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Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown

Fenimore is located on the shores of legendary Otsego Lake, on the site of famous American novelist James Fenimore Cooper's former farmstead. The  Museum houses one of the country's most comprehensive and exceptional Collections of American folk art, American fine art, and The Thaw Collection of American Indian Art-one of the finest collections of North American Indian art in the world, exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2017. The museum is also home to a wide collection of twentieth-century art, nineteenth-century photography, and decorative arts.
 
The Museum hosts many world-class traveling exhibitions each season, reopening April 1, 2021 with The World of Jan Brett (April 1-May 16, 2021) and Manzanar: The Wartime Photographs of Ansel Adams (April 1-July 25, 2021). The World of Jan Brett features 70 original paintings from thirteen of Brett's bestselling books, showcasing the intricate brush strokes and incredible detail that goes into each illustration. Adams' Manzanar photographs, created in 1943, are a departure from his signature style of landscape photography and serve as documentation of the American concentration camp in California.

The summer season is highlighted by Keith Haring: Radiant Vision (May 29-September 6, 2021). Fenimore celebrates both the icon and his iconography in this energized exhibition that introduces a new generation to Keith Haring. Featuring an extensive collection of lithographs, silkscreens, drawings on paper, and posters, the exhibition details the full arc of Haring's short but prolific career.

On August 7, Fenimore presents Believe in Yourself: What We Learned from Arthur (August 7-December 31, 2021). The exhibition highlights the art of Marc Brown, the creator of the bestselling Arthur adventure book series and numerous other children's books. The collection will delight young visitors with an inside look at Marc's artwork and stories.







 


 



Details

Hours

  • April 1-May 2: Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m (Closed Mondays)
    May 2-October 11: Open daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m
    October 12-December 31: Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m (Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas)
 

Prices

  • Adults and Juniors (13-64) $10.00; Seniors (65) $10.00; Children (12 and under) FREE
 
Admission is always FREE to museum members, active military, and retired career military personnel.
 

Special Packages & Offers

VISIT COOPERSTOWN'S OTHER TREASURES AND SAVE
All 3 museums savings of $7.00 for adults and $2.50 for children
 
Triple Play: $42 Adult / $18.50 Juniors (7-12)
  • Admission to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers' Museum
 
Double Play: $33.00 / $18.50 Juniors (7-12)
  • Admission to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Fenimore Art Museum or
  • Admission to the Baseball Hall of Fame and The Farmers' Museum
 
You may purchase the ticket at the first museum you visit. The ticket is good for one visit to each museum within one year from the date on the ticket and you do not need to visit all the museums on the same day.
 

Events

  • Lectures
  • Book Signings
  • Kid's Programs
 
 

Activities

  • Art Exhibitions
  • Cultural Artifacts
  • Gift Shop

Safety

Fenimore will continue to follow its comprehensive COVID-19 safety plan in accordance with guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and New York State. The plan ensures all procedures and safeguards meet or exceed the recommended standards of cleanliness, social distancing and reduced contact for both visitors and staff.
 
 
 

Collections

The world-class collections housed at the Fenimore Art museum present the history of American culture through art. Exhibits on-view include the Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art, The Coopers of Cooperstown, Fine Art from the Permanent Collection, and American Memory: Recalling the Past in Folk Art.
 

FAQs

  • What is the history of the Fenimore Art Museum?

    The museum opened its doors in 1944, but you can trace its beginnings to Ticonderoga, New York in 1926, where the New York State Historical Association (NYSHA) was founded. In 1939, Stephen Carlton Clark made it his mission to move the organization and its collections to Cooperstown. To accomplish this, he donated his estate on the shore of beautiful Otsego Lake (Fenimore House) and it soon became NYSHA's permanent home. The Neo-Georgian structure saw major structural enhancements in 1968 and 1995 to create the modern yet classic museum that exists today, now known as Fenimore Art Museum.

  • Can you rent the Fenimore Art Museum for special events?

    The beauty of the structure and a prime location on the western shore of Otsego Lake make this the perfect place to host your special event. From small conferences, meetings and lectures to cocktail receptions and elegant weddings, multiple venues throughout the estates expansive grounds provide great options for any event.
 

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