Recommended: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

This past weekend I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to visit Kansas City, Missouri with my roommate and two friends. After attending a Royals baseball game and enjoying the warm summer nights of the midwest, which incidentally make the best weather for partying, something the people of KC know how to do well, we visited a local art museum called The Nelson-Atkins. My mom had heard about this museum before and although I have made the short trek from Omaha to KC throughout my years here I had never made it to this museum, and figuring I might not have too many more opportunities to get there I suggested that me and my cohorts make a visit.


As you drive past the stone building you cannot help but notice the sculptures that decorate the grounds of the museum, the most noticeable are the large shuttlecocks, or birdies as I'd always known them, resting at various angles on the grass that are then followed by slightly less obvious sculptures made of black stone. The building itself is tremendous with different kinds of granite and marble lining the floors and walls and ceilings that are intricately decorated and stand a hundred feet high. As you weave through the galleries the atmosphere of each room changes, but it all flows with the collection you are viewing.


The cultures represented in building are extensive and many of the pieces are truly spectacular. The first exhibit we viewed was an Egyptian collection and although it was not very big it contained every piece of mummy's burial coffin, including the mummy itself. They have sculptures from ancient Greece and Rome, and a complete suit of armor from the 16th century for a knight and his horse. The collection of Asian art is world-renowned, has been in development since the 1930's and is said to be one of the best collections found outside of Asia itself.


One of my favorite collections was one displaying works from Native American tribes. Although many of the pieces are not nearly as old as the ones from other exhibits (only a hundred years or so old, as opposed to several hundred or thousands), but still demonstrate the culture and spirit of the people who created them. Unlike the other collections this section displays functional works of art like clothing and baskets, instead of the typical paintings and sculptures that you would expect to see at an art museum. I love the integration of culture and beliefs into the clothing and tools that these people used, instead of hanging a painting they carried these things with them everyday.

This museum provides everyone the opportunity to view priceless works of art. My favorite part about this place is that its completely free to the public. I'm a firm believer that art cannot be owned and I love that the Nelson allows everyone to take in these special pieces. The museum is so massive it would be impossible to truly enjoy everything available in just one visit (I didn't even get to mention the modern art collection in this post). So if you're ever lucky enough to be looking for something to do in Kansas City, take in a little history, art, and culture at the Nelson.