Saturday, January 21, 2023

Figge Art Museum of Davenport, Iowa – A Travel Review

Figge Art Museum, Davenport, Iowa


The Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa serves as the  major art museum for eastern Iowa and western Illinois. It opened in 2006 and is the renamed successor to the Davenport Museum of Art which dates back to 1928. The museum has its roots in The Davenport Art Association which was founded in 1878. Thus, it is one of the oldest art institutions in the United States. 


Figge Art Collection


Figge Museum in Davenport, IA

*Image By NateWoolsey - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0


There are over 4,000 works of art in the Figge art collection. The works range from the 16th century to the present time. Figge has an extensive collection of Haitian, Colonial Mexican and Midwestern art, for which it is best known.

It also has a substantial collection of American art and European art, plus an important collection of pieces by the Midwest American architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright. 

Additionally, the Figge Art Museum currently houses the  University of Iowa  Museum of Art collection, after the University of Iowa's gallery was flooded in 2008.

And, this museum offers a Master of Arts degree in various aspects of museum management through the Western Illinois University's graduate program in Museum Studies.


Our Visit to the Figge Art Museum


Family tour of Figge Art Museum

A couple years ago my Kansas City family visited me in Iowa and we spent an interesting afternoon touring The Figge (as it is known to locals). 


In addition to the numerous rooms dedicated to particular collections, such as The Stanley Collection, the American West paintings and various exhibition galleries, the museum has several studios, an auditorium, a café, and a museum store where souvenirs can be purchased.  


Grandsons at Figge Art Museum

Since we had my two young grandsons with us, we were especially excited about the Family Activity Center on the second level.  The boys (and mom, dad & grandma) spent an enjoyable hour creating our own 'art works'!


Family enjoying the Family Activity Center at the Figge Museum

Figge Museum Family Activity Center


 Summary


Location and Visitor Information of the Figge Art Museum


The Figge is located just a block from the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport, Iowa.


Address:  225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52801

Phone: 563) 326-7804

Hours:

  • Monday  Closed
  • Tuesday  10AM–5PM
  • Wednesday 10AM–5PM
  • Thursday  10AM–8PM
  • Friday  10AM–5PM
  • Saturday  10AM–5PM
  • Sunday  12–5PM

 


*Travel Review of the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa written by Wednesday Elf.


 


Book cover of story about the Figge Art Museum


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10 comments:

  1. Looks like a wonderful place to spend a day and learn something new. The family activity center seems like so much fun, and from you photos it sure looks like you had some fun. Thanks Pat for the tour and the wonderful photos.

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    1. Thanks, Sam. I thought the Family Activity Center was a very clever room for a museum to set up. Young children can get pretty bored just looking at paintings, so this activity room was a fun break for them. The museum supplies all sorts of art supplies and craft things and a big area to work in. The creations are from the imaginations of the young artists. :)

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  2. What a great experience to have with your grandchildren. I love when the arts are available to youngsters and they get a chance to try their hand at creating something beautiful. Thanks for this information, when I get to visit your state I will put this on my "to be seen" list of things to do!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Olivia. I think museums offer a lot to both old and young visitors. We enjoyed our afternoon at the Figge Art Museum.

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  3. Sounds like a fun way to spend a day! We love visiting art museums and discovering artwork we have never seen before (not even in photos). I enjoy looking around the gift shops, but don't always buy anything. However, I know I would love the Family Activity Center that encourages all to create their own works of art. That is awesome!

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    1. We all enjoyed the Family Activity Center at The Figge, Mouse. Kids are naturally creative and it was a fun activity for them after patiently following the adults around while they looked at paintings. :)

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  4. This looks like an excellent way to introduce young children to a museum. Thanks for the interesting review.

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    1. Thanks for your visit to my museum travel review, Mary Beth. My son & DIL take the kids to interesting sights always on trips and on weekends at home. Gets them away from 'digital' stuff at home... LOL. Plus, is fun and educational.

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  5. I was incredibly lucky to grow up around the corner from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, and it was one of my fabulous places to hang out after school when I was a young teenager. I especially loved the Degas exhibit (my older sister wanted to be a professional ballerina) and the breathtaking Fabergé collection. It instilled in me an appreciation of art and museums at an early age. I love that you are helping to give your grandsons this precious, lifelong gift as well. The family activity center was an inspired idea!

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    1. Museums are always inspiring, Margaret. I lived in NYC one summer between collage years (being from upstate NY, it was a natural longing to see and experience the 'City') and we used to spend our weekends visiting museums. I agree that the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a fabulous place to visit.

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