A most excellent museum. I really enjoyed the combination of (massive) outdoor installations and indoor art. My one regret is that the Koons was not in bloom! There is a cafe with solid meals and quite affordable too. Overall spent 4 hours and came away very satisfied. read more

I'm specifically reviewing the patio restaurant (we have been to the exhibits but not recently given Covid) which was a stellar experience. We visited Glenstone today (yes at the end of December) and stumbled upon the patio restaurant. I'm impressed that during Covid times and in the dead of winter, they provide outdoor dining at lunchtime, with a simple menu consisting of turkey sandwiches, bean chilis, charcuterie boards and an assortment of beverages (cider, hot chocolate, coffees and teas and wine). The service was great, contactless (orders can be completed with QR codes), and they even have heaters outside to keep everyone warm. It's so wonderful to be able to enjoy the scenery outdoors during this time so a special hats off to Glenstone for still continuing their services right now. Very cool option and highly recommended. read more

Glenstone - Art Museums Near Me - Potomac, Maryland

This was a great place to spend a day walking around, touring the exhibits, and exploring the paths they have outside. Would definitely go back. read more

If you love minimalism meets contemporary art, Glenstone is it. The grounds are so peaceful and the interior exhibits are so interesting. Such a special place for art lover seeking tranquility. So glad this gem exists in Potomac. Minus one star for our experience: We brought an infant at the time and did not feel the place was particularly child friendly. We did not know the interior courtyard of the museum itself is an exhibit. We had sat outside for a couple minutes wanting to give our infant a snack. Then, the main ground keeper came out and sternly told us we had to move because other people were waiting to come into the courtyard, and no eating and drinking was allowed there. So we ditched snack time and quickly got up and left. Then, she shadowed us around the corridor and made us feel a bit uncomfortable. I noticed she also didn't tell other people who lingered inside the courtyard to keep moving. It was an open space and no signs that the visit should be brief like the other indoor exhibits. read more

Absolutely worth to visit. New pavilion is just stunning. The concrete structure is amazing. I love all the detail in the architecture. Old building is def sad compare to the new one. But that's how good the new one is! The entire "garden" are super beautiful. I don't like modern art so I won't judge on that read more

I used to work downtown and would take advantage of visiting museums on my lunch break. Then I started to work in Rockville, oh oops technically "North Bethesda", and asides from Montgomery Mall and Pike and Rose there ain't much out here for lunchtime entertainment. Then I saw Mike B's pictures and reviews from this museum and then I learn that is was so close to work in Potomac,MD, I had to check this place out. First, I made a reservation on line for an upcoming Friday. Then my coworkers tried to talk me out of it. It's gonna be too hot, they said. Let's just go to lunch for the 1,097,979,639 time at the Montgomery Mall food court, they said. They almost convinced me to cancel my reservation. Almost. Boy, I am glad I kept it. I discovered this was one of the last days the museum was open before they entered into a month of construction and renovations.They recommend arriving about 15 minutes before your reservation time. I highly encourage this since the roads out there are one lane with one lane bridges, it's a nice country drive, but you are gonna be late if you are driving behind a sedan going 10 MPH admiring the view and you can't pass. Plus there are deer. I mean like tame deer that will walk up to your open window cause you are driving so slow kinda deer. So after here down country roads, you'll come up on an estate with a big metal gate and a security booth.The security person is really nice and will make sure your name is on a list. Then he'll provide directions to get to parking assistance. You'll drive right past Split Rocker, the giant landscape sculpture covered in flowers that looks like a cross between Shrek, Pikachu, and the dinosaurs from the classic Nintendo game of Bubble Bobble. Please resist all urges to stop your car, and go up and hug the cutest, most ginormous topiary you have ever seen. You'll have opportunities to visit this later. You'll approach staff with grey shirts that will guide you into parking. There is a small lot but on that day they had me park on the road. The parking staff will ask if it is your first time and then give you some background on the museum. So as some background, Glenstone is a 230-acre compound with perfectly manicured grounds, with a cafe, an entry pavilion, rotating exhibits, and access to outdoor art installations and trails throughout the site. It is owned by Mitch and Emily Rales, wealthy art collectors. You can choose to meander through at your own pace or take a tour of the outside exhibits. Keep in mind, they restrict the number of visitors each day (thus the reservations) so you can truly take your time and sometimes it's often just you and the art. I hopped on the outdoor tour with a group of about twenty. The guide who was on the start of a two year rotation with the museum as part of a program, took us through each piece and explained the intent or process behind creating each sculpture. Each piece was deliberate. Like it was positioned at a certain angle, meant specifically for that one spot on the ground. While my heart belonged to Split Rocker by Jeff Koons, the whimsical half horse/dinosaur rocking chair sculpture that requires almost a paint by number instruction guide for where the flowers are placed. I also loved Smug by Tony Smith. Basically a dark and ominous climbing gym that is part of series that includes Smog and Smoke. The outdoor door is about a half mile loop and takes about 45 minutes. I would wear walking shoes since it tends to be a bit gravelly on the way. They also offer umbrellas by the museum entrance in case you need it for rain/sun protection. After the tour I hoped inside to view the art by Louise Bourgeoise. Like I said before, many times you are often alone with the art. So at one point it was just me walking into a room with a suspended torso sculpture hanging from a window casting a shadow. I actually jumped when I saw it. The contemporary art here takes a dark turn very fast. And I like it. The staff here is so helpful. I came in after being outside and one approached me to tell me he was leading an outdoor tour and welcomed me to join him. I pointed to my frizzy hair and the fact that I was sweating like whore in church, to point out that I had just come back from one. The staff here is excited to talk about the work, so go ahead and throw them some questions. Or just chit chat, they are awesome. This was one of the most enjoyable lunch breaks I have had in awhile. I highly encourage everyone to visit this hidden gorgeous gem when they re-open on October 4, 2018 after their Pavilion expansion. Admission is free and they are open Thursday-Sunday from 10-5pm. For those of you without a car, there is also a Ride On bus that will take you out here from the Rockville Metro Station. read more

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This museum is gorgeous and thoughtfully laid-out. I sincerely enjoy the captivating exhibits, and it's magical to take the nature walks between buildings. It's a miracle that it's free of charge. This is my go-to museum to take out-of-town guests and they're always wowed by how expansive the place is. I'm rating it four stars rather than five stars because the gift shop is pretty much non-existent and they don't allow visitors under 12 years old. That's a real shame because I would love to expose my kids to the beauty of this place. I hope they will consider reevaluating that policy to be a little more inclusive of parents who can't afford to pay babysitter when they visit the museum. read more

I hardly have words to describe how incredible this place is. Not only the galleries, but the grounds. It far exceeded my already-high expectations. It's a phenomenal art COMPOUND. What I wasn't expecting was the amount of outdoor walking I would end up doing, so be very mindful of that. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water! You will be walking on a lot of unpaved trails and in the woods. While online reservations book months in advance, if you take the Ride On you don't need one - I love that! I went on a Thursday afternoon at 3pm, and sadly that did not give me enough time to see everything. Some of the exhibits close at 4, so I had to hurry to see those. I would say if you want to walk the entire grounds, plus the smaller gallery (which was closed during my visit, not sure if that's a long term thing) and pavilions, you should give yourself 3 hours. There are guides (people) all over the museum to answer any questions you have, but there is no guided tour that I know of. It seems they really want you to interpret the art in your own way, rather than tell you what the artist intended. The art is modern, a lot of it abstract. You can take pictures anywhere outside but not inside. They have 2 cafes, although I only popped into the smaller one for a water (it's a cash free facility). If you have even the smallest appreciation for art you should really take the time to visit the Glenstone Museum. It's not just a museum, as I thought it would be, it's truly an experience that leaves me without words to describe. read more

Color me shocked when I learned that Glenstone has been around since 2006. Owned by billionaire Mitchell Rales and his wife, Emily Rales (who live on the Glenstone property), this private museum takes inspiration from museums all around the world to "seamlessly integrate art, architecture, and landscape into a serene and contemplative environment." The main 30,000 sq. feet building houses artwork by artists of international renown since the 1940s. In addition to this main building, there are sculptures sited outdoors. I highly recommend making reservations in advance. Tickets are free with timed entries. While it's not necessary and the staff will make efforts to accommodate your party if you show up without a reservation, there is no guarantee of entry. If you have a reservation, do not show up any earlier than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled timed entry because parking is limited and they'll keep you at the gate until the staff at the main building determine it's okay. The outdoor sculptures can be done on a self-guided basis. There are guided tours that you can take part in. The current exhibit, Louise Bourgeois: To Unravel a Torment, includes a few outdoor sculptures that are only available during a guided tour. These tours take about an hour. When I went, I took part in the guided tour. The tour was not what I expected, as I thought we would walk all around the grounds and explore every sculpture. That wasn't the case. Our guide took us to Ellsworth Kelly's Untitled (EK949), Andy Goldsworthy's Clay Houses (Boulder-Room-Holes), with the option to self-explore Janet Cardiff & George Bures Miller's FOREST (for a thousand years...), and finally, Richard Serra's Sylvester. I went to explore Jeff Koons' Split-Rocker and Tony Smith's Smug on my own. After the guided tour, you can explore the indoor gallery on your own. No photography is allowed in the indoor gallery. You also cannot bring bags, purses, umbrellas, or water bottles into the gallery, but there are lockers where you can store these items. They also have big white umbrellas for you to use when you do the outdoor sculpture tour, which was an enormous help during the 90+ degree heat. While I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary art, I found my visit to Glenstone to be a truly unique and extraordinary experience. It's similar to the Whitney Museum or the Broad Museum in terms of content and focus but known as the modern-day Frick Collection. Glenstone is currently expanding, with plans to add 50,000 sq. feet of exhibition space called the Pavilions. This expansion is expected to unveil in October 2018. read more

Tucked away in Potomac, MD, Glenstone exhibits the private collection of its founding couple. They have exquisite taste and, what's more, they seem fully committed to excellence in every aspect of displaying the works to best advantage and helping visitors encounter it under the best possible circumstances. For instance, the exhibits come without many signs; but docents in every exhibit room are always right at hand eager to talk about the artists and the works. This often transforms the visitor's experience and appreciation. For instance, we were transfixed by a work that initially looked like two large "mushrooms" of concrete about four feet high and 3 1/2 feet in diameter, but turned out to be made of solid glass cylinders that looked as though they were filled with water. Utterly beguiling. All the staff were friendly, courteous, and eager to do whatever they could to enhance our stay. The vast grounds are filled with a number of attractive gallery buildings, an outdoor cafe, and trails through some beautiful grounds. read more

Sooooooo Good. Park a minute away and take the bus for free entry anytime. 2 hours is a good time frame

This place is beautiful! Put some hours aside to come and enjoy the unique pieces of art! I love how you can be inside and outside...theres art in the woods...there's nice little "trails". Overall its a peaceful serene place and the employees are very knowledgeable. I drove 50 mins to visit and it was so worth it. read more

Glenstone - trail trip. - Art Museums Near Me - Potomac, Maryland

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Beautiful and serene! A unique find. I came prior to the spring bloom unfortunately. I can only imagine how alive the grounds must look with the flowers and leaves blooming. I didn't have an appointment so took the bus here. Seems like there's enough for 100 -120 cars which is probably why you need an appointment otherwise there's no parking read more

This is one of my favorite places. It's beautiful, modern, and serene. The architecture is impressive and the art is thought provoking. Enjoy nature and outdoor sculptures. The Pavilions have contemporary art with at least one knowledgeable staff person in each of the 11 rooms who you can engage with to ask questions or discuss the exhibits. There's also a separate gallery that features a specific artist. The property is well maintained. There's a walking path, a cafe and restaurant both of which have good food. I like that they change out the exhibits regularly so that each visit is unique. Everyone is very friendly, attentive, and helpful. And it's free. Just need an online ticket. read more

Glenstone is an incredible museum! After reading the reviews and seeing the photos from visitors I had to visit myself. The staff are consummate professionals, the structure of the buildings and landscaping are immaculate. The art work was cool and very unique. Other visitors were kind and had decorum. The Woodland Trail is a great escape where one can be immersed in nature and clear the mind. Thank you Glenstone for the opportunity to visit such a precious museum! read more

Not as much art as I expected. In each room, there is a guide to describe the art and explain more about the artist. They had notebooks and clearly had watched interviews and/or been at the museum agent that exhibit was installed. The guides also had interesting and helpful suggestions as to where to stand to experience the work and the museum. You have to talk with guides to get help in understanding - otherwise you would miss a lot. Museum is well thought out in terms of little impact on the environment and not distracting to the guest. (The museum fit it in well with the environment in many ways - visually as well as environmentally) read more

Fascinating place. A must to visit. Even on a rainy December day it was an amazing feel of serenity and an amazing synergy of architecture, art, and nature/landscaping, from the entrance and throughout. The views from the Pavillon are breathtaking. There are already many reviews of the art. I will mention the cafe that is a convenient break after couple of hours of waking. The cafe is quite elegant with the same design of full wall of a window that blurs the boundary between the indoors and outdoors. The menu is simple, the food is tasty, prices are affordable, staff are very friendly and efficient. It is a community table sitting style , with servers coming to you to take an order. There is also a coffee shop further down the path but only with limited sitting inside ( and on a rainy day it was packed so we couldn't find a sitting). There is plenty of sitting outside, the whole idea is to sit outside and enjoy the view of the nature. Overall, great experience and we would love to go back read more

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This is my favorite museum. Ever. As soon as you enter, you feel transported to another world due to the modern architecture. When you walk in the lobby, a staff member greets you and asks for your tickets. Tickets are free, but right now they're completely booked. Luckily, people can send their tickets back: there's a link in your ticket email, just click it and you give your tickets back. So if you happen to check online when someone has sent back tickets, you can snatch them up right away. I was discouraged when I first checked the website because I thought I had no chance of getting tickets until October; however, if you check early in the morning, you can usually find tickets for that day or the next day. I got my tickets two days before I went. After you check in, you're free to roam around. My boyfriend and I started off on the trail headed towards the museum. I couldn't get over how beautiful the landscape was--I felt like I walking through the countryside, not Potomac. We explored the museum first. You can check your bags for free since you can't carry around bags or water bottles. You also can't take pictures inside. The art itself was weird to me because I've never understood modern art. I LOVED the building though. It was very modern and gorgeous. I spent more time admiring the building than the art. I take that back, the building IS art. There's a lily pad pond where you can take photos since it's outside; it's very instagrammable. There are staff members everywhere. They all wear the same gray, androgynous uniform that gives off a Handmaid's Tale vibe; however, they're very friendly and approachable. They know all about the art and they're willing to answer any question. Several exhibits close at 4pm. We got there at 2:45pm (15 minutes before our 3pm ticket time) and spent 45 minutes roaming around before we realized we needed to see the exhibits that closed at 4pm. We sped walked to the clay houses and the forest of 1,000 years. Luckily, we saw one clay house before it closed. The rest of the museum closed at 5pm. 2 hours and 15 minutes was not enough time. We could've easily spent 3 hours there. So if you get a 2:30pm or 3pm ticket, make sure you see the exhibits that close at 4pm first. I would describe more of the exhibits but you just need to go yourself. I will definitely be back, and I will get an earlier ticket time so I can enjoy my visit without rushing. read more

This museum is everything that I heard it would be an more. Sure, it is mysterious: "Why am I camping on August 1st, 10 AM to get tickets in OCTOBER?" I was asking myself. Why can't you just go? I heard from previous visitors that they were very "peculiar" with your movements in the pavillions. All added up when we finally went to Glenstone. The founders believe in "minimal intervention" in your interaction with artwork on display. When they mean "fragile" they mean it. There are no barriers next to glass pieces. I felt like I was in a Black Mirror episode, but oddly in a good way. Yes, I got warned by staff several times because I was getting "too close." The journey is very experiential, so I could easily see myself going back to see how it feels a second time around. Plan for a lot of walking, and try to get an appointment (or ride the bus) early on. We started at 2:30 pm and had to rush since most things close at 4 PM. Will try the cafe next time, too. read more

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Good place, good environment, love the desh area around this area. Overall all experience really good.

Not Family Friendly/Terrible Staff I didn't read the fine print that you cannot bring children under 12, which is my fault, however when they allowed us to go at least into the gift shop they sent a security to follow us. I wish they had more respect for their visitors. read more

A must see. Take your time while visiting this artsy and unique venue. Outdoor sculptures and indoor artwork are located throughout this large property. Paved paths as well as gravel paths make this a nice nature walk too. Glenstone is away from the DC area and will be a surprising change of pace for your enjoyment. Many workers are there to explain, discuss and answer any questions you may have. read more

I was so excited to get tickets to this museum. My friends and I piled into the car and drove up. The grounds and architecture are beautiful. I didn't know they had a Warhol and a pollak. That was a nice surprise. I would rank it higher but I'm not sure it's worth the mystery. Definitely worth going but not sure its worth waiting for tickets three months ahead of time. But then again, maybe I'm just saying that because I got to go. read more

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Hidden Gem in MoCo. - lovely! It's very clean and organized. You need tickets to explore this place and if bringing children, they must be 12 yrs or older. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, you will be doing a lot of walking. The pavilion is where you will see a lot cool art, you can't take any pictures when entering. The staff will direct you to place your belongings in a secure locker. I'm guessing they want you to connect with the art ... there is a lot of staff in the building for any questions. We decided to stop by the cafe to grab a bite to eat. I love the style...community style setting. You find a seat and wait for the staff to take your order. They have fresh flowers and water for you to drink. We ordered the herb cream cheese sandwich and chicken veggie soup. The food was delish and fresh - drinks (lemonade) were good, too. If your in the Potomac área... it's a must to check this place out. read more

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Winding paths. Subterranean labyrinths. Identically-garbed hosts, down to the black New Balance shoes. It's a good thing this became an art museum, because it would be a perfect compound for a suburban cult. That said, it's quite an interesting place. From the advance ticketing process (expect to have to book weeks or months ahead of your visit), to the parking lot screener, to the personalized welcome, you can't ignore the feeling you're visiting somewhere unique and exclusive. It's good that they give you a map of the grounds and the pavilion, because there is a lot to see. I easily walked a few miles just to see everything. I visited in the winter, when the landscape was pretty quiet and you could see all around through the trees, but I'd love to return in the summer and get a whole different view of the landscape. As far as the art goes, there are a lot of interesting pieces. There are some large outdoor installations, such as Collapse or Split-Rocker, as well as some unique pieces by well-known modern artists ranging from Calder to Kusama. In the galleries and outside, there is also a focus on making the landscape part of the experience--one entire gallery of the pavilion just has a long bench and picture window for you to look out. If you visit, I would recommend finding out the current schedule of when Collapse is open, tours of the clay houses are running, and any other events are going on, and planning your visit around them so you get to see everything. The above should be open every day but require a guide to be with you.I spent about three hours there but could easily have spent a couple more. The two food options seemed to be really good if you need a snack or full-fledged meal. read more

Beauty without Context A winter visit to Glenstone Museum tucked in the wilds of Montgomery County, MD. The museum property is visually appealing and stunning. If you are a big fan of minimalist design, the Glenstone is just the place for you. This large collection is spread over a large rural property. The building design is consistent throughout. In a minimalist grey design on all of the buildings, the design carries throughout right down to the uniforms worn by the docents. The artwork is interesting, displayed in an appealing fashion in these beautiful buildings. My problem with our visit was the lack of adequate, informative signage guiding the visitor throughout the different gallery buildings. The signage was the bare minimum, sometimes, you had to look for the descriptive tags that indicated information that you were looking at. At the end of our visit, we had a conversation with one of the docents in the room. She provided all of the contexts we could have ever wanted. Without this context, I wonder how much was missed by the most casual visitor. This is a missed opportunity, I hope the museum staff does something about it. read more

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I took my daughter to the museum and spent a wonderful morning and early afternoon there. We had a very memorable time and loved the boardwalk and room 7 in the Pavilions. The weather was perfect before stormy clouds filled the sky after lunch. We ran into a super friendly and kind security staff who gave us great tips on how to navigate the museum. We enjoyed a delicious and surprisingly affordable lunch at the cafe with a beautiful view of the trees. My daughter said it was one of the best days ever. :) read more

Wow! Exceeded my expectations. Very interesting place to visit and observe not only nature but extremely beautiful works of art. A visit here will make you ponder many things. We arrived at 11am and could have spent all day exploring. However, due to time we only spent 2 hours. I am looking forward to visiting in the spring!! read more

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The Glenstone is huge, peaceful, beautiful, and full of amazing works and helpful, pleasant employees. I love their cultish grey uniforms, New Balances and all. The cafe is also adorable with great quality food and drinks. read more

Glenstone - Art Museums Near Me - Potomac, Maryland

Excellent addition to the area, and worth the drive from DC. The outdoor scenery and architecture is as interesting as the art inside. My favorites were Sylvester (Richard Serra), Collapse (Michael Heizer), and Ever is Over All (Pipilotti Rist). The Clay Houses (Andy Goldsworthy) weren't very interesting, so I wouldn't recommend going on the crowded once-a-day tour to see them. read more

Glenstone - Art Museums Near Me - Potomac, Maryland

Lovely setting with some very good exhibits and artwork. We did not have reservations and the pretentious "gatekeeper" at entrance acted as if she was allowing us a private meeting with the Pope. Meanwhile the place was relatively empty. Quite goofy. read more

This is a museum of contemporary art (post 1945} in a beautiful setting with both a traditional museum space and extensive grounds that constitute a well conceived and executed venue for displaying outsized art in the open air. Staff are well informed and happy to provide context and information about the works exhibited. read more

Glenstone - Every corner you turn brings a delightful surprise - Art Museums Near Me - Potomac, Maryland

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Absolutely incredible. It has been designed in a way that you don't feel overwhelmed by tourism. Everything feels Buddhist, minimalist, yet with brutalist architecture, incredible art, but most of all the feel of the place is exceptional, fantastic restaurant (their cookies and chai latte were superb). I can't recommend it highly enough. read more

I'm not into art or museums at all and I never knew this place even existed. With covid, I'm always looking for new things to do and since this was all outdoors (indoor sections open up shortly), I decided to get tickets and check it out. It was a few weeks out before my visit, but I just also happen to pick the best weather day of the year. Its truly an 'experience' to see the different displays of contemporary art so its easy to be here for several hours. The only thing I didn't like was the gravel parking lot since the rocks often kick up, scratch paint, and dirty your car (stay away if you just washed it!). When walking in, you see this huge green 'thing' over the horizon; kind of looked like Puff the Magic Dragon or Kermit the Frog from afar, so I was interested to check it out in depth on the way out. The coolest experience was the 'sounds of war' where they have an excellent sound system in the woods and you can listen/imagine what's going on while you sit on the tree stumps; very cool to fantasize Game of Thrones or an Antietam battle going on around you. They also had a cool, outdoor cafe for lunch, but we had food plans for afterwards. The 3 different spring houses were also cool; they all had various clay formations inside so it was interesting to see the changes. We finally got around to 'Split Rock' display and as expected it was huge. Its like a giant chia pet that contains a hydration system to grow different plants/flowers all around. The peak blooming month is May, so I'll have to return to see what it looks like, but I'm sure its pretty cool to see. read more

This is a free art museum featuring modern art which will be much appreciated by the avant garde but not so much by those whose taste leans to classic art. It is a unique arrangement on a lot of land with the landscape and outdoor sculptures being an integral part of the experience. The buildings are basically brutalist style. A lot of walking is required, and the paths are gravel. As a result, it is not handicapped-friendly, and I would not recommend it for those in a manual wheelchair or using a walker. They do have what they call "carts" (really minibuses) to ferry you part of the way from the Arrival Hall to the Pavilions and Gallery, but there are gravel paths at both ends. Going to the pavilions, there is still about a block length on gravel uphill which is a huge challenge. read more

Doesn't allow kids under 12. EYEROLL. It's the perfect place for parents to get out and show their kids this incredible art.

Nice grounds and beautiful installations. The Pavilions, with multiple art exhibits/installations amidst incredible vistas, is particularly inviting. However, there are surprisingly few installations over the large grounds; there is a lot of walking to see just a few pieces. Perhaps over time there will be more installations, which would make the park more inviting. Art Omi in Ghent, NY (https://artomi.org/), a similar type of art park, could serve as a model for Glenstone. read more

Getting tickets for Glenstone was a challenge. Finally, I was able to secure some tickets this summer. I went to Glenstone with my family. The musuem has exhibits inside and out. I was really impressed with Glenstone exhibits and how well the grounds were maintained. The huge flower exhibition was my personal favorite. Glenstone requires walking outside if you want to see all exhibits. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and dress according to the weather. There are a few cafes on site to grab lite food and drinks. Glenstone is definitely one of my favorite museums. Glenstone is a museum you want to put on your bucket list. If you go to TallTravelEats on YouTube, you're able to see a quick glimpse of Glenstone. read more

I researched and watched the website for atleast a month before my visit to the Glenstone Museum. I was interested in snapping a few engagement photos here - so I was very excited when I finally landed tickets Thursday, for a Sunday visit! I read the website very carefully, as I wanted to make sure photos for personal use were allowable. Upon arrival, Gene was great, she checked us in and oriented us to the grounds. She reminded us to not touch the sculptures and no photos in the galleries. As soon as we left the arrival hall, we stopped on the bridge before we hit the trial. My brother took his Nikon camera out of his backpack and a staff member, Sarah, walked by and complimented my dress (as if to see what we were doing), she walked about 10 feet and walked back past us again and said "this place is not for photographs, but for meditation, put the camera away". Taken a little a back, we read the brochure again, which reads "photography is not permitted inside the museum. If you would like to take photos outside please do so for personal use only, do not use lighting, tripods, selfie sticks or drones". None of which we had. I was immediately uncomfortable, but it did not stop there. Once we arrived to the Robert Serra sculpture, we read the sign in front to make sure (again) that we could take photos. We snapped a few pictures and before we could make our way out of the sculpture, we were cornered by a security guard and saw another guard walking quickly towards us. Neither guard said a word, but it was clear to me and everyone in our group that it was time to leave. It was even more clear, as the guards followed us out, as we made our way to the exit. I literally wanted to run out of there, I was so upset and offended. We did nothing wrong but our encounters with the Glenstone staff made us feel humiliated, targeted, extremely uncomfortable and dare I say racially profiled. Now would be a good time to mention we were a group of 5 African Americans. As we walked out we noted atleast 4 real professional cameras (2 Canon 5d, Sony a7, and Pentax film camera) - none of whom were followed or reminded more than once of the rules. My visit to Glenstone was one of the most unpleasant experiences I've ever had in my entire life. I have zero plans of returning and will share my experience with anyone I know who has plans to visit. read more

Glenstone - Photo guidelines - Art Museums Near Me - Potomac, Maryland

Not family friendly. If you have a baby they will not allow strollers and require you to use a carrier. That is somewhat understandable. No issue there. What I have an issue with is the staff chasing me and my wife the entire duration of our visit. Whispering into their walkie talkies our whereabouts. Chasing us from room to room. Like we are plotting a heist. Note to staff. A baby who is 6 months old restrained in a carrier will not be able to damage your art, steal your art or otherwise disturb anything. Have never been treated like this anywhere. Will not return. Don't bother going if you have a small child. read more