I visited the Michener Art Museum a few weeks ago on a Saturday when my husband and I were in Doylestown. It was my first visit, and I really loved it. The Michener isn't huge, but it's a lovely museum. It's located inside a historic 19th century prison building, which sounds like it wouldn't be beautiful - but it is beautiful: stone walls, an arched entry, a courtyard. It's named for the novelist and Doylestown resident James A. Michener, who established the endowment for the museum and donated significant funds and some paintings from his private collection to the museum, which opened in 1988. As a regional art museum, it collects both historic and contemporary American works, with a focus on the art of the Delaware Valley. Its permanent collection includes nearly 4,000 artworks, including works by famous Pennsylvanian artists. I happen to love Wharton Esherick and George Nakashima and was thrilled to see their work in the museum! I wish we'd had more time so that I can could read for a bit in the Nakashima Reading Room - don't miss it. The museum also has a small outdoor sculpture garden, a small gift shop, and a little cafe if you need a coffee. And on top of all that, their staff are friendly and helpful AND they have great exhibits! We visited for an exhibit currently at the museum - "Anila Quayyum Agha: interwoven" (I had seen her work at a gallery in Houston about a decade ago and was thrilled to find another opportunity to see her work) - but really enjoyed their permanent collection as well. A small but charming and regional art museum with an impressive and unique permanent collection and great exhibits. Definitely check it out if you're in the area! read more

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Yes. THAT James Michener, Pulitzer prize-winning author who spun tales of far-away places. He was born in Doylestown. Built on the site of the inhumane Bucks County Jail, not only is the art museum diverse, the grounds are fascinating. Before entering, you'll see sculptures and an imposing stone wall -- the site of the last man hanged in Bucks County. Exhibits are on one beautifully-designed level. Most of the artists and/or subjects celebrate the creativity of the region: paintings, sculptures, works that could be called "installations." With the exception of the Mona Lisa (and a few other pieces) I'm not a fan of Renaissance or religious art. Works here span the 1800s to present -- a lot of contemporary -- which may be why I soaked in everything I saw. Doylestown isn't as well known as New Hope ... but, what a charming town with beautiful old homes and good shopping. After going through the museum -- it takes an hour or so -- you may want to walk to Main Street and enjoy a coffee or spot of lunch. We lucked out and inadvertently timed our visit on the same day as Doyletown's popular art show. A stellar afternoon! read more

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A delight to come on their complimentary day. Judith Schaechter: Super/Natural Stainglass exhibit was pretty exciting. she works in the universities department of Neuroaesthetics, where a pioneering team of researchers and scientists explore the neural and biological basis of aesthetic experiences. How exceedingly exciting is that? And how wonderful to see her art that explores the nature around us and how we coexist . Wow! Yesterday's dreams are real was also a delight to see. I loved seeing Faith Ringgold's painting "Dear SELMA"... I think it's very precious to pay homage to somebody so significant not only two Bucks County but to our entire nation. You've seen her artwork every day because it's on the dime! Relief portrait of Franklin Roosevelt is gorgeous and so special! And we should all know her name!! CURLEE Holton 's "They are Coming" is another special piece. It's quite terrifying how it means as much today as it did 20 years ago. It really makes you wanna remember to be more compassionate all. Thanks for such a wonderful museum. Thanks for all you do. It must be a dream to work here and see this wonderful artwork every day. And all the wonderful people you must meet that leave with the biggest smile on their face !! read more

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Want to sit in a $40,000+ George Nahashimi chair made of natural wood, well not only can you do this at the Michener Art Musuem you can also admire a whole room devoted to him! I love this art museum. Full disclosure, it is not a huge museum like the MOMA or Philadelphia Art Museum however this is located in beautifully quaint Doylestown, PA. If you haven't been you should have a great town in the town of Doylestown. Another plus is the artwork here rotates fairly often. Cannot recommend enough. As always people SYOY!!! read more

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The museum is beautiful and the exhibits were all interesting and enlightening. It was wonderful walking around after hours and really having the opportunity to enjoy the exhibits in such a relaxing, quiet atmosphere. We were also there for the Galaxies and Galleries exhibit, and I have to say, all of the volunteers, from the front desk to the gentlemen sharing the telescopes, were wonderful. So informative and helpful all around. So fun seeing the Moon and Jupiter once those clouds got out of our way! I also loved seeing all of their personal photos on the large screen inside. In the area, check the museum out. Also, if you get a chance to join the club members (photographers, stargazers) sometime, I recommend you do :0) read more

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Amazing little art museum in Doylestown. I can't wait to go back. We toured it as a possible wedding venue. Very unique! read more

Michener Art Museum - Wedding reception venue - Art Museums Near Me - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

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I really enjoyed looking at all the art in the different rooms, and I really liked the wooden flower exhibit. So creative! We were there for the Galaxies & Galleries event and really enjoyed it. The volunteers were very nice and helpful. I really enjoyed looking through the telescopes at Jupiter. I loved that the members took the pictures that were on the screen. So talented! We are planning on going back when the weather is warmer because the grounds look nice to explore and to have a picnic. In Doylestown, check them out! read more

Michener Art Museum - Galleries and Galaxies member photos - Art Museums Near Me - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Grateful to have this cultural, educational, and community resource in our area. I don't always like each and every exhibit but I do appreciate exposure to the diversity and provocation. It's a wonderful resource for Doylestown, its visitors, and the surrounding communities. read more

I was a little leery about going to a former jail but the Michener was actually one of the most peaceful and serene museum experiences I've ever had! Walking up, there are a bevy of statues to welcome you in. The museum staff is friendly and advise you on all the open exhibits and the flow of the floor. Everything is on one level which makes it a breeze to navigate ! I came specifically to see the Keith Haring exhibit before it ended and it seemed many were here for that as well. The other exhibits include American modern art and American Impressionism. There is also a sculpture garden in the back which is a must see ! They accommodate families: there's a reading nook for kids and it's very spacious for being a smaller museum helping larger groups pass without it feeling congested. I would love to go back: they did an amazing job with the Keith Haring exhibit was a joy and I'm glad I was able to make it ! read more

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My wife, 2 teenage sons (16 yrs, 14 yrs), and I came here in early July 2022 to see the Keith Haring special exhibition. It was easy to find free parking in the lot right next to the library (adjacent to the museum). On the walk to the museum entrance, you'll see a few outdoor sculptures. Admission fees can be paid at the front desk (towards the right near the gift shop). For the Keith Haring exhibition, it was well worth the $15 price of admission per adult. In addition, we explored the permanent collection. I'm not a fan of American impressionists. But we loved sitting in the wood chairs and the zen interior of the Nakashima Reading Room (do not miss this room!). My sons enjoyed a sculpture piece called "bat factory rejects" as they both play baseball, but they were not thrilled with the permanent collection. Without the special exhibition, I'm not sure that we would have made the 45-minute drive from central New Jersey. But the special exhibit was great and visiting the downtown area of Doylestown for coffee and gelato was a nice way to end our visit! read more

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I recently went to the Michener for the first time since I was in elementary school - so its definitely been awhile. The Michener is relatively small so it's easy to walk through in an afternoon. I love that they have a lot of local artists. I went to view the Keith Haring exhibit which was really fun. I regret not going to see some of the last exhibits they had like Grace Kelly - but I cannot wait to see what comes after this month. The Michener also has really nice gardens and a very small gift shop with a small 'cafe'. What I also liked was that the entirety of the museum was accessible for my mom- what a win ! I'm sure I'll be back to check out future exhibits read more

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For more than a dozen years I've volunteered with a program called Art Goes to School of the Delaware Valley teaching fine art to elementary school students Each year AGTSDV provides all of its chapters with a portfolio of fine art reproductions to use in the classrooms. My colleague volunteers and I in the Medford NJ chapter always like to view in person any of the real works of art if they are available in any museums which are reasonably nearby. With Edward Redfield 's Trout Brook in our portfolio this year we took a little trip to the Michener to see the original. It was spectacular and a real eye opener to see how heavy his paint strokes actually were, which was not readily apparent from the reproduction we had. But in addition to seeing the Redfield , we also got to see a Fern Coppedge we'd had in another year's portfolio ( Road to Lumberville), and Ben Solowey's famous Rae Seated, plus a fabulous stained glass installation by Judith Schaechter, and several works by artists whom we've taught about in the past but have not seen these particular works , like Faith Ringgold's beautiful tribute to the artist Selma Burke whose bas relief sculpture of FDR is on our dime AND there was a Romare Bearden we'd not previously seen. What an absolute treasure trove this museum turned out to be! Not to mention we were very impressed by their truly kid friendly and inviting children's area, their lovely coffee bar/cafe and their extremely reasonable admission price, especially given the amazing works we got to see. All this nestled in lovely historic Doylestown with ample free parking. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! read more

(I'm not qualified or able to tell anyone what is or is not a good art museum so I'm not even going to try. All I can bring to the table is what I thought about Michener.) Going back to front on this one. In retrospect my impression of Michener is that it's less an art museum as opposed to a building that offers a lot of classes and performances which incidentally also happens to have art as well. We came on a Sunday not long after they opened and things initially seemed very busy (note I say seemed). We got the counter to pay and the poor women at the register got confused really quick. I told her that we had two child admissions, one college student with ID and we wanted to use our Bank of America CC to make the last one free since Michener participates with BOA's first weekend of the month free museum program. She couldn't figure this out and after asking a colleague what to do she just gave us a map with the little plastic clip-ons to show that we "paid" and said to have a good time. Free is never a bad thing. Once the guided tour and jazz concert started things cleared out in a hurry. After that we had the place mostly to ourselves. The three things I remember were the giant sculpted heads from the Janis Project (Weird). A lot of decorative chairs and their permanent gallery of PA inspired paintings which seemed Bucks County-centric. www.michenerartmuseum.org/mam_exhibitions/frank-hyder-the-janis-project/ www.michenerartmuseum.org/mam_exhibitions/the-art-of-seating/ Overall the museum was enjoyable and after about 90 minutes we were done as honestly there is not that much to see. Had we paid the full admission price I probably would not be very favorable in my opinion of Michener but free is a strong persuader to not be so hard on something especially when you're not exactly sure that anything you saw was actually all that interesting. Plenty of free parking in a shared lot with the next door library and the usual needed info is below: Tuesday - Friday: 10 am to 4:30 pm Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm Sunday: 12 pm to 5 pm Closed Monday Members: Free Adult: $15.00 Senior: $13.00 College Students: $8.00 Ages 6-18: $5.00 Children under 6: Free read more

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We went to this tiny museum mostly for the Jim Henson's Muppets exhibit, which was well worth the trip. It's a nice exhibit which gives some background as to Henson's early work as an artist and how he evolved into a puppeteer. I was a little confused by one mixed message... there were multiple signs reading "No Photography" in the Henson exhibit, but there was one big sign that read "The only rules are... there are no rules!" So, should I take that to mean I can take photos? We didn't spend much time in the rest of the museum, but we did spend a moment in the sculpture garden which was very peaceful. There's also a cute (tiny) gift shop and food stand, which has delicious cookies. Great for just after seeing the Cookie Monster! Good to know: There is another museum (Mercer) across the street. We didn't make it to the Mercer this time, but your receipt from the Michener gets you a discount at the Mercer. read more

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Here for a wedding. Seems very nice. Hors d'ouevres were good, but I don't like the salad. High hopes for the entree. Bathrooms are clean.

We had our wedding at the Michener. Our venue was simply gorgeous. We loved it from the second we saw it on our tour. It was different from all the other weddings we've been to and many of our friends and family were very impressed. Our guests couldn't stop telling us how great the venue was throughout the night. We agree! It is a hidden gem that we got lucky more people did not know about. Plus, it is affordable! My husband and I still can't get over just how reasonable everything at CBD was especially for the quality of food and service we received. We're so happy we found the Michener. We couldn't be more thrilled with everything. It really was the perfect night. read more

This museum is a teeny bit smallish, but there's lots to see. Not sure about the latest exhibits, but there are a variety of pieces, in multiple types of media. Check out the Nakashima reading room. Japanese stylings, Zen simplicity. Peaceful, calming, quiet. (Kind of how I'd like my place to be.) Did you know you can browse their collections online? read more

Great place to spend a cool fall or winter afternoon. Bring headphones and do the self guided audio tour. Nice to experience culture, talent, and art in today's crazy world. A peaceful nice museum in a very cool historic old jail. read more

Jazz Nite at the Michener - we've been attending these programs at the museum for the past 5 years. For the price of $45 you are provided with dinner courtesy of Havana restaurant in New Hope, wine available throughout the evening provided by Sandcastle Winery and beers provided by River Horse Brewing. Each evening a different jazz band plays from 8:30-11:00 and overall the band's have been outstanding. Last night's event was a Cuban Jazz band that was heavy on vocals and overall was the only show we did not really enjoy. But the Michener does a fantastic job with Jazz Nite and I encourage you to buy a ticket and experience what is usually an incredible night. read more

Michener Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

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Wasn't sure if we wanted to go to this museum when we were in Doylestown PA but we found it to be a very interesting place. Well worth the time we spent there. read more

The Michener Art Museum is an exceptional art museum. They have a great permanent collection and a fascinating rotation of temporary exhibits. There's a beautiful sculpture garden, and a great event space. But that's not why I'm writing this. The Michener museum has educational programs for all ages that are just top notch. I send my son here for a couple weeks of art camp in the summer and they are just fantastic. They help your child develop creative thought (a vastly underrated skill in our educational system but highly prized in the real world), they instill a love of art and hey have fun. The instructors are attentive and highly skilled, and the CITs are wonderful. If your kid is shy or scared, they take he time to help them through it, unlike other summer camps I could mention. At the end of the week your kid comes home with an armful of work that you had no idea he or she was capable of. Worth every penny. read more

I visit this very interesting Art Museum several times a year as it is a wonderful place to just get away for a couple of hours. It is always time well-spent and there are so many things to see and learn about. Whenever we have guests visiting us from other towns and states, we always take them to the Michener - and it never disappoints. This Museum is the 'jewel' in the center of Doylestown. I highly recommend becoming a Member of this Museum and to take advantage of all that they have to offer. read more

We stopped in here the day after visiting the Princeton U.'s Museum of Art and the difference was night and day. I don't want this to be a PUMA (did I just coin that term?) bashing piece, so I'll just say I liked the Michener so much more and leave it at that. The cost of admission is $6 and they currently have a "landscape" retrospective for an additional $4 (which I jokingly was threatening to ask for our $8 back...everyone's a critic!) The excellent use of natural light is the first thing I noticed. The quality of art on display is excellent as well. We went specifically to view the exhibit of Photography portraits which I really recommend. read more

The Michener is a wonderful mid-size museum, perfect for a day trip from Jersey or Philadelphia, in the heart of Bucks County's Doylestown. Michelle has noted their fantastic permanent collection of local Impressionists, the Nakashima Reading Room. and the incredible Garber Mural. The LitGraphic Exhibition, which is on display through January 2011, is a must for any comic/graphic novel enthusiasts. The staff is friendly and quick to answer any questions you might have about the exhibits. Even though I was able to see every exhibit on my visit (unlike the Art Museum!), I can't wait to come back for another visit and let it all soak in. read more

Really nice museum. I've been meaning to come here for a while, but was enticed by the special show on Fashion through the ages. We came to see the movie, Scatter my Ashes at Bergdorf Goodman's. The cost of admission to the museum is $18.00. Hmmmm. That seemed a little high (especially since we were only going to be at the museum a short while). But I thought with the viewing of the movie it would be worthwhile. And it was a lovely short visit. They have a really nice museum shop geared towards modern design. I don't know if I'd go back frequently, but if some event pops up that catches my eye I think I'd return. NOTE...............The Mercer Museum is directly across the street and certainly worth a visit once in a lifetime. read more

This museum is located within the old stone walls of a historic 19th-century prison. Located in Bucks County it is a nice day trip if you are a Philadelphian desiring to spend a bit of time outside of the city. The museum houses 19th- and 20th-century American art. It is noted for its Pennsylvania Impressionism collection, an art colony centered in nearby New Hope during the early 20th century. The Nakashima reading room is really cool! I loved the bird pictures that I saw when I was there - not sure if this was a permanent or temporary exhibition. read more

Came from out of town to see the Grace Kelly special exhibit . A nice tribute for a great talented lady. The collection of artifacts and dresses was outstanding . A nice job by this museum to mount this exhibit in such a grand manner. read more

Wonderful place for a wedding, got amazing wedding photos for one of the first weddings to take place here. I would recommend couples to get married here. read more

This art museum is not to be missed. The collection is interesting, and they rotate special collections regularly. The museum staff is friendly, and they have many of James A. Michener's books, awards, and personal effects. It is a smaller museum, and is perfect for anyone who enjoys Americana. read more

Small, but worthwhile museum in the heart of Bucks County. The Michener has a fantastic permanent exhibit featuring the best of the Pennsylvania Impressionists, known as the Lenfest Gallery. The gallery, the Garber Mural, and the Nakashima reading room are well worth the trip from Center City. Admission is a bargain at $6. If you are coming from CC, I'd suggest making a day of it. Visit the museum, have dinner at one Doyelstown's many great restaurants (Knighthouse) and catch a film at the County Theatre. BTW... there is a great Susan S. Bank photo exhibit running throught Jan 4th...called Cuba: Campo Adentro.. featuring the residents of rural tobacco farming community in Cuba. read more

i love this place. it's the perfect size to spend a couple hours. it wasn't crowded at all when i went on rainy saturday (this is to suggest that it's probably never packed), and for bucks county locals, they showcase a lot of local artists - past and present...i found this particularly interesting. i moved to bucks county from new york city, and am slightly ashamed to admit that i found the plethora of museums at my disposal overwhelming and a little, well, boring...michener isn't like this - i really, truly enjoyed it, and will be back! read more

Visited the Art of Jim Henson exhibit. Great for kids and grown-ups. Not to be missed.

The Michener Museum has a new space that I recently saw when I attended an Opera afternoon with singers from the Philadelphia Opera Company. It is a great space and I highly recommend seeing any of their recitals if you are able. If this event was indicative of the quality they usually provide - it is a "must see" for Bucks County. read more

I am so fortunate to be a member of this fine establishment and to live in Bucks County, PA. The Michener is a premier regional museum that features works by the artists known as the New Hope Impressionists. Those artists were in their heyday from the 1890's until the mid-twentieth century. My favorite artists are Ed Redfield and Fern Coppedge. Redfield was famous for painting en plein air; in other words, he didn't paint in a studio; he painted on site and in one sitting. His winter snow scenes of rural Bucks County are stupendous. Fern Coppedge was one of the Philadelphia 10 female artists. Her use of vibrant colors was amazing and set the stage for later generations of local artists to follow in her footsteps. Don't miss the Nakashima Reading Room; it's a great place to read a book or meditate. I particularly like the Sunday 1 pm meditations sponsored by the museum and led by docents. They are free with the price of admission to the museum. The Michener is a gem. While you're in Doylestown, check out the Mercer Museum across the street and the Fonthill Tileworks. I'm not a big fan of Pennsylvania, but if I have to live here, I'm glad I live in a great place like Bucks County. read more

I wish I were a kid again, living near Doylestown, so I could attend the wonderful summer camp here at the Michener Art Museum! This week they are doing fashion design for ages 10 to 15. The kids do rough sketches and learn color theory and textile design to create fashion accessories. What fun! Of course it's fun for me as an adult, too, to see all the different cultures of the Commonwealth celebrated in the folk arts exhibit. I'm so glad the museum is continuing to grow, with a new event center opening next spring. And at the cafe, you can get seltzer for 25 cents -- the bargain of the century! read more

Great art camp for kids! Friendly, skilled teachers. Great gift shop and art!

My children have attended a variety of art classes at the Michener over the years. They started in preschool, with a weekly parent child program. It was an amazing experience for the whole family. They now attend Saturday classes, where they build skills in all kinds of art media and also explore their creative side. In addition, the arts summer programs are vibrant and inspiring. Above all, the Michener teaching staff is incredible. They are talented, caring, dedicated, and make learning about art fun. All this - and over the years, my kids have had first hand experience with original works of art in a museum. I can't imagine having raised my kids in Doylestown without Michener art classes as part of their experience. Thanks for being a vital part of our community! read more