Swope Art Museum, officially known as the Sheldon Swope Art Museum, may not have all the…read morerazzle-dazzle of Indy's Newfields, however, this is an impressive regional museum and a source of pride in Terre Haute.
The Swope Art Museum has a collection of nearly 2,500 works of American art including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from the 19th century to the present. Changing exhibitions from the permanent collection include selections from American Scene Painting of the 1930s and 1940s, 19th century American art, early 20th century modernism, Indiana art, and Post-World War II figurative and abstract art.
The museum is particularly known for its American Scene Painting collection with artists including Thomas Hart Benton, Charles Burchfield, Reginald Marshall, Grant Wood, and Edward Hopper.
19th century American art movements include William Merritt Chase, George Inness, Frederick MacMonnies, Mary Fairchild MacMonnies, and Tompkins Harrison Matteson.
20th century art includes works by George Bellows, Arthur B. Davies, Manierre Dawson, Jack Levine, George Luks, and Fairfield Porter among others.
Indiana artists are also represented here quite extensively - J. Ottis Adams, William Forsyth, Theodore C. Steele, C. Curry Bohm, Otto Stark, Carl C. Graf, Genevieve Goth Grath, and Terre Haute natives like John Rogers Cox, James Farrington Gookins, Janet Scudder (who is directly related to the physician who delivered me!), Caroline Peddle Ball, and Gilbert Wilson. Finally, more contemporary artists like Robert Indiana, Andy Warhol, Paul Jenkins, and Robert Motherwell also have art works here.
You can schedule a guided tour here that lasts about an hour.
In terms of accessibility, the Swope is on two floors. There is a small elevator that can accommodate most wheelchairs/mobility equipment. They also have a wheelchair that can be utilized in case yours doesn't work (assuming you can transfer). There is 2-hour street parking around the museum (it is watched, so watch the time to avoid fines). For special events, visitors can use the Old National parking lot.
This is a 1901 building - so efforts at accessibility are appreciated. Admission is free, however, I'd check the website as there are somewhat limited hours.
While Swope is certainly not a national museum, it's a much nicer than expected regional museum with a lot of impressive art and genuinely warm staff and volunteers. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Terre Haute has quite a bit to visit and a stop at the Swope should be a part of any weekend getaway.
