Norman Rockwell Museum Reviews

This is a lovely museum and honestly was more than I expected. I learned a lot about the artist that I never knew. The only great disappointment for me was the highlight of the trip is supposed to be his last studio that he painted in. It was relocated to the beautiful grounds behind the actual museum. It is closed due to Covid. We were able to walk out there but not go in. That is a huge reason that I went. But it is beautiful and you were able to walk around the grounds and there’s even a river trail you can take on a nice day. Looking forward to going back and seeing his studio.

A very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

This summer, a large part of the upper gallery is given over to an exhibition of original art from “MAD” magazine. I grew up reading “MAD’, and was delighted . However, the “MAD” art does crowd out the rest of the gallery somewhat.

The MAD exhibition will run through October.

Fantastic even with Teens. Do not forget to visit the workshop. We bought the playing cards that are really great with all Norman Rockwell's paintings.

A must see if you are near Stockbridge. Museum was very well organized and easy to follow. Informative introductory film in lower level tells the fascinating story. Several drawings, paintings, magazine covers and sketches to see. A real treat to see his studio on the property. Small cafe with packaged good items and drinks available. Nice gift shop. The grounds were beautiful. Ample parking and clean restrooms. Plan on a 90 minute stay. Your is self guided

Rockwell is always interesting, and I've seen the Saturday Evening Post collection as a special exhibit elsewhere; it was nice to be able to take photos this time. One could argue that Rockwell was of his time, but he also moved with the times, and while there's a basic decency to his work, he did not shy away from some difficult issues. Did not take the studio tour, and I think given time constraints this was a wise choice. I am a fan of MAD, so enjoyed that as well - but some of the reproduced work is text heavy and just doesn't translate into a crowed environment - you won't be able to read and absorb it. That that extent, probably more space devoted to it than makes sense. Rockwell was both an important illustrator, artist and chronicler of 20th century America, and for these reasons and more worth the experience - but the place is also a bit 'corporate' in feel - which isn't really a knock, but 'please make sure you spend heavily at the gift shop....'

Just perfect , this museum has it all . Norman Rockwell was a brilliant artist and the entire experience was sublime . The staff member telling the story about the famous Christmas painting from Stockbridge town centre and the outdoor studio , everything was just perfect .

This was the perfect thing to do on a rainy day in the Berkshires.
Parking was easy. The main exhibits are 2 large halls where you can follow along his life and see his original works. There is also a hall with a rotating exhibit.
Downstairs.... every single Post Magazine cover that he created. amazing that they have them all in perfect condition. Then I remember that the Post had a circulation of over 2M.

Great visit!

If you are ever near Stockbridge, Massachusetts do yourself favor and check out the Norman Rockwell museum. This museum houses works from the famous author, painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell. The iconic picutres and news covers that we grew up loving are exhibited all throughout the museum along with articles detailing Mr. Rockwell's life events. Very interesting and informative!

This is my second time to this museum, and it does not disappoint. Rockwell has long been one of my favorite artists and this is a gem of a place. You can see all of his Saturday Evening Post covers on the bottom floor, and browse the original paintings on the main floor. Great outdoor seating too, so if you can pack a lunch, its a really nice place to sit and eat outdoors.

Np opinion on the cafe; we did not partake.

On a recent birthday getaway to Lenox MA my husband and I headed to Stockbridge to check out the Norman Rockwell Museum. It was wonderful and eye opening. We took about 2 hours here and enjoyed both the Rockwell Collection and Jan Brett Illustrations on display. Working in an elementary school, seeing both of these magnificent artists who use different varied mediums was amazing.

The Saturday Evening Post room/display and short video downstairs are not ones to be missed. It started to snow while we were there making the experience even more magical. My husband who is not as much of an art or museum “buff” as I am learned some new things today and enjoyed himself.

Kudos to Docent Dan who was a wealth of knowledge and truly has a passion for his job. He even told some stories about his days in NY as a Rangers and Islanders fan to my husband who is a Rangers fan. I would definitely love to check the grounds and museum out again in warmer weather.

…..rarely do I leave an art museum having been as totally impressed, moved, amused, or touched by virtually every piece of art exhibited. What a treasured experience for my wife and me. Added icing on the cake was the affable docent (an older gentleman from Queens, NY) who clearly loves his job and knows his stuff.

This place never disappoints......The staff is friendly, the exhibits awesome and the Rockwell paintings and illustrations are timeless. This yearly visit will always be a part of our Berkshire trips.....Oh, and thanks to the kind, friendly, very informed women who spoke about Norman Rockwell and the visiting artists; just so great!

Oh, my, what a wonderful place. We spent 2.5 hrs just gazing at one after another after another of Rockwell's pieces--so sweet, so full of humanity, some funny, some dear, some profound. This museum is so very well-done. It's large enough not to feel crowded, but still feels intimate. There are two different videos which remind us of the details of Rockwell's life and much (all?) of his work is on display--very beautifully presented and explained. So far, this is a highlight of our trip.

This museum does an excellent job of connecting Rockwell’s work to important historical moments. You leave understanding his work better and the important role it played in our history.

We so enjoyed our visit here. It was so exciting to actually be in his studio and see the history right there. It’s located on beautiful property as well

WOW! i knew very little about Norman Rockwell prior to this visit and i do not think i have ever been as impressed by a single artist at any other art museum.
The attention to detail in the Saturday Post cover illustrations was phenomenal, each picture inviting the viewer to create a back story for the characters with such expressive faces.
Based on his lifes work, he just seems like an amazing insightful person, a true genius at work.

Just passing through, I decided to take my teen-aged daughter to the Norman Rockwell Museum. While I grew up knowing all about Rockwell and have fond memories of a book my parents bought about his Saturday Evening Post covers, my daughter had never heard of him. I know, bad parenting. She was completely blown away by the amazing illustrations and portraiture. Going back to childhood, when she used to point out the balloons on every page of one of her favorite books, she picked out the dogs on the various covers. Rockwell liked to include dogs quite often. I liked seeing the original oil paintings where you could see the pencil lines where he sketched before starting to paint. I also liked the details such as the different styles he used to sign his name. Rockwell's style is definitely a lost art because you don't see illustrations like his today.

The museum itself offers a film about Rockwell's life and career and in the same room, framed covers of all of the Saturday Evening Post covers. Upstairs, there are original paintings including his most famous Four Freedoms collection as well as information about some other artists. Right now, there is a special exhibit on the artist Leo Lionni which I thought was the highlight of our visit. Lionni's commercial advertisement work captured the entire essence of the 1950s but his children's books with the important message about how individuals fit into society are just as much of a highlight. I used to read a few of his books as part of the nightly lineup for my girls when they were little and I thought those days were well in the past. There were copies of "Frederick" available to look at and my daughter and I sat down together so I could read to her once again.

We also walked over to Rockwell's studio although it was closed for the season and explored the grounds of the Linwood House which hosts the administrative offices for the museum.

The museum is a must-see if you are in Stockbridge!

We went for the enchanted fantasy illustration exhibit! It was a beautiful day to view the grounds as well as the museum. I’m so glad we were able to see this exhibit. The talent being showcased was excellent. I definitely learned more about Norman Rockwell. We will definitely be back again.

The NRM museum is beautiful! Rockwell's art is a national treasure for everyone to enjoy. We had a wonderful experience with family on Family Day.
The Jan Brett exhibit is delightful for children.

This was a multiple treat for me, being a member of the Boy Scouts of America for over 50 years, I am familiar with most of his work for the BSA and was thrilled to see many of his original works. Also, being a fan of the Arts and Crafts movement and the Stickley line of Craftsman furniture, I was in awe of the Harvey Ellis designed Stickley table and 4 chairs just sitting there in the lobby for visitors to sit at. These are originals and museum pieces in their own right!!! I also had a career in the shipbuilding and repair industry, so the exhibit on the SS United States was also extremely interesting to me. Having visited right after a 2-foot snowfall, the setting was idyllic.

I am old enough to remember the Saturday Evening Post Rockwell covers. Everyone loved them and looked forward to the next one. Every cover is displayed in the museum. There is a video interview with the artist that is very informative. There was also an opportunity to see Rockwell’s working studio.

There was also a temporary display that we were fortunate to see. It focused on fantasy art and it was great. We went on a Tuesday when they have an interview with an artist. On our visit, there was a zoom interview with Bob Eggleton who had some of his work on display. This museum is not to be missed.

I loved the Norman Rockwell displays! I'm not as much of a fan of the MAD art work. The museum itself and the surrounding grounds are great. Worth the stop! The only thing distressing about our visit was a security guard running up to us and saying we were too close to a picture!!! He said we set off an alarm that the picture was being touched!!! He totally startled me the way he ran up to us! I was thoroughly taken by the picture and in a trance admiring the detail of the picture! I had leaned into the picture for a closer look, but DID NOT at any time TOUCH the picture! My husband and I are 68 and certainly know how to behave in a museum! He could have walked by and observed us first to know that we weren't TOUCHING the painting at all!!! Running up to us like he did was startling and totally unnecessary!!! I can understand having security, but this place was teeming with security people!!! I guess he was looking for something to do?! It's a once and done museum for us. I'm glad I saw it, but we won't go back.

Seeing the collective works of Norman Rockwell as well as the visiting artist, Kadir Nelson. was humbling. Could easily spend hours there contemplating the works displayed as well as where history has taken us. The Museum is beautifully laid out inside as well as the grounds. Easy to navigate, not overwhelming but so much to take in and contemplate!

As on my first visit a decade before, it was very pleasant & enjoyable. We liked the repeated examples of how Rockwell progressed a work from initial sketch to full-size draft to final painting. We loved the downstairs display of Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers, but many were mounted too high or too low to appreciate all their detail. Wanted to see more Rockwell works in the upstairs display areas; too much space was devoted to various 1960's retrospectives featuring artists of other media forms. Unfortunately my favorites, the Four Freedoms, were away in France, and aren't returning until later in 2020. The gift shop has expanded so it's easy to find attractive gifts at a range of prices to fit any budget. The Terrace Cafe had a variety of good pre-made sandwiches & salads by the Red Lion Inn, and it saved us time to avoid looking for an alternative lunch venue. Tip: rent the $5 audio tour to hear great background info.

Beautiful, we’ll maintained museum to visit. I knew nothing about Norman Rockwell and learned so much. Easy to spend 2 hours here.. so much to see. If weather is nice you can picnic outside.

It is worthwhile to pay $10 extra for a tour if you can with an expert who brings so much storytelling and context to each work. The paintings are so familiar it’s easy to confuse that with ordinary. And the grounds are beautiful, too.

The Norman Rockwell Museum was a great place to visit! They have about 70% of his collection and every original Saturday Evening Post his artwork was on. We are staying in New York in the Catskills and saw this was about an hour away. It was really cool and we loved the audio tour on their app (It had the real people that modeled, Norman Rockwell, or the subjects explaining the different pictures.). My husband who isn’t even a huge art fan enjoyed the audio commentary. We started in the basement by watching a movie that was an overview of Norman Rockwell’s life. Then we listened about the artwork on several of The Saturday Evening Post covers. The original artwork that he gave to Walt Disney was displayed downstairs. It was given to the museum by one of Walt Disney’s daughters. I especially loved the stories of the women who was a model for Norman Rockwell when she was a child. The magazine cover took you through her day and it was interesting hearing her perspective on how the cover came to be! Upstairs has many of the original paintings that can be seen downstairs on the covers of the Saturday Evening Post. I learned so much and how Norman Rockwell portrayed many important things in history including FDR’s four freedoms and the Civil Rights Movement. Mr. Rockwell often used his family and neighbors to model and used his hometown of Stockbridge for inspiration. We ended our day by touring his studio which contains his original chair, palette and drafting table. There was a docent who explained the several moves his studio has made and she said that he moved the giant printing press each time which was also original. There is an amazing view by the studio as well. The studio is only open during. Retain parts of the year and just recently has reopened with the states new more relaxed Covid restrictions. The museum is small, but it was so neat to see original pictures that I had only seen in books and TV while growing up. There is also an area for special exhibits and it is currently on Enchanted Paintings. There is lots of seating and I listened to most of the audio while sitting since I am on oxygen. There is little here to entertain kids or hold their attention.

Great experience. The museum presented a wonderful overview of the career and development of a great American illustrator. The Museum app was also a joy to use and greatly enhanced the overall experience.

Rockwell wasn't just the artist who painted decades of covers for magazines. Among his other art are the paintings for the Four Freedoms, ideals to fight towards in the era of World War II. Other paintings show whimsy, and others yet show a world dealing with segregation and the effects of bigotry. There may well be special exhibits when you visit. - my friend and I got to view art by Pops Peterson, a local artist who had an exhibit, "Reinventing Rockwell" - taking some of Rockwell's themes, and modernizing them - sometimes lightly, and sometimes with a darker overtone. Looking at these paintings, you realize how Rockwell respected people (especially children) as individuals. You are also guided through how he composed his art, and found/utilized his models, by ample but not overcomplicated descriptions by many of his paintings. Rockwell lived for at least a good portion of his life in Stockbridge - and this town has done well in its honoring of him here. PS, if it is a nice day, the grounds are worth a stroll.

My husband and I have visited the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts many times, most recently on Friday, July 31, 2020, arriving during the 10:00 am scheduled time slot. All the exhibits on display were quite relevant and educational, very nicely addressing current issues and current events and provided great perspective historically, culturally, politically and socially.

Although we initially thought having to have timed tickets for entry into the museum was a bit stressful and it was not too relaxing having to arrive within a specific half hour time slot, this was not the case. The timed tickets effectively limited the number of people in each of the galleries at one time. Also, the way the exhibits were set-up, in particular the navigation and flow of traffic throughout the galleries, was very smooth and well controlled, which was very well done. It definitely was not crowded and we felt like we were the only ones in the galleries at times, feeling like we were having a special private viewing, definitely being able to practice social distancing and feel safe with everyone required to wear a mask. In addition, a friendly, knowledgeable, interpretive staff member provided helpful information about the exhibits, including some of the interesting techniques that Rockwell used in his artwork, which helped guide us through the exhibits in the galleries. Our visit was really quite enjoyable.

There has always been something new and different on display at this museum, which was quite captivating and nicely done, very enjoyable, interesting, informative and educational.
The write-ups/interpretive markers associated with the artwork throughout the galleries in the museum provide good background information and a historical perspective about the items on display. The museum is also located in a beautiful setting in the Berkshires with well landscaped and maintained grounds and plenty of free parking. It is real nice to see the changes in the landscape at different times of year in the surrounding area. This area is great to take pictures of!!.

Our visit to the museum this time took a little over a hour and a half. We recommend a visit to the museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as much as we have..

Special Exhibit: ‘Lisa Donnelly: Comic Relief’::

The exhibit provided very good background information about the artist and her approach to cartoons and was well laid out. The artist, Lisa Donnelly, is an accomplished cartoonist, writer, visual journalist and activist, who creates her work using multiple techniques, including Live Drawing. . . She uses cartoons to start a dialogue through humor to open doors to new ways of seeing things and to find common grounds, including for launching political movements or calling leaders into account. She is an advocate for Womanpower and has addressed such political and social issues as race and gender inequality with the strong desire to see the world’s wrongs righted and to use cartoons to get there. Her work, which could be characterized as subtle, hilarious and emphatic, gives much needed comic relief in uncertain times, providing a feeling of collective relief as we recognize our own perplexity, frustration or anger. This exhibit was quite inspiring, very interesting and worth seeing.

Special Exhibit: ‘Rose O’Neill: Artist and Suffragette’:

This exhibit provided a nice biography on Rose O’Neill who was a self-taught illustrator who broke new grounds in the world of art and publishing and helped to secure the rights of women to vote. She created the popular Kewpies painting and Kewpie Dolls and was a top artist for multiple popular companies including, Jell-O, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and Eastman Kodak. Her artwork on display in the exhibit was quite interesting. Her accomplishments were all quite inspirational and the video playing in the background in the gallery nicely reflected this and was quite informative. This exhibit was a good paring with the ‘Comic Relief’ special exhibit, and definitely supports the Norman Rockwell Museum’s mission to present the art of illustration and showcase the power of visual images to shape and reflect society.

Special Exhibit: ‘The Anatomy of Rockwell’s Murder in Mississippi’ (Painting from 1964).

The anatomy of the particular work of art in this exhibit illuminates Rockwell’s intensive focus on the incident, the murders of three young civil rights workers, and his process of creating a painting that expressed his outrage. This exhibit together with the ‘Norman Rockwell and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the NAACP’ display showed how Norman Rockwell made a difference with his art. Both Rockwell and King elevated the world’s vision of joy, hope and humanity but in different ways. Rockwell revealed the potential of happiness while King revealed the realities of injustice. Through his paintings, which were controversial at times, Rockwell tried to make the world a better place to live in.

Special Exhibit: ‘Americans at Work’ was a nice tribute to Americans and their hard work across a broad range of employment sectors, including education, health care, law enforcement, agriculture and other essential trades. This exhibit nicely acknowledges the dignity and dedication of the American worker as seen through Rockwell’s eyes and was a primary focus of his art. Rockwell himself was very hard working throughout his long career, constantly coming up with new ideas for his work and meeting many tight deadlines. This exhibit was a nice tribute to his hard work and that of other fellow Americans. .

Special Exhibit: ‘Burton Silverman in Search of the Constitution’ (on the lower level) – was nicely designed to help the viewers visualize the founding fathers as they debated, drafted and signed the historic document at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention of 1787. This exhibit was quite interesting and educational and showed how such documents as the Articles of Confederation, Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan all helped shaped the Constitution

Norman Rockwell Collections:

The illustrations on exhibit by Norman Rockwell, which were on display throughout the first floor galleries, nicely portrayed his storytelling techniques and attention to fine detail. The exhibitions from Norman Rockwell’s collections that were on display at the time of our visit were all interesting, beautiful and enjoyable, including the illustrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms posters in support of the war efforts during World War II., Also, the gallery that contained the paintings ‘‘Picturing the Twentieth Century Women’ , reflecting how he painted women from this time period, was quite nice. Rockwell’s work is done from the perspective of his own experience, using everyday scenes as a guide, which make it quite unique and appealing. .

The Norman Rockwell exhibits change on an on-going basis and there were definitely many changes from our last visit in late November 2019.

The extensive collections of every Saturday Evening Post Cover that he produced that are located downstairs, broken up by the time periods of (1916 – 1919); (1920 – 1929); (1930 – 1939); (1940 – 1949); (1950 – 1959) and (1960 – 1963), reflect the constantly changing times throughout his career and have historical significance, being all quite impressive and always nice to see. The video on Norman Rockwell’s life, also shown downstairs, provides great background on his life. We have also enjoyed the Gallery Talks about Norman Rockwell that provided very interesting details about his life and paintings, each talk being different from one another, giving a unique perspective with more information each visit, when they took place..

Although it was not open at the time of our visit, visiting his studio has provided great information on the way Norman Rockwell worked and how his studio was set-up. The multiculturalism and work of the United Nations was nicely depicted in the painting that was on display in the studio from 1960 during the time of our last visit. The story behind the painting told by the docent was also quite interesting!! The studio is definitely well preserved and worth a visit when it is open. .

Again, this was a very nice visit to a great museum in a beautiful setting in the Berkshires, including the unique artist’s studio, when it is open. There was a lot to see in this museum, much more than what I mention here, and it is all definitely worth visiting, as it always has been!!

We brought my 9 year old here. It is a wonderful introduction to art museums for younger children. She enjoyed telling us the story behind the paintings, as well as seeing the artwork by local high school students. There was a virtual reality area where we were able to explore the settings of the Four Freedoms. We stayed about 2 hours and my daughter never got bored! Massachusetts teachers get free admission with an MTA card and children are free. If you are staying over in Stockbridge look into the Rockwell package at the Red Lion Inn!

Thoughly enjoyed walking around and looking at all the painting he did with a little info next to the painting. They even allowed us to take pictures which was very nice of them They also have a nice cafe and gift shop. The grounds have some interesting art pieces to see.

Absolutely loved this place. Grounds and outbuildings were well kept and easy to navigate. It’s a short walk to visit Rockwell’s painting studio on the grounds. The museum houses an impressive collection of Rockwell’s paintings mixed in with work of other visiting illustrators. Loved reading the short backstories many of his most familiar painting. The basement level houses every on on his Saturday Evening Post covers in chronological order. If you like Rockwell’s work at all, don’t miss this stop.

If you are in the area and have a chance, don’t miss out on the Normal Rockwell Museum. Due to Covid 19 the museum is great following the social distancing protocols - very safe and attentive to everyone during the visit. Don’t miss this wonderful place to visit. You will enjoy it thoroughly!!!

very nice and sometimes humorous. A beautiful place to spend some time. the grounds are beautifully landscaped and managed.

I thoroughly enjoyed visiting this museum dedicated to the works of one of my favorite American artists. This is the world's largest collection of Norman Rockwell's art and it was a thrill to see in person the originals of these iconic representations of life in 20th Century America. I especially liked the gallery of his Saturday Evening Post covers. Also enjoyed seeing his studio.

Wow. Norman Rockwell was great. I remember a few of his Saturday Evening Post cover paintings from the early 1960's when I was a kid. The museum is spectacular. Some of his original work is on display as well as the actual covers of all of his Saturday Evening Post work. The museum also had Mad Magazine on exhibit as a special event. We were with a large group and we were given a special tour of his studio. It was riginally located in town but moved to the museum site. We saw the studio much as he left it.

Great collection of his works well displayed in a beautiful setting. Went to the museum many many years ago when it was at the house downtown. Obviously the move to the new museum was the right thing to do. The grounds are beautiful, especially in the fall. The placement of his studio on the hill is just right. Well worth the trip.

We were very disappointed in the staff after speaking with them. The staff aside, the art was so interesting and very nice to see how he made his sketches first. It was interesting to hear his life story. This was an interesting time in our history, and he tried recording it in his artistic way. Very good museum. There was plenty of parking and just don't ask the staff to many questions

Excellent!!!!!!! Exceeded expectations! Love seeing his art. Also very much appreciated the exhibit on representations of race over the decades. Very well done. Very informative and the material was handled with sensitivity and intelligence. Thank you!!!!! One of my best stops on my Berkshires and Hudson River Valley Tour!

So worth the time, effort and in the time of Covid, the Museum has done an excellent job of keeping visitors at a social distance. Great guides, an app, overview of each painting and when leaving the museum guest has a wonderful understanding of Rockwell!

Was not sure we would get the time for a stop here but so very glad that we did. This is a really interesting museum. Seeing all of the work that Norman Rockwell did throughout some of the toughest times for our country was really fascinating. He really did have an impact on people and I love that he was so positive in his messages. The grounds are also very pleasant if you have time to walk around a little

I visited the museum with family consisting of 8 adults and 8 chldren. We all including the children enjoyed our visit. I look foward to my next visit.

I had never previously heard about Norman Rockwell until visiting the museum during a recent coach tour though New England.

Having spent a really enjoyable 2 hour visit I would recommend that if you're in the area then it's definitely worth stopping.

Great tour around the grounds and also it was fantastic to see his work.

I would have given the museum 5 stars except that it was very crowded the day we were there. I wasn't expecting that since we had to get tickets in advance so I thought the number of people would be limited. Otherwise, fabulous! My daughter and I started with the film and enjoyed the collection of Sat Eve Post covers in that room. Then we proceeded to the galleries and loved viewing the art. I didn't read all the material I would have if it hadn't been so crowded but we enjoyed our visit anyway.

The tour 3/9/23 @ 2PM with Dan was absolutely excellent. The tour, in a very entertaining and personal way, covered the background and history of the paintings, the techniques used in the painting, Rockwell's life at the time of the painting, and his strategies to convey a message.

This was an excellent museum and definitely worth the visit. We liked seeing his studio which has also been brought to the property. Only issue was that 5 full tour buses showed up at once and it got very crowded all of a sudden. Go early in the morning !

Begin the tour with the 12 min video. It’s a nice introduction into his life. The best thing we did was pay for the guided tour. The painting are lovely on their own but without the guilds excellent knowledge so much would have been missed. All the art work is fascinating.

It was fun to look at art that I could understand and relate to.
The museum was clean and spacious. Masks were still required as of Friday, June 11.
It is 2 hours from Boston so could be a day trip, although if you choose to stay in the area, there is lots to do. Highly recommend the Norman Rockwell Museum.

We visit the Rockwell every summer during our annual visit to the Berkshires and it never disappoints. The permanent exhibit of Norman Rockwell's work is always worth a second look, and the special exhibit is always indeed, special. And this year is no exception.

The Fantasy Illustrations exhibit was amazing. The extraordinary work by illustrators like N.C. Wyeth and Donato Giancola was something special. I have included photos of some of their work and others in the photo gallery here.

I hope you get a chance to experience it in person and don't miss the outdoor exhibit of fantasy sculpture as well (see photo).

For almost any person a must see. Beautiful illustrations. The museum is impeccably clean and well organized. Sits on beautifully landscaped grounds. Be sure to go to the studio.

We went to the Rockwell Museum many years ago when it was in a large house in Stockbridge. It was a folksy place that seemed to have every famous Rockwell painting on display. The current museum is very different - professional and cold. There were many famous Rockwell paintings but far fewer than in the old museum. The Four Freedoms series were missing and replaced with cheap posters. There were three whole galleries devoted to unrelated, mediocre artists who seem to have work there to fit some current trendy social theme. The museum seems more oriented toward favored social causes than Mr. Rockwell's art.

The Norman Rockwell is as much a 20th century history lesson as an art museum. The grounds are beautiful, including walks and outdoor sculpture. We gained a new perspective on the artist. We are not Rockwell fans in particular, but found the museum very worthwhile nevertheless.

We visited the museum and took the guided tour the guide was very friendly and extremely interesting . The museum is packed with Mr. Rockwell's works covering his very long and successful career. We also viewed a very interesting film on Mr. Rockwell's life that's included with admission to museum. The visit ended in the large gift shop on property with quality items at a good price.

Well worth the price of admission. Takes about 75 minutes to go through. You must buy tickets online ahead of time for scheduled time. Nest to the Museum on the grounds is the studio Rockwell used for his creations. Unfortunately, that is not part of the experience.

We stopped by this museum as we were staying in Stockbridge. It offered so much information on Rockwell with each and every painting - very interesting facts about each. Learning how he painted and put everything together was an eye opener for us! I also liked that they had an additional exhibit (fantasy) as well - it was like getting a 2 for 1 visit. I'd certainly recommend the museum to all.

We visited using the NRM app for background. Loved the museum and the backstory behind the paintings provided by the app. Staff watched over visitors to ensure spacing and masks were worn.

This is not a huge, overwhelming museum but about 1 1/2 hrs lets you see it all in depth. That’s if it’s not too crowded with tours. We are huge Rockwell fans of his work but how interesting to read about his life and his struggles both personally and as an artist. Such good social commentary he provided to the world.

It’s no wonder that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are collectors of Rockwell. He’s more than a painter; he’s a storyteller. A passing glance is not enough to gain the richness of his creations. Notice the details in the paintings; there are clues that enrich the stories. The museum is is a mixture of original paintings, sketches, high-quality prints, photos, notes and brief videos.

I’ll only hit the most striking parts to me. A guide pointed out some “hidden in plain view” details in his painting "Moving Day" that intrigued me. Look closely. You’ll see three different types of baseball gloves held by the children with Rockwell hinting they might someday be on the same team. The children are perhaps a bit uncertain as the racial lines come down. The black girl holds a white cat; the white kids have a black dog. It’s only the animals who seem to have a problem with each other. Another revelation was the painter’s friendship with noted psychotherapist Erik Eriksen (the man who introduced the term “identity crisis.”) It’s suggested that Eriksen affirmed Rockwell’s recurring theme of tolerance.

In addition to the museum, a short walk takes you to his studio which was formerly in downtown Stockbridge. Here again, a wonderful guide told fascinating stories that led to a greater appreciation of his work. The view from the light-filled studio is stunning.

Was not sure what to expect but this was lot of fun and very educational. Enjoyed seeing his many works and learning about the man himself. A must see if you are in the area

The museum has cancelled Norman Rockwell. They put the majority of his paintings in storage. 3 out of 5 rooms were filled with exhibits having nothing to do with Rockwell. I have been there many times and return each summer to see all the Rockwell paintings. I will never go back. And by the way they still require masks and it is JULY 2022 not 2020.

Visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum was much more than I could have expected. We thoroughly enjoyed the galleries along with the videos of Norman's life and career and his interview with Edward R. Murrow. Wonderful to see that the museum is expanding by four more galleries! Don't miss this museum if you are traveling in the area.

Great museum. Loved the MAD Magazine exhibit. Also took the tour of Mr. Rockwell’s studio - very interesting. The grounds are beautiful.

I did not know much about Norman Rockwell before we got to the museum. I found a lot, it was very interesting. Do not miss his workshop which was moved here from town, this will give you more insight into the way he worked. The surroundings are beautiful as well.

This was our second visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum and the first in 9 years. His artwork, and especially the Saturday Evening Post covers, are like walking through a history of Americana, both events and culture.

Once you have spent some time in the Berkshires, you gain an even greater understanding/admiration for the works of Norman Rockwell. And to see his works again, you realize that they are timeless. Pay the little extra for the studio tour. It is worth seeing where he actually worked. This is a lovely museum.

It was an interesting way to spend a few hours on a rainy afternoon. It was crowded with bus fulls of tourists which made it a less pleasurable experience.

We visited here about 20 years ago and enjoyed the visit. We were in the area so decided to do a revisit.

It was the first day of a big 'MAD' magazine exhibition. It's peculiarly an American phenomena I think so held little interest for us. It did seem to take up the lions share of the exhibition space relegating Rockwell's work to a side show so was a bit disappointing.

We watched a film on the artist which was interesting and this time we booked to visit his studio which has been relocated to the complex. We did not see this last time and it saved this visit because it was most absorbing and the resident guide was excellent. We were a small interested group so it was an immersive visit. The guide had to throw us all out to make way for the next group! The shop was impressive and it was difficult not to buy some souvenirs!

I am so glad that we had time to visit this museum. The humor and warmth of Rockwell's art has always been wonderful to behold. We also enjoyed the Mad Magazine exhibit. I wish more of Rockwell's originals had been on display, but it was a well-curated exhibit. We did not have time to visit his studio, which I think would have been fascinating. The film was a good retrospective of his life and art. I had done the online exhibit that came with my online order of tickets and spent hours pouring over each painting and description...well done. Fun gift shop!

On a recent New England fall tour, one of our stops was at the Norman Rockwell Museum. This was a great visit that I hadn’t noticed on the itinerary! I have always loved Norman Rockwell's art ever since I was a little kid. We watched a film, toured the different areas of the museum, enjoyed all the artwork and Saturday Evening Post covers, and checked out the gift shop. There was a section where they showed people who’d parodied or been inspired by Rockwell’s work (I was nowhere near as interested in that as his own work). There was also a temporary exhibit of MAD magazine artwork, of which I never was a fan. I thoroughly enjoyed our visit there, and could have stayed longer. I was once again impressed with how Rockwell’s art spanned from the humorous and whimsical to the serious and thought-provoking, with so much nostalgia, Americana, and history portrayed in his work. I love how he has represented and celebrated the ordinary people of our country. I was able to find a Christmas ornament featuring one of his pictures, and a beautiful panoramic puzzle of the Stockbridge historic district painting. While waiting for our tour bus to pick us up, we walked about outside and took some pictures of the grounds. This visit was well worth our time and very enjoyable.

Timed entry. We arrived at 10am, stayed for 2 hours. We started at the lower floor of the museum on our own. The is an excellent video which is a good starting point then reviewed his covers for the Saturday Evening Post. Upstairs there is a large exhibit of his art work as well as an exhibit of other illustrators. There is an elevator if needed for the two floors. We wandered the grounds looking at sculptures plus the excellent views. The studio was interesting to see, and was explained by a guide. There is an available lunch on the patio but we did not partake.

The museum is a joy. It is such a pleasure to see Norman Rockwell's delightful paintings in person. Kids enjoy seeing the paintings of life's little moments, too.

Fall visit is the best when the crowd is mostly the retired set. Great exhibition and side videos with plenty of docents to help. The paintings were enjoyed, but I was sorry to learn that he seemingly put his family life in "second place" to the paintings. The grounds are well-laid out, but we were disappointed to learn that his studio (overlooking the beautiful countryside) was moved from the city itself some years ago. He never did have a commanding view of the countryside. I hope he took his boys fishing (at least once). The Red Lion Inn (nearby) is a great place to see the hotel pet "Norman". His original studio once was located nearby.

This museum was funded in part by Steven Spielberg to further the awareness of the prolific portfolio of work by this one of a kind artist. I have always enjoyed the small town flavor of Mr Rockwell’s work, but was able to gain appreciation for the man and his life through this visit. This museum is every bit of 5 Stars!

The Norman Rockwell Museum is a treasurehouse of American art. The story of Rockwell himself is told through his artwork and through relationships with well-known men ad women of the world. A wonderful collection of his original art and the history and stories behind his works. Well worth a trip to Stockbridge just to see the museum and grounds.

We made a side trip to the Rockwell Museum while touring the Hudson Valley art sites (an interesting contrast). There are three components to the museum. Rockwell's life chronology with emphasis on the War years, a complete collection of his Saturday Evening Post covers, and his workshop.

Excellent content, outdated layout. Room with magazine covers is too small and a film is showing in there. Too many people, inadequate ventilation.

Other parts are spread out just fine. The Post covers is very popular. Wish I could have spent more time looking at those.

They had masks available thankfully, but we were the only ones who wore them.

It’s a great stop but gets crowded on Thursday morning after being closed on Wednesdays.

We have visited the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts many times, most recently in early November 2019. This time we really enjoyed the ‘Finding Home: Four Artists’ Journeys’ special exhibit. This exhibit was quite educational. It nicely depicted the immigration stories of four Master Illustrators, providing great perspective historically, culturally, politically and socially. Also, the Norman Rockwell studio was still open for the season and we had the opportunity to see how he worked and how everything he worked with was arranged. This was quite impressive and definitely worth seeing.

There has always been something new and different on display at this museum, which was quite captivating and nicely done, very enjoyable, interesting, informative and educational.
The write-ups associated with the artwork throughout the galleries in the museum provide good background information and a historical perspective about the items on display. The museum is also located in a beautiful setting in the Berkshires with well landscaped and maintained grounds and plenty of free parking. It is real nice to see the changes in the landscape at different times of year in the surrounding area. This area is great to take pictures of!!.

Our visit to the museum this time took a little over a hour. However, due to lack of time available to us, we did not have the opportunity to attend a docent talk, which are always different and provide very interesting information about Norman Rockwell and different aspects of his life, career and specific pieces of his artwork..

Special Exhibit: ‘Finding Home: Four Artists’ Journeys’:

In this exhibit Master illustrators bring their immigration experiences to life in images and words that give voice to their complex emotional realities of traveling to America, and adapting to a new way of life. Artists Frances Jetter, David Macaulay, James McMullan and Yuyi Morales draw upon memories and family narratives, and on historical research that establish meaningful contexts for their work. Background information is provided about each artist, their stories are told and the interesting processes each artist used to create their artwork and stories are documented alongside their artwork and video commentary to provide great context.

David Macaulay documents his family’s immigration story and illustrates the story of the most advanced steamship of its kind, the USS United States, in his book ‘Crossing on Time: Steam Engines, Fast Ships and a Journey to the New World’ The interesting story of the Master Builder, William Francis Gibbs, naval architect, designer and engineer who built the USS United States together with the ship’s story is nicely illustrated along with the art and science of shipbuilding during the 1950s. David Macaulay’s interest in historical and technological marvels is also nicely depicted.

Yuvi Morales book ‘Dreamers’, which tells a story of her difficult passage from Xalapa, Mexico, is nicely illustrated through some very vibrant prints, using ink drawings and digital images, depicting a celebration of what immigrants bring with them when they leave home..

Frances Jetter’s ‘Amelgam’ nicely illustrates the history of the life of her immigrant labor unionist grandfather who immigrated from Poland. Her story follows her family and the labor union through the Depression, World War II, the 1960’s and the union’s decline. Her artwork is inspired by social and political issues that she dearly cared about.

James McMullan tells his story in his memoir ‘Leaving China’ which is about his World War II Childhood and his family’s journey from his home in China to India, Canada and the United States using watercolor paintings to show a story of change, discovery and growth. Other aspects of his very prolific career are also nicely depicted throughout the exhibit.

This exhibit is very well done and definitely worth seeing and has a lot more than what is described here..

Due to the timing of our visit we did not have the opportunity to see ‘The Spirit of Giving Illustrated’ exhibit, which definitely will be nice to see. The art on view in the exhibit is intended to demonstrate the compassionate spirit of giving more than just gifts – sharing, kindness, love of art. It will be definitely nice to come back again to see this exhibit, especially during the holiday season!!

Norman Rockwell Permanent Collections:

The illustrations on exhibit by Norman Rockwell, nicely portrayed his storytelling techniques, The exhibitions from Norman Rockwell’s collections that were on display at the time of our visit were all interesting, beautiful and enjoyable, including the Four Freedoms..

The Norman Rockwell exhibits change on an on-going basis and there were definitely changes from our last visit. The extensive collections of every Saturday Evening Post Cover that he produced that are located downstairs, broken up by the time periods of (1916 – 1919); (1920 – 1929); (1930 – 1939); (1940 – 1949); (1950 – 1959) and (1960 – 1963), reflect the constantly changing times throughout his career and have historical significance, being all quite impressive and always nice to see. The video on Norman Rockwell’s life, also shown downstairs, provides great background on his life. We have also enjoyed the Gallery Talks about Norman Rockwell that provided very interesting details about his life and paintings, each talk being different from another, giving a unique perspective with more information each visit.

Visiting his studio, which was still open for the season, provided great information on the way he worked and how his studio was set-up. The multiculturalism and work of the United Nations was nicely depicted in the painting that was on display in the studio from 1960. The story behind the painting told by the docent was also quite interesting!! The studio is definitely well preserved and worth a visit when it is open. .

Again, this was a very nice visit to a great museum in a beautiful setting in the Berkshires, including the unique artist’s studio, which is open during the warmer seasons. There was a lot to see in this museum, much more than what I mention here, and it is all definitely worth visiting!!

Norman Rockwell museum was well worth the stop. Definitely book the studio tour for this! Awesome view with authentic staging of artifact from artist. Must see lower level of museum of all his covers

Very well done but the facility still maintains an outdated and intrusive mask mandate. Wonderful exhibits and presentation of Rockwell’s work.

We had an excellent docent — she gave lots of history & had a wealth of knowledge. The museum is beautiful and well organized. It was a snowy cold day so we could not enjoy the grounds.

Loved every minute of my visit here. I have been a Rockwell enthusiast for years Here’s some things to know:

1) museum is two floors with lots to see upstairs and also a historical chronological exhibition of all the Post covers done my Rockwell downstairs.

2) his studio is located on the grounds and is a short walk from the museum

3) restroom facilities available

4) we arrived early Sunday afternoon and while there were a lot of folks it wasn’t too bad. Plenty of parking available and it’s free.

5) there’s a wonderful gift shop where you can also buy prints! You can also have the prints shipped to you.

Great museum. Loved Imprinting Race special exhibit. Less Norman Rockwell paintings during the summer when they have special exhibits. Still have collection of all his magazine covers and good film on him downstairs. Cafe is pre-packaged food - give it a miss!

We decided to visit when a guided hike was cancelled due to inclement weather. Despite the fall chill and the raindrops, we enjoyed our trip here. We walked through the entire museum and strolled around the grounds. Make sure you take your time admiring the work of Rockwell. Sit and listen to the recorded video about his life. It was very informative. I would definitely return again sometime.

I have always loved this museum as it provides an opportunity to get close to the paintings of an American icon. The museum has done a good job of displaying Rockwell's paintings and providing a peek into his creative process.

The exhibits at the time of my visit were appropriate and timely for the times we are in and provided insight into the works of some amazing current artists.

The Rockwell curators always cook up something new and informative each summer. And this year is no exception. The "What Me Worry?" Mad Magazine exhibit was both thorough and thoroughly engaging. We loved learning about its beginnings as a comic book and its evolution to a magazine that poked at and poked holes in a variety of people and institutions.

It's a large exhibit; so, give yourself time to see and take it all in. There is lots to see and read along the way.

The museum was enlightening. I strongly suggest a tour. The tour guide is included, but she personally knows the family and was able to be very descriptive about the life and times of Norman Rockwell

We went to see Rockwell, not other artists re-imagining or re-inventing Rockwell as the museum states as their reason for all the other artists highlighted.

Interesting information about Rockwell. The paintings were amazing. The history of the paintings were interesting.

A great way to spend a couple of hours in Stockbridge. The permanent exhibit encourages exploration at your own pace, but is still accessible and informative for all ages. They also have temporary exhibits to complement the permanent collection, so you can revisit annually and always feel you are encountering something new.

A wonderful small museum. Very instructive. Interesting videos on the artist, his creative process, the historical context.

We learned so much about Rockwell, his life and his work that we gained a new appreciation of his work. The outdoor sculptures were also a plus and a visit to his workshop. Definitely worth a visit

We didn't know much about Norman Rockwell until our visit to the museum but now we feel we have an intimate connection with him. His work is a wonderful study of history and society in America covering the period from the 1920's to the 1960's and we found his perception of people both touching and amusing. The humanity exhibited in his work left us feeling very much at peace with the world. We spent much more time than we anticipated appreciating the wonderful details in the artwork, listening to the anecdotes of the lively docents and wandering around the grounds. A visit to his studio is very worthwhile and the cafe offers good sandwiches and drinks at a reasonable price. Altogether an excellent day out and we consider the museum to be the highlight of our visit to The Berkshires.

Every visit to the Berkshires requires a visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum. Signage and explanatory plaques join with smart phone app to explain and interpret art. The fantasy exhibit currently featured in the Rockwell, features the actual artists discussing their particular work on the app.

Terrific museum with excellent galleries featuring Rockwell's work together with some special exhibits featuring the work of other artists. Great videos provide background. Museum also has app that can be downloaded to listen (with earbuds) while in the galleries. Lovely grounds with some picnic tables.

Rockwell’s art is so easy to relate to even if you don’t live in a small town. It reminds us of the best parts of American life that we wish we had more of now. He used many townspeople from Stockbridge as his models, see the painting The Gossip! Later he used photography rather than subjects posing. The changing exhibit was about the 1960’s and had counterculture posters, the beginnings of Sesame Street, comic books and MAD magazine as well as a cabinet tv in front of a sofa playing ads to set the mood. Just Antarctic!

Great museum to spend a couple of hours in. There is a tour of his actual art studio for an additional $5; worth it we thought. The museum itself is marvelous. There is a film and all of Mr. Rockwell's art. There's a gift shop and a cafe, and also children's easels outside! A great way to spend a morning [opens at 10:00] or an afternoon.
There are exhibits of other well-known artist also, and those change about three times a year. Those are wonderful too.

The Norman Rockwell museum is a superlative experience in every way. Parking is plentiful and easy, everything is arranged nicely, and there are many great masterpieces by Rockwell to see. The special exhibits were also powerful and poignant.

Among the highlights of the museum are “The Problem We All Live With” (I consider it to be the greatest American painting) and “Murder in Mississippi”. Both are gripping works of profound meaning which disprove critics of Rockwell who call his work shallow or mere nostalgia.

In person, one can also appreciate the level of skill it took to create them. In a way no picture in a book can. The cement wall in “The Problem We All Live With”, for example, is rendered in such realism it looks like actual concrete. That one painting was alone worth the trip for me.

This museum is an absolute must for anyone visiting the region with an interest in art or history.

An amazing museum dedicated to the memory of one of America's greatest artists ever! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit today to this museum that honors Norman Rockwell's contributions while highlighting his amazing life and career. There are hundreds of items to view and the interactive media available helps one to get a good sense of history. In addition to the displays of many of his Saturday Evening posts magazine covers and paintings, there are videos featuring interviews to see as well. The grounds are also beautiful to see and enjoy as well. You will also see why Rockwell chose Stockbridge as his town of residence and see how the town and its people figure into the importance of his work. A definite go and see!

Every Saturday Evening Post cover he did is on display, and a number of other paintings that didn't make a cover. If you are anywhere in the area it is worth a significant detour to see this place. Rockwell was amazing, and when you realize how many amazing and detailed works he was responsible for, it almost becomes unbelievable.

Loved all the artwork that has been preserved here to remember Norman Rockwell. Many familiar pieces and some we had never seen. The movie is excellent as are the magazine covers lining the room. The tour guide was very informative.

The first thing we did was watch an 11 minute film about Norman Rockwell. It was very informative. Then we browsed through the museum. So many paintings. And the detail is exquisite. I didn’t realize that every element of each paintings had meaning related to what was going on in society.

We also took a tour of his studio. I am so glad we went.

We love Norman Rockwell, but we were lucky to be there while they had an exhibit of illustrations for fantasy publications from 1600 to the present. A wonderful representation of all the best fantasy and fairy tale artist.

We wanted to see the workshop as well, but they were only letting 10 people in at a time and we weren't able to wait.

The Norman Rockwell museum is timeless. His work is as relevant today as it was past. Present day artists have recreated some of his work and put a 2020 spin on it. This is must place to visit in the Berkshires.

Was not very familiar with Norman Rockwell, only knew he painted happy white characters for Saturday Evening Post. Was not aware of the circumstances under which he resigned from the Post. The museum gave me a better understanding of his career.

Beautiful warm sunny autumn in the Berkshires, museum was very interesting with plenty of staff to give talks and answer questions. Nice areas to walk. The collection of Rockwell art is very impressive. Definitely worth seeing his wonderful artwork.

Very interesting exhibits. Really a remarkable man. Not sure if its a special exhibit but the ancillary exhibit about racism in illustration is wonderful. Handled how it should be. No blame. But laid out in this fashion you feel and you understand where we all can continue to improve. And the power of media. Both good and bad. Well done.

We arrived here around 10:25 a.m. on a Monday. I'd recommend getting here as close to the 10 a.m. opening time as possible. They doe a large business in large tour buses. We got our tickets ($20 apiece) and paid ~ $5 extra for a 20-minute tour of Rockwell’s studio (which runs ever 20 minutes).

They make you check any backpacks in a locker, so it might be better to leave those in your trunk.

When tour buses arrive, the line for the women's restroom can back up into the lobby for a few minutes.

The studio tour is timed-entry (though a surprising number of people struggled with this concept so that the docent there kept having to shoo people back out during our tour). The docent was an older, enthusiastic lady. There was just one other couple there, which was apparently unusual / unexpected. Mostly this tour was more crowded. They moved the studio from downtown Stockbridge to this spot when they built the new museum in the 80s. They showed a drawing of the downtown area that Rockwell did (including his original studio in a business there).

We walked down a marked path to a large metal bridge over a small river. It was blocked so there could be no car traffic. We had this to ourselves, and it was quite picturesque.

We then toured the museum itself. Tour buses kept coming. It was crowded. We both enjoyed it. They had many original works including the Four Freedoms series in a central room. There were also other well-known works (slice-of-life magazine covers, portraits, works related to civil rights, etc.). I liked a large one of the Glynn Canyon Dam and a Navajo family.

They give guided tours also, but they lasted an hour and I think there was an additional cost.

There is a café under a tent where they sell boxed wraps and sandwiches. The selection seemed limited and we were in the mood for something a step up from this, so we drove a few miles to Stockbridge to eat lunch instead.

Overall, I thought this was a highly worthwhile stop.

Extremely disappointed $20 entrance and seemed less than 20 Rockwell paintings on show. Majority of gallery space give over to some visiting exhibition. It should be made obvious to visitors in advance how few Rockwells are on display.

I had a limited knowledge of Norman Rockwell and had only recently found out about his work. However I really enjoyed this exhibition with a fantastic array of his work and lots of information to explain the context of the drawings.
Highly recommended place to go.

This is a must-see if you are in the Berkshires. You WILL recognize some of his iconic paintings. You'll also learn a great deal about how he created them. Note: The museum's phone app, which lets you hear more about selected works, didn't work on our phones on the lower level, but it was fine on the upper level. Also, when we visited in July 2021, face masks were still required indoors.

One of the highlights of our visit to the area. Loved Rockwell before we got there and learned more about the man that made us love him even more before we left. Sad the studio is not open in winter, but the grounds are lovely and we still had a nice hike outside. The timed tickets made it a comfortable visit and also enjoyed the Jan Brett exhibition. Highly recommend for all ages. Really nice facility with lots of parking and nice grounds.

I’ve always loved Rockwell’s art and no better place to enjoy them than here. A bright building with his illustrations well placed and a description of each. An electronic guided tour is also available. Don’t miss the film on his life in the lower level.

Beautiful small gallery. Has a short video. Friendly staff. Very much worth visiting. The grounds and setting were gorgeous and there are picnic areas.

The museum was worth a visit. The displays each have an informational plaque next to it with some history and historical information. There is also more than just Norman Rockwell represented. If crowded, it is hard to read the information posted by each display. You have to be very patient, so plan on spending a good chunk of time here.
Here are some FYIs not listed on their site:
1. They allow huge strollers, not just the small fold-ups. Very convenient for those with babies.
2. If you use a backpack instead of a purse so that you are not elbowing or swinging your purse and knocking into people as you re-adjust; do not bother being polite here. You are asked to wear your backpack, camera case, etc on your chest or on your side.
3. There is not a set directional flow throughout the first floor. Foot traffic goes in all directions in all the rooms. Again, if you want to read the informational post or take pictures- be patient as it becomes hard to tell who was next.

Believe the reviews. I wasn't expecting much but was shocked by how great a museum this is. It was really interesting to learn about and gain a deeper understanding of Norman Rockwell as an artist- his skills, his beliefs, etc. One of the gentlemen working at the museum (I think his name is Dan) was walking around giving impromptu info sessions on particular paintings. It would be an understatement to say this guy is passionate about Rockwell- he made our visit so much more meaningful by helping us see the how and why of Rockwell's paintings. He is an absolute font of knowledge and really opened our eyes to the artist. A great visit.

My understanding of Norman Rockwell changed after my visit to the museum. Didn’t realize that after he left the Post his artwork became more about social justice. Wow!
Wonderful museum set up in the lower level. Could teach an entire college history course just using the Post covers. The videos were great to understand his background and the culture at that time. Layout is perfect. Very well done. Highly recommend.

Being of the age and vintage to have enjoyed Life Magazine and the cover pages with Norman rockwell's view of American history --it is most interesting to visit his museum, and to visit the studio which he used to create his images. His talents were unique and represented the every day life of America. Today NO ONE has been able to duplicate the images of the times.. A worthwhile visit...

The creative process of a master is on full display and it’s extra special to get to see where it was done. Only a fraction of his works are in the museum but there are many of the most important works. Lovely grounds to stroll and a terrific view of the river and hills.

My boyfriend and I went to visit the museum on 8/26. I had purchased two timed tickets for noon with two box lunches.

The whole experience was perfect! We arrived around 11:30am and enjoyed our lunch on the cafe terrace (the sandwiches were good, came with chips and boxed water) then went inside. Staff were very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We weren’t rushed through and so spent an enjoyable three hours walking around, including the grounds. My favorite section of the museum was the room filled floor to ceiling with Mr. Rockwell’s Saturday Post covers.

The only small disappointment was the studio on the grounds is closed but that’s understandable given the COVID virus situation.

I highly recommend this museum.

We had visited the original museum devoted to the works of Norman Rockwell, which was in the center of Stockbridge, MA. It was a makeshift, homey experience suitable for the topics Rockwell painted. This new site opened in 1993; it is so much more, a miniature Atheneum embracing two floors of galleries and an on-site library of things Rockwellian and topics of illustration art. The library is by appointment only, so for another visit. The permanent collections and the currents exhibits are an insightful explorations of the works of such illustration giants as David Macaulay. Coming this summer is an exhibition of fantasy illustrators from Dürer, to Rackham, Frazetta, and Valejo (and I hope, Juli Bell). Also on its way is an exhibit of the set pieces that make up The Four Freedoms. You can discover the details of these and more at the museum's website. In spring, summer, and fall you can visit Rockwell's studio, moved to the site from the center of Stockbridge. I have just one word of advice, Go!

Norman Rockwell - so much more than a Saturday Evening Post - and Kadir Nelson - paired exhibits that meet the moment. Outstanding. Friendly, happy staff, lovely museum.

The Norman Rockwell Museum is meticulously curated, on beautiful grounds in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. I always liked Rockwell's work, but the museum does an excellent job of explaining who he was, how compassionate he was about issues that may not have been popular when he was working (civil rights, inclusiveness). It was well worth the visit.

As a lover of Norman Rockwell's art this was a must stop! The museum was wonderful but I still miss "The Corner House" I was thrilled to actually see the artist studio which we would always pass in Stockbridge. They have a a cafe inside a tent with very tasty sandwiches etc...A must see!

Norman was an astute human observer. It was a delight to review his work and spend time walking the grounds. We also enjoyed the exhibition of puppets. Highly recommend.

The Norman Rockwell museum in Stockbridge is one of the most beautiful museums I have ever been to. Anyone who loves the genius of Norman Rockwell will be in awe of the magnificence of his work. Those who are not familiar will be immediately pulled into the world of Norman Rockwell. I would highly recommend this museum for anybody. It is amazing to see this kind of art.

Very impressive collection of materials, many of which document events that occurred during my childhood. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the museum.

Norman plus a room of fantasy and lawn art. There were some changes in the displays since our last visit which made it interesting.

What a beautiful place. Take the studio tour to hear more about the life and works of the artist. Unfortunately there is a Mad Magazine display in multiple rooms right now through October. I would have liked to see more of Norman Rockwell’s work instead of this. We also visited his grave in the Stockbridge cemetery.

My wife and I loved this museum. There is so much history to experience, combined with a visual element seldom seen in museums. Jan Brett also had a special exhibit here too, which was outstanding. Well worth the trip! We spent three hours there and kept going back to the Four Freedoms gallery...truly inspiring.

First of all, I believe it is closing or has closed for the season. All the Post magazine covers are framed on downstairs wall. Many paintings in the main area. Many are familiar. Easy reading of descriptions. Add on studio tour. And grounds free to walk

Rockwell was such a prolific artist, there is plenty to see here. The grounds are beautiful, the gift shop is a treasure, and the artwork is amazing. There is a really nice film that's show on the lower level, but it's in the middle of an exhibit of POST covers and many people who are there for the art work have loud conversations which makes it hard to hear the film. It's just a weird set up.

Exhibits change but there are always works by Rockwell on display. Take the time to see the message or the humor in his works.

Our first trip since the pandemic lock down a year ago this museum was a pleasant get away. The grounds and the museum are beautiful. The exhibits are well done and very informative, as is the museum staff. Seeing Norman Rockwell's technique and the back stories was a wonderful experience.

Never quite appreciated that most of the people in United States saw life thru Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post's covers for over five decades. The illustrations are often humorous and at times centered around social issues of the time. The museum itself is modern and well presented. Mr. Rockwell's studio was also relocated here some years ago and totally renovated to reflect the way it was while he was actively working. Small outdoor cafe on the premises.

I visited the museum 2 days ago with my 19 years old daughter and my 16 years old son and we loved it. Social distancing is well respected.

Time well spent as you walk through time in the illustrations by Norman Rockwell, beautifully displayed in this museum. Large museum, easy to walk through and not be within 6 ft of someone (following COVID rules) Very clean, well established.

Wonderful look at the art of Norman Rockwell and other artist's changing exhibits. Grounds are beautiful and my grandchildren age 10 and 11 loved it.

Excellent museum. Very well laid out. Loved the illustrations. Grounds were beautiful, too, and can picnic. Very glad we went.

I've always loved Norman Rockwell's works. Seeing them all together in one place was a special treat. The museum's guide was excellent.

My wife and I enjoyed our brief time at this wonderful museum. Learned much about Rockwell, especially from the introductory remarks offered by Mimi- would recommend to visitors to take the time for this. Museum is a treat, and the grounds are lovely for hiking around. Glad we went.

If you like Rockwell's paintings, you will probably like this museum. If you find his work trite and cliched, you will find the museum trite and cliched. The $18 admission seemed high for a place to spend only 2 hours. I was surprised to see displays which showed Rockwell posed his models, photographed them, and then painted from the photographs, which seemed less pure art than painting from life. A considerable section in the back of the museum is devoted to mental health, apparently Rockwell's second wife suffered from depression and alcoholism, and they came to Stockbridge because a mental health facility was located there. It made Rockwell seem a bit more interesting and complicated than his somewhat repetitious paintings.

I knew who Norman Rockwell was but I didn’t know his story and haven’t been exposed to his prolific work. He truly captured American life and culture through the 20th century. The story’s he told and the points he made though his art were classic and had broad appeal; His detail and humor were immaculate. The museum is beautiful and the collection shows all stages of his work. We loved this museum and definitely think everyone should see it to appreciate our nation and the progress we have made. Military and kids under 18 get in free!

A step back into a legend of iilustration, this was one of the places I wanted to see when we made a much needed trip off to the Berkshires. The museum is a decent size, devoted mostly to Rockwell's life and work, there was a couple of nice rotating exhibits as well. I enjoyed the collection of Post magazines that were in the basement, these show the breadth and development of Rockwell as an artist, and showed his eye for Design as well. Norman's distinct style is one that is uniquely Americana in my opinion, and even years after the art was created, I appreciate the works. Upstairs the art is organized into a couple collections, as well features studies for his famous works...a good walk through the process.

The grounds were quite nice, but we were travelling with a 1 year old, so we had to limit our excursion to 90 minutes before boredom set in for him. I recommend the trip for any illustrator, designer or art appreciator. Especially loved his Christmas works!

Just a note to recognize the museum's cafe, which IMO is a hidden gem where you can get a nice lunch for a reasonable price. Food items are pre-boxed so you can take out if you wish, but there are tables and chairs under the canopy on the large patio. It's kid friendly, with crayons and other art supplies, and a photo background.

Wonderful visit! My husband and I really enjoyed our visit. Museum/exhibit is not huge so it doesn’t become overwhelming - perfect combination of artwork, history and exhibits. 1.5 hours was the perfect amount of time to view all the exhibits and read the main plaques and view the several videos available (which are each 5-8 minutes in duration, very informative and includes actual footage and humorous reflections). If you’re a huge Rockwell fan then allow more time. (Cafe not yet open for the season when we visited)

Currently entry is by timed ticketing which was super easy to do online so don’t let that deter you.

As a fan of Rockwell, I enjoyed visiting this museum and really having an opportunity to view all his works and seeing some of my favorites. I plan to return to bring my husband as he was not with me at the time. The studio was not yet open at the time of my visit, so it will make the second trip worth it too.

This has to be the best art museum that we have ever visited, very modern as well as informative, the tour guide talks you through the past and present of Norman Rockwell . Absolute fantastic , love it hope to go back one day

Always a great stop. We are members and support the museum. Staff is amazing especially Susan in the shop. Only complaint is there was an extreme shortage of Norman's work. Overheard a number of visitors who felt the same way.

I'm so glad we went to the Norman Rockwell Museum! The docent, Dan, was incredible. He told a story, and I learned so much more than I would have had he not been there. It's so lovely to meet someone who really cares about what they're doing and is a wonderful storyteller. The grounds of the museum are very nice too.

A suggestion for the museum would be to monitor the number of people in each room because sometimes more people are in the rooms than allowed.

I’m not a Norman Rockwell fan but this museum is very well done and was very informative. It gave me new insight into his works. My husband is a fan and this was one of his favorite stops on our trip through the Berkshires

Don't miss Rockwell's studio behind the museum. The permanent collection is impressive and one-of-a-kind. The temporary exhibitions need a serious up-grade. Sculpture garden should be better, inside museum temporary exhibits need to be higher quality. Rockwell quality is fabulous and well-curated. Other exhibitions are not the same level.

We spend a couple hours at Norman Rockwell museum and enjoyed it. We learned a lot about this artist, his life and his work.
The area around museum is beautiful; there are a few walking trails and tables for a quick lunch.

A fine museum honoring an amazing artist (or Illustrator, as Rockwell called himself). This very complete display of the artist's was especially enhanced by knowledgeable docents, several video stations and mini-documentaries, and explanations adjacent to each work. It is impossible not to love the artist that represents the very soul of Americana.

The gallery is well laid out with many original pieces. Seeing his studio is special. Feels spacious.

We decided to take the 6hr round trip to the Berkshires from the North Shore. We had no problems finding the museum and as our tickets were timed arrived on the dot, after a quick pit stop at the local outlets for food (the cafe at museum is closed). Pleasant reception by the person who took our tickets and as the museum is in a one way system we headed straight for the exhibits, these are based on two floors. Exhibits are laid out nicely and you can browse at your own speed. There are also some outdoor things to see, with the artist studio, house (both closed ) and spectacular views of the Berkshires.
Definitely worth the visit, we spent about 1hr 15mins here. When other local attractions re-open then an overnight stay would be a great option.

the segment on his life left me and my wife wanting to learn more. Dan in the workshop was very engaging and knowledgeable.

Such a great experience! Loved every minute of it. A must see for the Berkshires area. Thanks we had a wonderful guide at the studio who actually had met Norman.

Our kids really liked learning about his life and his work too. $54 for 5 of us. Good deal!

The museum and grounds are beautiful. Get the tour of Rockwell's studio, it's pretty cool. Many of his most famous original works are on exhibit along with other works by various illustrators. Rockwell's painting/illustrations document a vast time in U.S. history when life, family, morals, politics, community and the wider world were all quite different than the present.

We had heard Norman Rockwell's name somewhere but coming from the UK we did not really know anything about him, or that he was an artist. Some people we met recommended a visit and we are glad we did: it is a superb, funny, moving and profound illustration of American Small Town Life in the 20th Century.
The pictures and covers he drew for the US Saturday Evening Post are wonderful and you can relate to them no matter what nationality. The visit turned a wet and windy day into one of the very best of our 23 day road trip.

My wife and I were on a New England Tour, and the Normal Rockwell Museum was a must see stop. There is a wonderful collection of his art as well as the well told story of his personal and artistic life - Built on a beautiful Estate purchased by the Norman Rockwell Foundation. Don’t miss Rockwell’s workshop that was moved from the center of town.

We had not expectations and spent about 2-3 hours there. The permanent exhibit of ROckwell work was enlightening and educational. Provides a good history and story of social fabric in the early to mid 20th century.

Great little museum full of history and the amazing works of Norman Rockwell. Do the guided tour.. the woman was amazing and brought every piece she spoke about to life.

My husband and i were priviledged to be able to visit this museum during a short trip to the New England states this fall. The museum is clean, well lit, and a delight to explore. There are 2 floors, the stairs leading to the lower, displaying the covers of the Saturday Evening Post. The docent did a wonderful job of opening up the world of Norman Rockwell to those who had never heard his story. The grounds are open to roam and have some beautiful trees, buildings and the old studio, which is open at certain times. Allow at least 2 hours minimum, and if you want to do all the reading and inspecting of the paintings, maybe half a day or more.

Recent visit to Stockbridge and the Norman Rockwell museum were wonderful and eye opening. What a wonderful display of an Life In America. Only drawback of the experience. You must show proof of vaccination (which in itself is Un-American). I sat on a bench rifling through my wallet for 10 minutes looking for my year old wrinkled up Vax card. There was to be no exceptions. Once I found my card and was allowed entrance, the museum volunteers follow you around watching you intently for the chance your mask dips below your nose. Without question you will feel like you are being watched and monitored. It's a shame that senseless mandates and mask policing can disrupt an almost perfect day for many I'm sure. I will go back. Hopefully next time, the world can use a little more common sense.

Learned a lot about this iconic artist. Really enjoyed everything from the video, drawings and artwork. I especially enjoyed all of the stories behind each piece of work.

Beautiful grounds and amazing staff. This is a beautiful tribute to an American icon! It was wonderful to see a collection of his works, his studio and to learn about him. The metal sculptures in the garden were also quite unique. A must see in the Berkshires!

At the Norman Rockwell Museum one will not only see a fabulous display of the artist's work but learn see just how he captured the human spirit and issues of the time in his art. When we visited we also had the pleasure of seeing an exhibit of Walter Wick's Hidden Wonders. The grounds and buildings are lovely and well-kept. We also enjoyed viewing some fascinating sculptures as well strolled the grounds.

Very nice museum. The artist's major works are exhibited here. Everything is well done, well explained. The site is large, in addition to the museum, there is his house, his studio, the places where they painted. Very nice exit!

This museum was an eye-opener for me and my husband. I guess we always thought of Rockwell as someone who idealized small town America, forgetting about his Ruby Bridges painting, as well as the Golden Rule work, Moving Day, and one haunting one of the three Civil Rights workers in Mississippi. Our wonderful tour guide, Jamie, pointed out that Rockwell had children throw tomatoes at a wall so he could accurately illustrate this action in the Ruby Bridges painting. And we did not know of Rockwell's love of Lincoln, and his technique of painting his hero from the ground up, to depict him as a towering figure. Also, Dan gave a very informative tour of Rockwell's studio; try not to miss seeing where the artist worked. Finally, getting to stroll the town of Stockbridge after viewing his painting of it was a real treat. I'm leaving out so many things we learned on the tour; go and see this fantastic place for yourself.

Really wonderful museum. Sensitively curated. We learnt so much and really enjoyed poring over his works. Beautiful. Well worth a visit.

Such a fantastic career he had!
This exhibit is also a tribute to others who made such a difference to our daily reading with their wonderful artwork.
This is well organized, follows COVID-19 guidelines without being overbearing safely. The exhibit is laid out very well, and we enjoyed it.

We really enjoyed our time here. A great collection of Norman Rockwell's work made so interesting with the explanation for each piece and video as well. The grounds were great to walk around, especially seeing all the unusual artwork displayed on the grounds. A nice trail to walk down as well, quite scenic with the foliage.

I thought it was ok! And his work is beautiful, but we were hardly there past and hour! They had other artist painting and I thought that it was strange it wasn't all of Norman Rockwell art! It was November and some of the buildings were closed! The gift shop was good to get a souvenir but they are a bit pricey!
I like his work! But I wasn't too impressed, glad I visited it though!

Nothing better to do on a snowy day than see the artwork of Norman Rockwell. His work is classic American so it was fun to show my South African friend small town America. The snow made it that much more special. Worth a trip for sure and the special exhibits are outstanding as well.

We knew about Norman Rockwell, but were unaware of this museum. It is really super, and the display of his works is beautifully laid out. His original studio was transported to the museum site, and is well worth visiting. There are walks, and a nice gift shop. Great way to spend a couple of hours.

This felt like an obligatory visit since we were in Stockbridge and because we both grew up familiar with Rockwell. However, seeing his work (the originals) and the learning the history and context behind his subjects was MUCH more than we’d expected. I learned a lot more that provided me a greater appreciation. I’d say it took me from liking him for purposes of nostalgia, to regarding him as a pop-culture artist/icon. He really did capture America during a lengthy and critical period and with a truly unique (and talented) eye. Don’t miss this museum if you’re in the area. Walk the grounds (exceptional) and have a drink/snack on their gorgeous patio. We were unable to enter his studio because it hadn’t yet re-opened, but explored the lovely outside.

Watch the informative video downstairs first, then enjoy the many Rockwell originals and the curator’s write ups about each. Fascinating man and his uplifting, emotional art is sure to create lively discussions for all.

A great museum that really shows off one of America’s best artists. It is on great beautiful property and highlights all the things that are amazing about Rockwell’s art.

A while back, I visited this museum when it was located in town. It is now in a large, beautiful building just outside of town, with an expanded collection that will introduce newbies to Rockwell or enhance appreciation of Rockwell fans. Great for families, as well as adults.

This was out third visit to the Museum. Never disappointed! Always interesting and beautiful. This time there was a large exhibit of Walter Wick's I Spy book series. His photography and process were amazing. This particular day the museum was more crowded than I had ever seen it in the past. Still, plenty of room to view the iconic Rockwell artwork. Don't miss the display in the lower level of All of Norman Rockwell's magazine covers. We never leave here without something from the gift shop, but always worth the extra expenditure.

My husband, adult son and I visited the Norman Rockwell Museum this week. We bought timed entry tickets online in advance of our visit (highly recommended due to limited attendees allowed due to Covid restrictions).

The Museum docents were extremely helpful throughout our visit. They also monitored the # of visitors in the rooms to make sure capacity limits were observed. Masks are required throughout the visit. This is the first Museum we have gone to since Covid restrictions began in March. We felt very safe.

Downstairs where you begin your self-guided tour, is a short film about Norman Rockwell's life. I recommend watching this first.
If you are a fan of Rockwell's many illustrations over his long career, you will love this Museum. Allow 1-1/2 to 2 hours for your visit so you will not be rushed.

As a side note, Stockbridge is a very pretty town. We saw at least 2 outside dining options on and near Main Street. There are more outside dining options in the town of Lenox, about 7 miles / 20 minutes away.

Our 3rd road trip day, included a visit to the Norman Rockwell museum. While we allotted 2 hours, it's best to plan for 3 hours, comfortably. We also used the audio tour as this gave us a more in depth and historical background to each of Mr. Rockwell's painting.

There is a large wing devoted to several hundred Saturday Evening Post editions with Mr. Rockwell front cover of thematic scenes of everyday american life. Start with the video in a theatre style seating and enjoy the Rockwell history.

There is a rotunda dedicated to FDR's four freedoms in which Mr. Rockwell painted his version of these enduring ideas....Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear.

Very worthwhile visit....Everyone should visit the NR Museum once in their lifetime!

We have visited this museum a few of times over the course of many years. The N. R. Museum is always enjoyable and interesting, reading about his work and changing focus. And of course the Saturday Evening Post covers, there are so many. Each time we are there , something new to focus on and learn.
This time we were treated to a special exhibit, MAD Magazine with Alfred E. Neuman. Quite enjoyable, but not an interactive exhibit, rather a 'look and read' one. It follows the history of the magazine from inception to today, with a focus on its editors and artists, who have made the magazine what it was, and is, today.

Well worth the drive from Boston. So many wonderful original Norman Rockwell Paintings, video presentations, and studio tour. I visited in the mid-October timeframe, and it was a beautiful scenic drive with fabulous autumn colors.

Norman Rockwells art is Americana at its very best. The Saturday Evening Post room on the bottom floor is just too enjoyable. You can stand in front of his art and never tire of discovering new little things that he included in his paintings. Worth the time to drive out of your way to visit.

. . . And always innovative. Yes, there is the collection of Rockwell's own iconic works that you should experience as a first-time visitor to the museum But, you can return every year because the curators always come up with a new and creative, special exhibit. For example, a few years ago, they presented a special exhibit of Andy Warhol's works contrasting his view of America with that of Rockwell.

This summer --- 2022 --- the new exhibit focused on race in America as experienced from the perspective of imprints --- product packaging (Aunt Jemina), advertising posters and print photography, etc. --- and it was both disturbing and powerful (see photos). The pieces demonstrated how our attitudes toward people of color and race relations are impacted by publised images. In one of the exhibit rooms there is a wonderful video that includes interviews with the curator and various scholars as they reflect on the issues raised by the exhibit.

I hope you get to see it. If you can't get to Stockbridge this year, you can sneak a peek by going to the museum web site.

You must come to this beautiful museum of Rockwell. These classic original pairings by Rockwell are so full of detail. The free app gives you detailed info on all the paintings. Two hours is all you need. Really nice layout of the artwork with lots of viewing benches.

Don’t miss this gem. Even for those who don’t love art museums, this place is very easy to like. The large collection of Rockwell’s paintings and illustrations offer not only art, but an inviting overview of 20th century American history. The grounds are also lovely.

Been a visitor to the museum a number of times over the years, and this is the first time I was disappointed. It seems that half the museum was being set up for a MAD Magazine exhibit and a quarter of the remaining space was work of various illustrators over the years. There were very few pieces of Rockwell's work on display. We should have been told upon admission that there were very limited works on display, so little in fact, that we were in and out in less than an hour.

Wonderful experience with an informative movie, viewing the Saturday Evening Post covers, and several other originals, including The Four Freedoms. However, the highlight was the half-hour Studio Tour in which our guide, Katherine, told us so much about this great artist. Be sure to pay the additional fee for this awesome experience!

The current guest exhibit was Wick’s “I Spy” photos, and some works of art outside on the grounds. I even got to pick an apple as it encouraged me to do!

We were glad that we stopped here. The museum is done very well. The video about Norman Rockwell was good, and the original art work was amazing.

The museum has all the original artworks that are so familiar to most Americans. It is great to see them. The museum is not big, but it offers a lot about Normal Rockwell and some other artists whose works are in the similar themes. The grounds are lovely to walk through. There is a quiet trail by the river.

Very interesting museum to learn about Norman Rockwell, and see many of his works as well as his studio. Ground look lovely with many sculptures, however it eas raining heavily so we were unable to stroll very far.

The people that were giving short stories about Rockwell and his painting were very knowledgeable and personable and humorous. They interacted with the group in a fun way. I would definitely recommend using the headphone tour for more information about the paintings, although the front desk people did not ask us if we wanted the audio tour and we had to run our credit card again for it. We loved the museum, it was well planned out and loved seeing the studio where Rockwell painted.

This is a very interesting museum to see it work was very prolific, and the story of his life is very interesting. I would recommend a guided tour to get the full effect. I highly recommend this museum.

This museum is well-curated and offers great insights into Norman Rockwell's life and art. I had always thought of him as a magazine cover illustrator, but a few hours here enlightened me and helped me gain a much greater appreciation of his art. We visited on a Sunday, when it was very crowded. That detracted from the overall experience -- go on a weekday if you can -- but not in a way that made it unpleasant. The museum displays many of his major works and has a room with every cover that he did for Saturday Evening Post. A biographical film is well done, and docents share fun stories about his life and subjects. The museum also has some walking trails, which were gorgeous on a fall day and a workshop. This museum is well-run and well worth visiting.

This is not a venue for kids. We were told there was a play area for kids, but there is not. If we came again, we'd come without kids. I think it would be a very different and enjoyable experience. However, the kids are free, and they offer a lot of discounts. If I owned this museum, I'd have something for kids so they can learn to appreciate the arts.

e spent about 3 hours in the museum.
There are a few d ozen paintings and a copy of every one of his 200+ Saturday Evening Post covers. There is also a short movie about is life, and several additional rooms with a special exhibition (I Spy at the moment).

A docent-led tour is available but we opted to download the Museum's app, which provided a very decent audio explanation of the paintings.

There is plenty of free parking.
Very well worth seeing.h

Very well presented. Two short movies that gave more insight to Mr. Rockwell and his family. Enjoyed seeing all his work for the Saturday Evening Post besides other work. Off season, so we weren't able to see his original studio moved to the property of the museum. Great take for sure!!

The museum is beautiful, it really honors Norman's work. The garden is gorgeous with beautiful sculptures. The shop is great.

If you like Norman Rockwell you will enjoy seeing some of his artwork displayed in this museum. We spent about an 1.5 hours in the museum and enjoyed every gallery. Previous reviews sum it up accurately; nice grounds, nice retrospective video of his life and career. Nice collection on display. Rockwell conveys an evocative visual story through one snapshot in time that is unparalleled in American painting. Soak it in.

It’s a lovely museum and something I’ve wanted to see since I was a kid. I’m so happy I got to visit, but it left me somewhat disappointed too wanting more. The composition of floor space devoted to Norman Rockwell pieces was backwards to what is should have been. Only about one-quarter to one-third of the art on display was Rockwell, and the rest was temporary exhibitions showcasing other artists. I can appreciate why museums rotate their pieces to maintain visitor interest and allow their patrons to connect with other works of artistic expression. However, when most people are driving hours out of their way to visit the Norman Rockwell Museum in rural Stockbridge, they are making the pilgrimage to see Rockwell works of art, not those of others.

A few weeks after our visit, we learned that we somehow missed a lower level to the museum that showcases Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post covers. If there was signage, it wasn’t obvious. Apparently, it’s a common overlook though since I’ve seen others complain about not seeing it during their visits as well. Just be aware that it supposedly exists though if you decide to go.

In summary, I give the museum a C+. I very much enjoyed finally getting to see some of the most iconic Rockwell paintings in existence. I don’t regret going at all, and you probably won’t either, but set expectations accordingly that you are probably not going to see as much as you hope to see.

One of the best reasons to visit an art museum is learn about the artist. Everyone knows the work of Norman Rockwell, but after a visit to the museum, you will know how he created his work, what motivated him, and details of his personal life. These details always serve to enrich the appreciation for any artist and there is no exception here.

When you head down to the first floor you will encounter hundreds of Saturday Evening Post covers which, in may ways, reflect the history of America. Stand back, absorb and enjoy.

During covid, the museum is taking precautions which, on our visit, were well received and respected. You can absorb the museum in about 90 minutes.

A small museum with a massive heart. So much of the history of our people and nation expressed with beauty, subtlety and emotion.

Very moving, and surprisingly more so on this my second visit in four years.

A lovely presentation of the charm of Norman Rockwell. Has a nice mix of his amazingly large opus. $18 for seniors and 20 for other adults (with other discounts available.)

Lovely grounds where we walk our dog very often. Unfortunately, there is a sculpture show on right now and they have placed some very large assemblages of “junk” (collectibles of trash cans, broken toys etc etc) right in the sight line of the most beautiful mountain view! Why they placed them there, I don’t know.

We loved the Norman Rockwell Museum. Pictures are beautiful, collection of Saturday Evening Post cover was amazing also. History of Norman Rockwell and his love of capturing life is well thought out. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

The museum is nice. It is the place to visit for those who love Norman Rockwell. Watch introduction movie first, then see the pictures. Then walk through the sculpture park surrounding the museum and enjoy the great view. As a bonus drive through Stockbridge to see one of the pictures coming to life.

This was an excellent stop on our trip. The museum has loads of Rockwell art, without being overwhelming. It is extremely well organized and you could spend an hour or a day. Each photo has a quick link phone app for further background on the piece and there are a number of knowledgeable docents that are a treasure of knowledge. You learn not only about Rockwell's work, but the man, and a lot about the history of his time. This is a must-do.

Rockwell was an iconic artist in the 1920-1960's period, seen by million through his Saturday Evening Post covers. Much of our appreciation of American values is captured by his work, & he is able to present an entire story is a painting. There is no similar artist who so captured the texture & feelings of normal people as they lived through everyday life, the Depression, World War Two & the years until about 1960. The museum does an outstanding presentation of his works & his life. Make a special trip!

Bait and Switch! Read up to avoid disappointment!

To start I was extremely disappointed to find out that the museum should be named: "The Museum of Modern Illustration FEATURING Norman Rockwell" . . . but if they were honest and called it that, they would not be able to dip their hands in our pockets for a $20 entry fee now would they? I estimate that less than 1/2 of the featured artwork is that of the famed illustrator (I'm counting all his Post covers as one item, since they are not the original paintings - but the actual covers that seem to have been cobbled together as you can see address labels on some of them. Instead, you get to see artwork from "Tony Sarg" forgotten to the sands of time and to me the minute I walked out of the exhibit (had to look up his name for this review).

As for the museum tour it should be included in that $20 entry fee, instead again they hold their hand out for an additional $10 - save your money it is NOT worth it - this is what you get for your $10 - the artistic interpretation of the guide and the fact that as an illustrator intent on capturing your attention quickly, Rockwell would frame his art in a "triangle" framework and use a color - typically red, sometimes yellow to draw your attention to certain aspects of the artwork. There - just saved you $10 per person in your party - you are welcome!

Now here is the last piece of this museum's efforts to separate you from your money: if you want to see Rockwell's studio you will be forced to pay an additional $5 for a "tour" - else you are not able to even get a glimpse of it since they keep the door closed - clear signage that you can only enter as part of a tour AND they keep the blinds closed so you cannot even peek in!

All in all it's a pleasant collection of Rockwell's artwork, however, there is an element of bait and switch and it is overpriced for the experience.

If you appreciate Norman Rockwell then this museum is a must see!! They have a very large collection of his work with written commentary to go along with the drawings and paintings.

It's a very pleasant place. The route starts from the basement, where posters of various magazines are installed on the walls of the exhibition room. On the first floor, there are exhibitions of local painters and other works based on the theme, and the famous four freedoms (freedom of speech, freedom from fear, freedom of desire, freedom of religion, I think) are hung on the walls of the circular exhibition room, and you can enjoy the exhibitions based on the theme. You can enjoy Norman Rockwell's loving portrayal of people.
This is my second visit since last July. When I visited in July, the greenery was beautiful, and I took part in the atelier tour. The atelier was arranged with the tools, books, and furniture that would have been used, and the guide enthusiastically explained them. The cafe was opened, and benches were installed outside, so I was able to take a comfortable break. The second visit was in November, and the cafe, benches, and atelier tour were closed, but I was able to enjoy the quaint scenery. If you are here, I also recommend a visit to the cute town of Stockbridge.

Overly sweet art. This art does not convey anything. Lacks mystery and spirituality. It’s like popcorn or bubble gum.

On the day of my visit, the museum had a permanent collection of Norman Rockwell's work in a majority of the building, while a smaller portion of the museum displayed the work of a children's book illustrator on the main floor. The lower level should not be missed for some additional works, but more importantly for a collection of Saturday Evening Post covers and a short film.

The permanent collection on the main floor was outstanding. You can see some of the most famous paintings, as well as some conceptual drawings of various media that were ultimately used to help with final paintings. The brilliance of Norman Rockwell as an illustrator capturing the American story, spirit and emotion of the time period is nothing but amazing.

I had heard his studio was somewhere on the grounds, but the front desk did not mention it being open. Also, be prepared to show ID and proof of vaccination for all adults. I purchased timed entry tickets online before arriving and it was seamless. The museum was not busy during my visit.

Plenty of parking outside, a short distance from the main building.

Recommended attraction if you enjoy Norman Rockwell art. Getting to Stockbridge, MA is a bit remote however, with smaller local roads leading into the area.

This museum has so much more to offer than I imagined, even a cafe! Everyone who works there is so pleasant!

Loved the interplay of Rockwell's art and the history of his career. This has to be one of the best art museums that I have visited! Fortunate to have gotten there to see his studio before the docent went to lunch (studio is closed during their lunch break) although I wish another docent would be trained so that the studio does not have to close during breaks.

Otherwise, was good to see the temporary exhibits and the sculpture exhibit on the lawn area.

A very modern medium-sized museum on beautiful grounds. Grounds now also contain the artist's final studio, which can also be toured with an additional $5. His studio is worth seeing. It is not really a tour due to it being one large room, but it was interesting to get additional information from the tour guide.

After purchasing your ticket, I recommend the first place to visit in the museum is the approx. 20 minute film on his life and influences which is on repetitive play. This will give you a better understanding of the artwork on display. In the room where the film is shown, the Saturday Evening Post magazine covers are displayed on the surrounding walls in chronological order. They provided a good representation of what was happening at that time. His paintings are displayed throughout the museum. The museum also has temporary displays that are of lesser interest if your aim is to view Norman Rockwell's work.

Visiting the museum gives you a a good appreciation as to why Norman Rockwell quintessentially captures America through the passage of time (from the 1920's until his death in the 70's). Highly recommend a visit. Be prepared for possible crowds due to its popularity and visits from bus tour groups.

We went to the museum on a Friday, primarily to see the Mad Magazine exhibit. I’d always wanted to see the Rockwell exhibits so this was perfect. It was really a great time. It was crowded at 10:30 when we arrived because several buses had just unloaded but they didn’t stay that long so it was fine. We bought tickets ahead of time to be sure we could get in. The Mad magazine exhibit was really outstanding. We spent several hours going through it all. There were five or six rooms full of great content. We spent an hour downstairs at the Saturday Event Post covers exhibit. And we had lunch on the patio which was very pleasant. Sandwich and salad were both good. We downloaded an app that didn’t work out very well for us. It’s a very nice museum and worth the trip.

I had tears in my eyes from the first glimpse of the Ruby Bridges painting. Norman Rockwell's work is best appreciated in person in this small but relevant museum. While we were here in July of 2024, the special exhibit took us through the history of Mad Magazine--more connections and comparisons to Rockwell than one might think. Brilliant exhibits, beautiful museum. One of the gems of the Berkshires.

The museum is set on beautiful grounds overlooking valleys and distant hills along with viewing the artist’s last studio. Well presented, plenty of room, enjoyable oil on canvas, sketches, etc to see in person. Due to Covid, you must select a date and time for admission, which is very reasonable with many options available for those on a tight budge, that can be done online. Restrooms are open as well as the cafe.

NRM's curators decided that in the midst of America's "racial reckoning" they had to give over the majority of the museum's gallery space to a very mediocre exhibit on race and illustration. No messages that are very informative to anyone who is reasonably literate, and the pieces of art that merit attention (e.g., a couple by Jacob Lawrence) get lost in the virtue signaling. The net result is that if you have journeyed far to see an extensive collection of Rockwell's work, you will see a very limited selection, in just 2 rooms. And you will leave disppointed.

To our disappointment we were not able to get into the museum as the tickets are all presale, but we had a great time anyway. We had been before so we just walked around on a beautiful day. The grounds are great. We went to the water spot and the last studio Norman had. I have been a collector of figurines and had purchased my first one in 1981 on my honeymoon, Unfortunately, a shelf fell on it and broke the bat and ankle of "Batter Up" and although I glued it many times just his past month, I was not able to repair again. My wife went on line to try to surprise me with a new one, but no luck. So we go to the gift shop and my wife spots what you see in the picture. To our amazement the "Batter Up" was sitting on the shelf for sale. I originally spent about $70 for the first one, so I was expecting the price to be very high and was thrilled to hear the lady say $15. We couldn't believe it. On top of that the figurine, "The Runaway" was there and also only $15. There was one other that I already owned. Seems folks leave these things for the Museums in their wills and they sell in the gift shop. What a great surprise.

The museum is well manicured and my favorite exhibition is all of the Post covers. Best part is walking the beautiful grounds on a pretty day. The timed entry they are currently doing works very well; it was nice having the space and time to read everything without feeling crowded or rushed.

We started out touring the art studio then the museum itself. We enjoyed looking at all the pictures and paintings. I highly recommend this museum to people of all ages. Thoroughly enjoyed and remembered the Saturday Evening Post covers from younger days.

What an extraordinary museum for all ages. My kids were fascinated by the downstairs film and the endless Saturday evening post covers. On the main floor, the tour guide told terrific stories. Highly recommended.

First, yes I am an older traveler, I grew up always liking Life and Post magazines, featuring Norman Rockwell (NR) covers. The museum had a nice comfortable display areas with ample room. The layout easily maneuvered.
There are several artists exhibited and all complimentary with NR.
The grounds are lovely and we sent a delightful few hours on the grounds and museum; the Fall colors were at the peak.

I've been to the Norman Rockwell museum before but their fantasy art exhibit was really wonderful. Many more artworks than I had assumed they would have. Plus the outdoor sculptures were a treat. Well worth a visit.

The originals are a treat to see. The layout of the Saturday Evening Post covers brought back memories of my childhood.

Very informative and interesting. It was interesting to see places in the area and put a picture to them example Joe's Diner, main Street etc.
Well worth the visit nice trip down memory lane.
The area is so so lucky to have this and be able to share

A must see. The collection of Norman Rockwell was HUGE. The other displays about signing of declaration, other illustrators & artist were great and added to the experience. Plan to take 2 hours with COVID restrictions in each gallery. The staff did a great job. Grounds were amazing. Disappointed that his studio was closed. Great descriptions on each display. Videos were great.

My husband and I have visited the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts many times, most recently on Monday, June 21, 2021, arriving during the 11:00 scheduled time slot. As in the past, all the exhibits on display were quite educational, and provided great perspective artistically, historically, culturally, politically and socially, addressing a variety of issues

We thought that the Special Exhibit: ‘Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration’ was very comprehensive, interesting and well done, addressing the many facets of Fantasy Illustration through various themes/subject areas, related to fantasy, spread across multiple galleries that were all nicely laid out. Such themes/subjects as Fairy Tales, Mythology, The Hero’s Journey, Good vs. Evil, and Fantastical Rockwell were nicely addressed. We are very glad that we had the opportunity to visit the museum to see this exhibit, which provided a very inspirational experience. More details about the special exhibit are provided below.

There was definitely a lot of people at the museum for a Monday morning, even with the timed tickets. So I recommend getting the timed tickets, especially during the summer months. Fortunately, the museum is planned to be also open on Tuesdays in July and August from noon- 7PM, based on the museum’s web site

There has always been something new and different on display at this museum, which was quite captivating and nicely done, very enjoyable, interesting, informative and educational and this time was no exception. The write-ups/interpretive markers associated with the artwork throughout the galleries in the museum provide excellent and interesting background information and a historical perspective about the items on display.

The museum is also located in a beautiful setting in the Berkshires with well landscaped and maintained grounds and plenty of free parking and picnic tables available. It is real nice to see the changes in the landscape at different times of year in the surrounding area. This area is great to take pictures of! In addition, the museum has a very nice gift shop.

Our visit to the museum this time took a little over an hour and a half. We recommend a visit to the museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as much as we have..

Special Exhibit: ‘Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration’:

This exhibit interestingly explores the broad scope of fantasy art using visual storytelling, showing that through the imagination we achieve perception, compassion and hope. It explores the reasons, necessity, and importance of fantasy in our lives. Fantasy is also known as imaginative realism, and is built on the foundation of humanity’s emotional and social evolution and is a human need that helps us explain who we are and clarifies our place in the world. These are all very interesting concepts that are nicely portrayed in this exhibit.

Multiple galleries are used to address the themes of Fantasy, including Fairy Tales, Mythology, The Hero’s Journey, Good vs. Evil and Fantastical Rockwell. The artwork in each of these galleries is beautiful and vibrant with detailed write-ups providing information about each character, creature, archetype or story being illustrated as well as information about the artist, timeframe applicable to the artwork, and other pertinent details, including where the source of the work could be found, making each painting very interesting.
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The general write-up/overview for the theme addressed in each gallery in the exhibit is quite interesting, providing great contextual information. These overviews are quite insightful and definitely worth reading. Fairy Tales have a common theme of personal growth by someone overcoming an obstacle or a hindrance with multiple specific examples provided in the overview. Mythology expresses the power of the gods through various figures or creatures that are prominent in the stories of cultures around the world. The ‘Hero’s Journey’ Addresses the immeasurable impact of the ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ on world culture through numerous archetypes. These archetypes have been reused in written legends and fairy tales and adapted by world religions, forming the basis of fantasy.

‘Good vs. Evil’ shows how the development of fantasy, in illustration as well as other sources, has its origins in religion. The religious imagery in the exhibit is a reflection of the relationships between religion, fantasy, and mythology and their connections to various civilizations from long ago to today. Fantastic images have been used to reinforce religious faith by constructing narratives that offer hope, distinguish between just and unjust and affect our beliefs. ‘Fantastical Rockwell’ shows Rockwell’s work as inspiring our love of fantasy, depicting him as a consummate mythmaker who understood his audience’s deepest desires, including in the achievability of the American Dream, and spoke to them from the heart throughout his career.

We learned a lot from this exhibit, which was quite enjoyable and definitely worth seeing. This exhibit could be enjoyed by both children and adults alike. .
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Other Rockwell Exhibits on Display:

The ‘Four Freedoms’ were on display as well as exhibits about ‘Freedom Legacy’ and ‘Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights’ and ‘Changing Times: Rockwell and Civil Rights’

‘Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights’ shows how Eleanor Roosevelt inspired the citizens and leaders of the world to acknowledge the continued significance of the Four Freedoms. After War World II and the destruction it caused overseas. she urged Americans to recognize what was at stake to freedom, human rights and democracy and to assume both the responsibility and financial cost of world leadership. She helped to create an international bill of rights, including a definite outline of the fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

‘Freedom’s Legacy’ shows how Eleanor Roosevelt effectively incorporated the Four Freedoms for democracy into the United Nations Declarations of Human Rights.

‘Changing Times: Rockwell and Civil Rights’ interestingly illustrates Norman Rockwell’s documentation on social issues in ‘Look Magazine’ after leaving the ‘Saturday Evening Post’. He tried to make a difference during this time period using more of a reportorial style of magazine editorials than what he used in his cover illustrations in the ‘Saturday Evening Post’. His appeals for human rights were quite evident in ‘The Problem We Live With’.

‘The Anatomy of Rockwell’s Murder in Mississippi’ (Painting from 1964).

The anatomy of the particular work of art in this exhibit illuminates Rockwell’s intensive focus on the incident, the murders of three young civil rights workers, and his process of creating a painting that expressed his outrage. This exhibit together with the ‘Norman Rockwell and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the NAACP’ that was on display showed how Norman Rockwell made a difference with his art. Both Rockwell and King elevated the world’s vision of joy, hope and humanity but in different ways. Rockwell revealed the potential of happiness while King revealed the realities of injustice. Through his paintings, which were controversial at times, Rockwell tried to make the world a better place to live in.

Other Artwork from the Norman Rockwell Collection:

The collection of Norman Rockwell paintings on display was definitely different from when we visited last in November. Other areas to note were the section on ‘Art for Everyone’, where his idealized realism and techniques are discussed including creating the illusion of three-dimensionality by overlapping shapes, masterful shading and foreshortenings, the compression of objects to make them recede in the distance. In addition, Norman Rockwell: Covering the Post’ as well as ‘Illustration and the American Magazine’ were quite interesting.

Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post Covers and Video:

The extensive collections of every Saturday Evening Post Cover that Rockwell produced that are located downstairs, broken up by the time periods of (1916 – 1919); (1920 – 1929); (1930 – 1939); (1940 – 1949); (1950 – 1959) and (1960 – 1963), reflect the constantly changing times throughout his career and have historical significance, being all quite impressive and always nice to see. The video on Norman Rockwell’s life, also shown downstairs, provides great background on his life. We have also enjoyed the Gallery Talks about Norman Rockwell that provided very interesting details about his life and paintings, each talk being different from one another, giving a unique perspective with more information each visit, when they took place. However, I don’t believe that they are currently taking place at this point in time.

Although it was not open at the time of our visit on June 21st, visiting his studio has provided great information on the way Norman Rockwell worked and how his studio was set-up. The multiculturalism and work of the United Nations was nicely depicted in the painting that was on display in the studio from 1960 during the time of our past visits. The story behind the painting told by the docent was also quite interesting!! The studio is definitely well preserved and worth a visit when it is open. .

Again, this was a very nice visit to a great museum in a beautiful setting in the Berkshires, including the unique artist’s studio, when it is open. There was a lot to see in this museum, much more than what I mention here, and it is all definitely worth visiting, as it always has been!!
 
 

Visited the museum while in the Berkshires. I’m Irish and while I’d heard about him (my dad loved all things American) I never understood the significance of his work on American culture until I saw his art. Such detailed work and he captured the thoughts, moods and feelings of America. My husband (from Chicago) soaked it all up, it was a part of his childhood. A great experience and I highly recommend it.

Beautiful small museum. Rockwell is a treasure and depicted a nostalgic time in history. The grounds are beautiful. Also enjoyed the I Spy exhibition.

Visited the Norman Rockwell Museum yesterday with my family. Two hours well spent. Upstairs galleries included many Rockwell works and those of other American artists--especially enjoyed the exhibit featuring the works of Frances Jetter. Excellent. Virtual Reality exhibit of the Four Freedoms was interesting, but the 10 minutes went awfully fast. Interesting, informative talk from docent at 2pm was well done. Hundreds of Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers downstairs present an interesting perspective on his career focus and changes over time.

The layput of the museum was able to accomidate a large number of people amd not feel crowded
A good video provoding insight to Normam Rockwell's career

Definitely worth a visit! Love all the paintings and copies of the Saturday evening post ! What a creative illustrator Norman was! He captured a story in all of his paintings.
The grounds where his home and studio were located on are gorgeous , especially in the fall when the foliage has peaked!

Enjoyed looking at the Saturday Evening Post covers and Rockwell art. But not enough of his and too much of others made it a little less than satisfying experience.

In the days of Covid, masks and social distancing are enforced.

Not having as many visitors at one time made for a more enjoyable experience as you could take your time looking at the works.

I always admired Norman Rockwell but seeing his work up close and standing in his studio in these beautiful surroundings, took it to a new level. A must see for every generation. Will definitely revisit.

Loved walking around and seeing all of his paintings. We got there in perfect time for the talk about his works. The woman was so knowledgeable and did a great presentation.

For someone who is not a big museum person like myself, it is the perfect amount of space and time to walk around without losing interest.

His studio was still open and it was cool to see his actual work space.

A definite must when you are in the Berkshires!

We really enjoyed the museum layout and learning more about Norman Rockwell. The museum is very well organized. You start first on the lower level and view a short intro film about him. There are over 300 artwork covers on the walls in this room. We really spent a lot of time in the room looking and appreciating all of the artwork. Then we went upstairs to the gallery. The museum guides were easily accessible for questions and were very friendly. The museum shop is also a "must see." We enjoyed looking at all of the artwork, books, and other keepsakes that were available at very reasonable prices. We left feeling exhilarated and happy that we decided to visit. The next time we visit the area, we're definitely taking the tour of his home studio. Great experience

We arrived at noon by 5 we still had not seen all and wished we arrived at 10 am. Go early and enjoy

Wonderful collection of work and interesting history. Just the room of every magazine cover is worth the effort.

First, a heads up. The website does not tell you unless you go to book a studio tour in advance that the studio tours don't begin until 1 PM, even though the museum opens at 10 a.m. So, if you went at 10:00 a.m. as we did, you would not know from the website hours that a studio tour could not be part of your experience, unless you planned to wait 3 hours for the first one. It took us an hour to go through the galleries and watch the film downstairs. So, be forewarned. If you wanted to see the studio, which was the primary reason I went, you must go later. That said, the museum itself is very nice. The paintings on display are iconic but the museum is not large. It took us an hour, not including a stroll through the gift shop. Just disappointed at not having a chance at seeing the studio.

What a treasure in Stockbridge, MA. This museum very succinctly displays the history and talents of this great artist. The flow of the installations are sufficient to encourage small gathering contemplations and briefings. The quality of art is wonderful as they are original works. Especially interesting was the curator’s narrative on events leading up to the relocation of the artist’s studio and how the exactness was replicated. Plan to spend at least a couple hours here to fully appreciate and not feel rushed. I highly recommend this museum.

I suppose we are approaching the time when a large percentage of the population might ask, "who was Norman Rockwell?". The answer can be found in Stockbridge, MA. Given the chance, his work will speak to you about a time when our romantic notions of family, friendship and community were largely TRUE. We make an annual pilgrimage there, and it never ever disappoints. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you do the same. Jack and Diane

The museum is excellent -- and beautifully set on a hill out in the countryside. It was pretty thrilling to see the original art of Rockwell's familiar and famous pieces, including (during our visit) the covers to the Saturday Evening Post. And the Four Freedoms. The special exhibit, which just ended, was excellent, too -- "Enchanted" -- featuring dozens of works by fantasy artists from the 19th century to the present. Rockwell's studio (which was apparently moved to this location on flatbed trucks) is well worth the little walk through the orchard. So cool to see where he made his magic.
I was there about two hours, mostly because I was interested in the special exhibit, but if you have the time and the stamina, there is certainly enough there to keep you occupied for up to three hours!

We were quite disappointed in this museum. After paying a $20 per person admission fee, we realized that out of 11-12 gallery rooms only obout 7 are dedicated to Norman Rockwell. The other rooms display other artists’ works who have nothing to do with Norman Rockwell. Had we been properly informed in advance, we may have made a different decision. What was there of Norman Rockwell was wonderful for an avid fan of his work.

This is a must see. Before you even see the exhibits you will appreciate the beautiful setting. It is well-laid out and easy to get around. I was lucky because there was also an outside exhibition. All of the exhibits were easy to find on the maps and were well-marked. Inside the exhibitions were also easy to access. Excellent signage, informative docents, and informative videos. I learned so much about Norman Rockwell. Moreover, I appreciated the other exhibit on fantasy. The gift shop is well done. Of the 24 sites/museums that my group and I visited during our two weeks in New England this was one of only three five stars that we awarded. Excellent.

We went as a family of 5, with one young child (4) and two not-so-young children (8 and 12). Starting December 26, 2021, the museum requires proof of vaccination for all adult visitors, in addition to timed tickets, and they did check our vaccination card photo and match it with our photo IDs. The place was a bit more crowded than we prefer, but not packed, and knowing that all adults are vaccinated, we feel safe enough to spend time inside.

In terms of exhibits, the two older children and the adults found it informative and engaging. There was a docent around to answer questions, and gave a lot of the information for the paintings. The Four Freedom and the Golden Rule paintings were all on view. The 4-year-old cannot quite appreciate them yet, but thankfully there was a special exhibit for picture books by Jan Brett and a holiday model train in the lobby.

We went in winter and the studio was closed for the season, but the grounds are beautiful and we will probably plan a summer trip in the future.

We visited the Rockwell museum with my daughter and son in law. I have always been an admirer of Rockwell’s work and enjoyed the museum very much. It is not a very large museum, and a part of it was given over to a traveling exhibit called “Enchantment”, but there was still plenty of Rockwell to enjoy. Also got to tour his studio which was a nice plus. Best of all, they participate in a reciprocal agreement with other museums, which meant we did not have to pay any admission. It was a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

Fantastic museum. Great showing of his Post covers and some nice paintings like the 4 freedoms. Invited exhibition worth the visit. The workshops was interesting and much enjoyed. Will be back.

What an excellent museum! Everything perfectly placed. The Saturday Evening Post room in particular was spectacular. I came away with a much greater appreciation for this talented and prolific American artist, and felt like I'd learned some history too. Highly recommend.

My husband and I have visited the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts many times, most recently on Friday, November 27, 2020, arriving during the 10:30 am scheduled time slot. As in the past, all the exhibits on display were quite relevant and educational, and provided great perspective artistically, historically, culturally, politically and socially, addressing a variety of different issues. The exhibits on display, in the first floor galleries, were all nicely related to each other and provided great context to the origins and continued legacy of the Four Freedoms. We are very glad that we had the opportunity to visit the museum to see these exhibits, which provided a very inspirational experience. More details about the special exhibit are provided below.

The timed tickets for our visit and capacity limits effectively limited the number of people in each of the galleries at one time. Also, the way the exhibits were set-up, in particular the navigation and flow of traffic throughout the galleries, was very smooth and well controlled, which was very well done. We were definitely able to practice social distancing and felt safe with everyone required to wear a mask. Our visit was really quite enjoyable.

There has always been something new and different on display at this museum, which was quite captivating and nicely done, very enjoyable, interesting, informative and educational and this time was no exception. The write-ups/interpretive markers associated with the artwork throughout the galleries in the museum provide excellent and interesting background information and a historical perspective about the items on display. The museum is also located in a beautiful setting in the Berkshires with well landscaped and maintained grounds and plenty of free parking. It is real nice to see the changes in the landscape at different times of year in the surrounding area. This area is great to take pictures of!!.

Our visit to the museum this time took a little over a hour and a half. We recommend a visit to the museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as much as we have..

Special Exhibit: ‘Norman Rockwell’: Imaging Freedom’:

This exhibit is a very comprehensive tribute to Norman Rockwell’s iconic works that illustrate the power of images that shape cultural narratives. The exhibit traces the origins and legacy of the Four Freedoms from the Great Depression and World War II to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, and the call for freedom today across racial, gender, ethnic and religious lines.

This exhibit is well done and nicely illustrates how Norman Rockwell painted the Four Freedoms from the perspective of his own experiences, with everyday scenes as his guide using his unique ‘Creative Process’.

This exhibit is the main exhibit and is comprised of separate sections and smaller related exhibits that include excellent write-ups and illustrations pertaining to several aspects of the Four Freedoms, including:

• ‘The Great Depression’;
• ‘The War Generation’;
• ‘’Private Willie Gillis: Rockwell’s American GI’;
• ‘Roxie the Riveter and Women in the Workforce’, as the heart of the campaign for recruiting women into the defense industry workforce;
• ‘Illustration and the American Magazine’, which shaped visual culture, public perception and consumption;
• ‘Roosevelt, Churchill and the Atlantic Charter’ with the establishment of the United Nations’;
• ‘FDR’s Freedoms’ with very good background information including their origins;
• ‘The Four Freedom Ideals’; and
• ‘The Four Freedom’s Bond Show’ generating a national outpouring of patriotic enthusiasm.

‘Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights’ shows how Eleanor Roosevelt inspired the citizens and leaders of the world to acknowledge the continued significance of the Four Freedoms. After War World II and the destruction it caused overseas. she urged Americans to recognize what was at stake to freedom, human rights and democracy and to assume both the responsibility and financial cost of world leadership. She helped to create an international bill of rights, including a definite outline of the fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

‘Freedom’s Legacy’ shows how Eleanor Roosevelt effectively incorporated the Four Freedoms for democracy into the United Nations Declarations of Human Rights.

‘Changing Times: Rockwell and Civil Rights’ interestingly illustrates Norman Rockwell’s documentation on social issues in ‘Look Magazine’ after leaving the ‘Saturday Evening Post’. He tried to make a difference during this time period using more of a reportorial style of magazine editorials than what he used in his cover illustrations in the ‘Saturday Evening Post’. His appeals for human rights were quite evident in ‘The Problem We Live With’.

‘The Anatomy of Rockwell’s Murder in Mississippi’ (Painting from 1964).
The anatomy of the particular work of art in this exhibit illuminates Rockwell’s intensive focus on the incident, the murders of three young civil rights workers, and his process of creating a painting that expressed his outrage. This exhibit together with the ‘Norman Rockwell and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the NAACP’ display showed how Norman Rockwell made a difference with his art. Both Rockwell and King elevated the world’s vision of joy, hope and humanity but in different ways. Rockwell revealed the potential of happiness while King revealed the realities of injustice. Through his paintings, which were controversial at times, Rockwell tried to make the world a better place to live in.

‘Pop Peterson: Reinventing Rockwell’ nicely illustrates how Pops Peterson reimaged illustrations by Norman Rockwell in a manner reflective of today’s time using an approach incorporating Rockwell’s own working methods. Similar to Rockwell, he envisions social change and expresses his desire for a positive, inclusive and just world. His versions of the Four Freedoms paintings nicely show their lasting legacy.

‘The Unity Project: Illustration that Inspires Us to Vote’ shows the work of illustrators commissioned to design motivational art to inspire civic engagement and unify Americans around democratic ideals, very pertinent to the ideals of the Four Freedoms.

‘Reimaging the Four Freedoms’ nicely addresses how might notions of freedom presented by Roosevelt and Rockwell during the World War II era could be reinterpreted for our times. It addresses what freedom looks like today. The installation presents a diverse spectrum of responses from artists across North America with a very nice assortment of illustrations.

Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post Covers and Video:

The extensive collections of every Saturday Evening Post Cover that Rockwell produced that are located downstairs, broken up by the time periods of (1916 – 1919); (1920 – 1929); (1930 – 1939); (1940 – 1949); (1950 – 1959) and (1960 – 1963), reflect the constantly changing times throughout his career and have historical significance, being all quite impressive and always nice to see. The video on Norman Rockwell’s life, also shown downstairs, provides great background on his life. We have also enjoyed the Gallery Talks about Norman Rockwell that provided very interesting details about his life and paintings, each talk being different from one another, giving a unique perspective with more information each visit, when they took place..

Although it was not open at the time of our visit, visiting his studio has provided great information on the way Norman Rockwell worked and how his studio was set-up. The multiculturalism and work of the United Nations was nicely depicted in the painting that was on display in the studio from 1960 during the time of our past visits. The story behind the painting told by the docent was also quite interesting!! The studio is definitely well preserved and worth a visit when it is open. .

Again, this was a very nice visit to a great museum in a beautiful setting in the Berkshires, including the unique artist’s studio, when it is open. There was a lot to see in this museum, much more than what I mention here, and it is all definitely worth visiting, as it always has been!!
 

I have always loved Norman Rockwell's art ever since I was a kid. I finally got to go to a museum about him at the end of September 2023. The docent led tour was really informative and helped me to appreciate Norman Rockwell's art even more. We also went to see his studio (on the grounds) which was decorated for the early 1960's. The gift shop was amazing as well. The day we went it was very rainy and chilly so we didn't walk the estate. It is a beautiful place. The closest place to eat lunch or dinner is in the quaint town of Stockbridge which is nearly.

Wonderful and friendly staff. Security guards were extremely polite! We have been several times, but definitely come in May thru October when the Studio and grounds are open to walk around!

I was so excited to see this exhibit again- I last saw it in the old building off Main St-
It is now in a new fancy building and shares space with traveling exhibits. Less than 1/2 the paintings are now housed in this space and devoted to Mr Rockwell.

This is my second visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum. I visited twenty years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. This visit was equally wonderful. It is a world class gallery with over 800 original sketches and paintings and Saturday Evening Post covers. The town of Stockbridge is also fun to look around in.

I wasn't really excited to visit this museum since I am not a huge Norman Rockwell fan, but it turned out to be a really pleasant few hours and I learned a lot. Was a little bummed that there are 2 exhibits opening in June I would have really enjoyed, but not much I can do about that.

This gem of a museum is in the Berkshires half of Massachusetts and is easy to overlook between the rush of Boston and the beauty of Lake George, but please make a point of visiting this place. This museum has the largest collection of Norman Rockwell's art in the world and is a must-see for anyone who's a fan of his art. We especially loved the Illustrators of Light exhibit and the exhibit on Norman Rockwell and humor - both were fantastic and shed a lot of light on Rockwell's life and the inspirations behind his artwork. We took a tour of the museum and were instantly glad that we did, as our guide was a font of information that we wouldn't have learned otherwise. Overall, a wonderful experience. We also loved the grounds - the whole area was calming and a beautiful space.

Brought back so many wonderful memories of the many years our family subscribed to the Saturday Evening Post, and the awesome paintings by NR!

Vacationing during COVID, we weren’t sure if we should try going to a museum, but the Berkshires are all about culture, and we needed a fix. Tickets had to be ordered online in advance to make sure number of patrons was kept to a minimum. We also ordered a box lunch in advance, since we would be there over lunch hour.

The COVID procedures made us pretty comfortable. Tickets were scanned from my phone, there were limits to the number of people allowed in the 8 gallery rooms that are currently open, which we were asked to self regulate by not entering a room that already had the max number. It wasn’t hard to do, since the number of admissions per hour was regulated up front. The number of people allowed in each room varied from 2-7, depending on the size of the gallery. There was a one way traffic pattern through the galleries as well. We only had to wait once, to enter the smallest room where only two people were allowed at a time.

Masks had to be worn at all times. The temperature and climate control made it comfortable to keep them on the for 90 minutes we spent in the galleries. We wear glasses, and they never fogged up!

We had been here before, and always loved it, and were not disappointed. Less of the museum is open: the downstairs galleries and rooms with children’s activities, and his studio which is on the grounds, were closed. Still, there was plenty to see, and absorb at a leisurely pace. In addition to Rockwell, two other women illustrators were highlighted. Since 2020 is the 100th anniversary of the ratification of women’s rights to vote, one of illustrators had done much for the suffragette movement, and Rockwell’s treatment of women in his illustrations was also highlighted.

In addition, Rockwell felt strongly about racial equality, and this was highlighted at several places as well.

We spent close to two hours, including lunch, which we ate under a large airy tent on the patio. It hadn’t been clear to me if we could eat lunch without ordering the box lunch in advance, but sandwiches are available a la carte, as well as other snacks. We also walked to his (closed) studio, and took the river walk path down to the river. Overall, a delightful Visit.

We enjoyed seeing the extensive collection of paintings and iconic Rockwell portraits of Americans in every day life. His talent was amazing. I appreciated his work even more. The visits were well timed and organized. It was not crowded. The entrance fees were reasonable and the grounds were well kept.

Very disappointed after driving a long distance to see this museum. The main floor of the museum has only three rooms of Norman Rockwell paintings and four rooms of other artist, and not a single Boy Scout painting. I paid to see Norman Rockwell, not the others.

Not only will you get to see every cover of his that the Saturday Evening Post used, you will come away with a understanding of the man. What brought him to becoming an artist and why he chose some of his topics for the covers. A beautiful tribute museum.

I really enjoyed the museum and all of the art of Norman Rockwell's. Their exhibit they are running of Tony Sarg's marionettes and artwork is very cool too. There are walking trails outside you can wander about. It's a beautiful place to visit.

Upon entering the museum it doesn’t appear very big or that it would take a long time to see everything they have. Although the museum isn’t the largest the amount of artwork in the museum is incredible. There are descriptions by almost every painting detailing the time period the painting was done and/or the context needed to understand the image.
I went with my family and a friend which consists of two adults and three college students. Everyone was able to enter with a discount, being as my father is a veteran and my mother is a teacher (teachers get in for free), college students get half off (with a valid ID). This really made the museum fun AND affordable making for a really great afternoon.
With the COVID guidelines only so many people could be in a room at once but it was very well organized and the wait times to enter each gallery room were minimal. The studio was closed but we were still able to walk around the back side of the museum and see these views. I would recommend to come take a visit and see this gallery if you’re making a trip out here!

It's a beautiful museum dedicated to a great illustrator, an authentic storyteller.
Recommendation to start the visit from the lowest floor the basement; first watch the movie and then the covers exposed to the walls.
Do not miss the study to book in advance or just arrived at the museum; our Guide was Tara, very good! Here we can understand even better the creative and executive process and Norman's poetics in general.

Amazing display of his talent. Several videos throughout the museum that provided great information. Took about 1.5 hours.

This was my first time back here in over 20+ years, and it didn't disappoint. To me I have more memories of Norman Rockwell's art hanging in my Nana's house than anything else. Putting aside the sentimental elements of the museum, the art is amazing and it is even more impressive in person. I do not like art museum's but this is one of the few that I really enjoyed. You feel welcomed into this space and they encourage you to connect and study the scene; they don't keep you miles away from the art. You can really get close to thee pieces and learn so much about what went into the scene. I would really recommend this location for anyone to visit, at least once in your life. He was one of a kind and the museum does a great way to bring his art into today's world. You can spend 2-3 hours here and then go off on your next adventure and feel very fulfilled!

Spent way longer than expected here. So interesting. So much to see. Need to return to learn more. Delightful museum and grounds. Would not recommend lunch. Could be due to covid restrictions, but lunch was subpar, unless you like premade bagged sandwiches.

Enjoyable experience of Rockwell’s life and works. Very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Beautiful sculpture art on grounds was a plus!

We stopped at the Norman Rockwell museum on a trip through Massachusetts. I of course, had heard of Norman Rockwell from my childhood, but was pleasantly surprised to learn of his political views and how his art represented the changing times. We enjoyed the original paintings and walking the grounds, nice way to spend a few hours.

The Norman Rockwell Museum is one of my favorite places in the world. When it reopened earlier this month I was anxious to get back. I usually visit at least once each year. Since the art pieces are rotated and there are always new exhibitions, I always have the pleasure of a new experience. This time there were several occasions when I caught myself sighing or catching my breath because of the emotion brought up. Rockwell's art can be appreciated on many levels. I even found myself kneeling on the floor to better appreciate the texture of the paint.

Pleasant surprise, we arrived expecting it would be like our last visit over 15 years ago….wonderful but limited of finished Rockwell….instead quite an upgrade aimed at appreciating who Rockwell is..how he relates including a man with a sense of humor, and how he approaches what is truly fine work.

Loved it! So interesting to learn more about Norman Rockwell’s artistry. He was such a down-to-earth artist. His work is amazing. Also saw a wonderful Walter Wick “I Spy” display and a cartooning display. The grounds are beautiful!

We spent a couple hours here enjoying the museum and the grounds. Although I’m not a huge Rockwell fan, I enjoyed seeing some large works up close.
Recommend for anyone interested in American art .

Excellent staff, informative and fun. Beautiful setting. Incredible artwork both by Rockwell and visiting shows. It was one of the best 2 hours we spent....could easily have been more than 2 hours, but we stopped as a mid trip break.

Enjoyed both the Rockwell exhibits and the visiting Jan Brett exhibit. We ended up staying longer than planned as there was much to see and learn. The videos scattered throughout helped to better understand Rockwell as a man and artist. A true icon of Americana. Beautiful museum and grounds.

It was a nice experience. I grew up with Norman Rockwell and smiled a lot while viewing his work. We enjoyed a picnic on the grounds.

At $40 a couple, this is not a cheap outing! To be honest, we sat in the parking lot for a while asking ourselves, "Is this REALLY worth it?" The Trip Advisor ratings pushed us over the top and we decided to give it a go. We were definitely glad we did. In fact, we didn't give ourselves enough time...it was 3:30 and closing time was 5:00. We don't consider ourselves art critics, nor are we real Norman Rockwell fans but, even so, 90 minutes probably wasn't enough. I think two hours would've been much more adequate. We enjoyed the balance between portraying the history of the artist and his art itself. Seeing his studio was a special treat. We also enjoyed the room where every one of his Saturday Evening Post covers were displayed. I recognized SO MANY pieces of art in the museum without even necessarily recognizing they were pieces by Rockwell. If you're in the area, don't miss it!

I was never a fan of Norman Rockwell as an artist until I visited the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. I now have a new appreciation for his work, and for the residents of the area who posed for his iconic works. Learning more about him as a person also gave his work much more meaning.

We spent about 3 hours in the museum, and came back the next day to walk around on the beautiful grounds. His studio was not open when we were there in April, but we walked around the outside and admired the view of the beautiful Berkshire scenery from its place on top of a knoll.

They were requiring masks when we were there, however we were glad as there were a fair number of people in the galleries considering the time of year.

Well worth our time, it is a happy making place.

A fabulous museum set on 35 beautiful acres in Stockbridge MA. Plan to spend a few hours as there is much to see, the docent tour is well worth the extra $ as you get so much more out of the collection.

My parents loved Norman Rockwell when I was growing up and had many of his prints In our home.
Going to the Norman Rockwell Museum gave my husband and I a much greater appreciation of what an incredible artist and man he was.
I would highly recommend a visit to the the Museum.

Changed my opinion of the artist. Very well presented and the exhibit on other artists were also very well done and professional.
During Covid they have done a good job with limiting people in each exhibit room.
A little hard to find and the GPS gets lost.

This is a don't miss when in western Massachusetts. The museum contains all of his Saturday Evening Post covers and then some, and many of his original art work which was used for the covers. The lecture by a docent really enlightens the art work and makes you appreciate the detail and messages within each that you may otherwise miss. we found it beautiful, charming, heartwarming and informative and we will never look at a Rockwell the same again.

I took my family of four, including son age 9 and daughter age 14 to this museum. I was hoping that Rockwell's legacy would be honored with attention to his most important later-life contributions to the growing racial justice awareness in America. It was, and the museum went one further and highlighted a special additional exhibit of a contemporary artist who had taken classic Rockwellian scenes and updated them to reflect today's multiverse of identities/realities. This was a huge hit with my kids. Plus, the museum was bright, fun and playful, just like the artist himself.

Being from UK I knew very little about Norman Rockwell, but visiting Stockbridge for a couple of days encouraged me to visit the nearby museum. I was very pleased I did: a fascinating illustrative record of the life and works of the artist, and of everyday life in America throughout much of the 20th century.

. . . Rock solid! The curators at the Rockwell Museum never fail to come up with something creative every summer.

This summer, they introduced us to the wacky and creative mind of Tony Sarg. The puppets, marionettes, posters, and public art were all on full display. We learned that art can be whimsical and just plain fun. The video interviews with the curators and other experts add to our understanding and enjoyment.

My husband and I have visited the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts many times, most recently on Monday, November 22,2021, arriving during the 11:00 scheduled time slot.

The Special Exhibit: ‘Jan Brett: Stories Near and Far’ was amazing, majestic and magical with a lot of attention to intricate details in both the vibrant illustrations and corresponding stories about them. This was definitely a great exhibit to see during the holiday season and could be enjoyed by both children and adults alike.

The background on the artist, Jan Brett, is very interesting and inspiring. She has traveled extensively to research and experience first-hand the traditions, cultures, art, history, topography, wildlife, flora, fauna, undersea life and architecture reflected in her artwork. Her many different characters, and scenes from imaginary places reflect a lot of imagination and nicely illustrate her global perspective and how she takes inspiration from the richness and diversity of world cultures. The exhibit is definitely comprehensive, interesting and well done and is filled with expressive animals, human subjects, natural and fantastical wonders, striking architectural designs and uniquely ornate borders.

Many different diverse topics are discussed in a host of very interesting stories including ‘Home for Christmas’; ‘Who’s that Knocking on Christmas Eve’; ‘The Nutcracker’; ‘The Three Snow Bears’; ‘Gingerbread Christmas’; ‘Gingerbread Friends’; ‘Gingerbread Baby’; ‘Cozy’; ‘The Snowy Nap’; ‘Hedgie Blasts Off’; ‘The Turnip’; ‘The Umbrella’; ‘The Mermaid’; ’Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella’; ’On Noah’s Ark’; ‘Daisy Comes Home’; ‘Honey…Honey.. Lion!’ and more.

There was definitely a lot of people at the museum for a Monday morning, even with the timed tickets. So I recommend getting the timed tickets.

As in the past, all the exhibits on display were quite educational, and provided great perspective artistically, historically, culturally, politically and socially, addressing a variety of issues. here has always been something new and different on display at this museum, which was quite captivating and nicely done, very enjoyable, interesting and informative and this time was no exception. The write-ups/interpretive markers associated with the artwork throughout the galleries in the museum provide excellent and interesting background information and a historical perspective about the items on display.

The museum is also located in a beautiful setting in the Berkshires with well landscaped and maintained grounds and plenty of free parking and picnic tables available for the warmer months. It is real nice to see the changes in the landscape at different times of year in the surrounding area. This area is great to take pictures of! In addition, the museum has a very nice gift shop.

Our visit to the museum this time took a little over an hour and a half. We recommend a visit to the museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as much as we have..

Norman Rockwell Exhibits on Display:

The collection of Norman Rockwell paintings on display was definitely different from when we visited in June of this year. ‘The Artist’s Process: Norman Rockwell’s’ Color Studies’ was quite interesting and illustrated the hard work and preparation that Rockwell put into his process creating his artwork and was quite inspirational. The exhibits on ‘Real and Imagined Fantastical Rockwell’, with elements of fantasy being prominent within his body of work throughout his career; “The Art of Persuasion” and his holiday connection with ‘Norman Rockwell: Home for the Holiday’s’ were nicely done.

Other areas to note were the section on ‘Art for Everyone’, where his idealized realism and techniques, employing classical painting methodologies, are discussed including creating the illusion of three-dimensionality by overlapping shapes, masterful shading and foreshortenings, and the compression of objects to make them recede in the distance. In addition, Norman Rockwell: Covering the Post’ as well as ‘Illustration and the American Magazine’ were quite interesting.

The ‘Four Freedoms’ were on display as well as exhibits about ‘Freedom Legacy’ and ‘Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights’ and ‘Changing Times: Rockwell and Civil Rights’

‘Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights’ shows how Eleanor Roosevelt inspired the citizens and leaders of the world to acknowledge the continued significance of the Four Freedoms. After War World II and the destruction it caused overseas. she urged Americans to recognize what was at stake to freedom, human rights and democracy and to assume both the responsibility and financial cost of world leadership. She helped to create an international bill of rights, including a definite outline of the fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

‘Freedom’s Legacy’ shows how Eleanor Roosevelt effectively incorporated the Four Freedoms for democracy into the United Nations Declarations of Human Rights.

‘Changing Times: Rockwell and Civil Rights’ interestingly illustrates Norman Rockwell’s documentation on social issues in ‘Look Magazine’ after leaving the ‘Saturday Evening Post’. He tried to make a difference during this time period using more of a reportorial style of magazine editorials than what he used in his cover illustrations in the ‘Saturday Evening Post’.

From my perspective, all of Rockwell’s paintings have had an influence on our cultural beliefs and impacted our ideas of the American dream.

Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post Covers and Video:

The extensive collections of every Saturday Evening Post Cover that Rockwell produced that are located downstairs, broken up by the time periods of (1916 – 1919); (1920 – 1929); (1930 – 1939); (1940 – 1949); (1950 – 1959) and (1960 – 1963), reflect the constantly changing times throughout his career and have historical significance, being all quite impressive and always nice to see, all 323 of them!!. The video on Norman Rockwell’s life, also shown downstairs, provides great background on his life. We have also enjoyed the Gallery Talks about Norman Rockwell that provided very interesting details about his life and paintings, each talk being different from one another, giving a unique perspective with more information each visit, when they took place.

Although it was not open at the time of our visit on November 22rd, visiting his studio has provided great information on the way Norman Rockwell worked and how his studio was set-up. The multiculturalism and work of the United Nations was nicely depicted in the painting that was on display in the studio from 1960 during the time of our past visits. The story behind the painting told by the docent was also quite interesting!! The studio is definitely well preserved and worth a visit when it is open. .

Again, this was a very nice visit to a great museum in a beautiful setting in the Berkshires, including the unique artist’s studio, when it is open. There was a lot to see in this museum, much more than what I mention here, and it is all definitely worth visiting, as it always has been!!
 
 

We enjoyed every minute of the video and rooms filled with the illustrations of Norman Rockwell. Pure genius-don't miss this if you're in the area.

I had been before about five years ago , they jacked up the entry fee quite a bit to twenty dollars per person. Always a pleasure to go though

An American institution up there with Mom's Apple Pie.

A fascinating journey through US history from the Depression to almost modern day.

If you have not heard of Norman Rockwell, you will certainly know some of his illustrations and you deserve it to yourself to know more,

It is always a great pleasure to visit the Rockwell Museum. The staff and volunteers are so dedicated and well informed. Every time we go there is always so much so see and learn. Be sure to attend one of the talks about the history of the paintings. The outside grounds are an experience unto themselves and a must to explore.

A must see when in the area. Plan on spending a few hours. Then go out to main street Stockbridge & see the real Rockwell scene!

Wonderfully curated. The docent who gave the talk to our group was excellent, and we spent a lot of time talking with her in Mr. Rockwell’s studio, which is separate from the museum (open May through October, although they still had it open now since weather has been cooperative). I gleaned an enormous amount of knowledge about Mr. Rockwell and his work. Highly recommend this museum.

This is a well done museum, honoring the work of Norman Rockwell, the influences he worked from AND the influences he had on society. The displays were identified well and easy to view, the rooms flowed easily and there is sufficient room to navigate and even some sitting areas. We visited on a crowded holiday weekend, and managed to see what we wanted to without issue. There is creative space as well. The docents are well informed and generous with their time/talent, and the documentary in the lower level is very well done.... it is narrated by Rockwell’s son and surrounded by The Saturday Evening Post covers (in chronological order, so you can observe the artistic evolution). Definitely a great stop and glimpse of modern American life in stunning detail.

Very nice and relaxing. The audio version of the self
guided tour was very interesting with family members telling their stories. His studio was fantastic. If you are thinking about going, go.