The Butler Institute of American Art — Attraction in Youngstown

The Butler Institute of American Art is a magnificent and shining gem. Deceiving in its size as viewed from the road, Google Maps, and even from the imagery on their own homepage, ‘The Butler’ as it is commonly referred to has an extensive collection spread out over two floors in its main building (with three floors of art in the newly opened and quite modern attached-annex), and in several wonderful galleries in the upper floor of the church next door (accessed by an impressive glass-enclosed elevated walkway). Masterpieces by Winslow Homer, Fitz Hugh Lane, Robert Vonnoh, Thomas Cole, Herman Herzog, Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent, Norman Rockwell, and Albert J. Bierstadt are among the vast collection that spans centuries (18th to current) and genres (Impressionism to Modern, and a combination of Art and Technology). I was lucky enough to see a special exhibit of art by Tony Bennett, which included quite a few wonderful pieces.

Parking is free, and on the ride side of the main building (the gate at the guard shack will automatically raise for you as you drive up to it). Employee parking is on the left side of the main building, and the security guard on duty appeared to be taking down license plate numbers so maybe don't park there.

The entrance to the museum is through a set of double-doors on the front porch, itself framed by two gorgeous columns and a tiled deep-blue and mosaic ornate ceiling. There is an information desk to the left with free gallery floor plans and other literature, as well as a visitor registry, and to the right is the security desk. Admission is free. There is a donation box in front of you as you enter the foyer. Just ahead of the foyer is the Fine Art store (visit this last), and the elevator to the upstairs exhibits.

The best way to see the museum is to start with the galleries to the left as you enter the museum and go clockwise through the main galleries that surround the great two-story main hall. After this I would suggest heading into the new annex and see everything there, on all three floors. Next, tour the exhibits in the great hall in the main building – first floor, then the second floor, followed by the galleries on the second floor that surround the great hall, and then proceed via the glass walkway into the galleries in the church.

There is a small, well-lit café and a gift shop on the main floor at the rear of the museum. Both are well worth stopping in for a visit. Rest rooms are on the second floor just off of the elevators.

If you truly enjoy art, and are the type of person that will stand there and appreciate a piece you love while becoming absorbed into it, allow about three hours to tour the museum.

This museum is well worth your time. I drove three hours one-way from north-central West Virginia and was extremely happy that I took the time (on my birthday) to visit this wonderful American treasure. Highly...

This was my main purpose of stopping in Youngstown on my way down I-80, and it was well worth it. It was free, but I donated as I didn’t feel right coming through and not giving anything. It’s a museum with many works from famous folk, all (or almost all) by Americans, but not limited to paintings of American landscapes and such (the pièce de resistance is the beautiful In Flanders Fields poppies painting, but what was most surprising to me was that it was painted well before the war according to the placard) including Pollock, Van Gogh, O’Keefe, Rockwell, and Melloncamp, which surprised me.

The hours are fairly limited which should be noted, and at my good pace, I walked through all of the exhibits in about an hour and forty-five minutes, though you can definitely take longer or move through more quickly depending on your interest level. The receptionist/greeter was really nice and welcoming, which is perfect for this. Would come again if in NE Ohio again, and would recommend you do too, perhaps if visiting Youngstown State, on which campus the museum is located; go...

America's very first museum of all American art. Dr. Zona is very nice and I had the pleasure of meeting him one day and chatting for a bit about some of the newer additions. The multimedia art room is fun, the kinetic art pieces are amazing and the best part is that it's free to all. There is a cool attached folk art museum, complete with carousel art and an epic American made art glass collection. There were two rooms with many paintings of America's indigenous people and a selection of modern African American artists works and they often get installations that change out, and at the time I visited I was lucky to see a Picasso from someone's private collection and a Modigliani. There is also a very small original Andy Warhola on an easel upstairs from when he was doing illustration work before becoming the super famous Andy Warhol. Pointing it out because it's easy to miss unless you...