in France and other remains attributed to him (including a knuckle bone, an arm, and a tooth) were found in Bulgaria. Visitors wanting to see more holy fingers can venture further into the Nelson-Atkins museum, to the tremendous Caravaggio portrait John the Baptist in the Wilderness, where the finger and the rest of the saint sit in the woods in gloomy, shadowy contemplation." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
A cornerstone of KC culture, the Nelson-Atkins pairs a renowned global collection with the iconic Shuttlecocks on its lawn. Free to visit, it’s frequently highlighted by Condé Nast Traveler and local critics as an essential first stop.
A free, encyclopedic art museum with a beloved sculpture park and those iconic Shuttlecocks. Frequently highlighted by Condé Nast Traveler and Lonely Planet, it anchors KC’s cultural core while rolling out ambitious campus plans announced in 2025.
Kansas City’s marquee art museum keeps general admission free, pairing a renowned collection with the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park’s giant Shuttlecocks. Featured by Condé Nast Traveler and recently reaffirming free entry in local coverage, it’s a true civic anchor.
