General Information
General Museum Overview (Fact Sheet) • Mission & Vision Statement • History of Rockwell Family & Building • Special Exhibitions • Full Calendar • In the News! - Rockwell Museum of Western Art • Past Releases Archive
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The Rockwell Museum houses the largest and finest collection of western art in the eastern United States. The collection contains masterworks by the great nineteenth and early twentieth-century painters and sculptors, including Remington, Russell, Bierstadt, Couse, Dallin, Moran, Catlin, Miller, and many more, most collected by Robert and Hertha Rockwell, for whom the museum is named. In 2000, the museum initiated a deliberate effort to bring perspective to this collection by the acquisition of recent works by Native American and other emerging western artists, as well as some additional older works. New acquisitions include works by Andy Warhol, Kay WalkingStick, Clyde Aspevig, Deborah Butterfield, and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith. Today, the museum boasts a collection of American western art that is among the finest in the United States.
The Rockwell celebrated its 25th year of operation in totally renovated quarters. The 1893 historic City Hall building, which was first renovated to house the collection in 1982, has just received a second major renovation. This time it was completely gutted and rebuilt to create both a warm, western environment suitable to the museum's theme, and at the same time present this important collection in space that reflects its importance and allows visitors easy movement through the galleries. Lead architect for the project was Jim Czajka, then a principal in the firm of Allanbrook Benic Czajka Architects and Planners, LLP, of New York City.
Simultaneously, exhibits were completely redesigned. Instead of following the tradition of displaying works in historic periods, the Museum director and a team of consultants drew their plans around a vital concept: engage visitors in thought and conversation about what they are seeing. So today, art is organized to reflect three major themes: people, places, and ideas of the West. The galleries juxtapose the new with the old, making deliberate contrasts and fostering visitors' curiosity.
The Rockwell Museum in Corning, New York was founded in 1976. The story of its founding is the story of Bob and Hertha Rockwell, who amassed an incredible collection of Western art and artifacts, Carder Steuben glass, firearms, and antique toys. They donated much of their collection to the Museum named in their honor. Before the Museum existed, the Rockwells displayed some items from their vast collection in their family department store, which was located on West Market Street at the site now known as the Rockwell Center.
In 1974, Corning Glass Works (now Corning Incorporated) provided impetus and major support to create a museum for the collection. A temporary home for the new museum was created in the former Baron Steuben Hotel, and the Rockwell Museum first opened in these quarters in November 1976. The City of Corning entered the picture in 1980, selling its old City Hall to the company for $1.00. An extensive reclamation project was undertaken in 1981 and 1982, and in June of 1982, the new Rockwell Museum was opened to the public.
The original museum housed paintings, sculpture, glass, toys, and firearms, reflecting the Rockwells' varied collecting interests. When plans for the renovation were undertaken, officials decided to give each of the major collections galleries worthy of their importance. Thus the Rockwell Museum became the Rockwell Museum of Western Art, and a new gallery was created on the Corning Museum of Glass campus to house the extensive collection of Frederick Carder glass. Thus visitors who visited the Rockwell Museum in the past will find it a very different - and extremely exciting - place today.
The new museum includes not only brilliantly painted galleries, but spaces that are unique. On the ground floor, visitors find creatively designed museum shop - a western style Trading Post - filled with books, reproductions, jewelry, sculpture, pottery, baskets, and other items made by both westerners and Native Americans. On the second floor, the Remington and Russell Lodge resembles a ranch great room, with stone fireplace, comfortable western furniture, and, of course, works by the famous painter and sculptor. On the third floor, which houses the museum's main galleries, museum visitors can step out west - where else! - and enjoy a view of the western sky and the small city's interesting skyline on a spacious terrace. Out back, is Plaza West - a parking lot most of the time, but with landscaping and a tiled area that are transformed in an instant into a location for a festival. Through a separate entrance, visitors can sit down to a southwestern meal or snacks in an adjoining Cantina.
In addition to rotating works through its galleries several times a year, the Rockwell Museum of Western Art also hosts special exhibitions in two of its galleries. Since the reopening, these have included an exhibition of a Warhol western-theme prints, a selection of western art from members of Museums West, Small Treasures from the Smithsonian, a western toy exhibition, a special show of works from the Rockwell's own collection selected by painter Tom Buechner, and two annual shows held jointly with the Arnot Art Museum reflecting the best in contemporary realism.
Daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Extended Hours Memorial Day - Labor Day 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
The Museum is closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Special holiday hours on December 24. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
The Rockwell Museum of Western Art welcomes individuals and families to join the museum. Membership categories begin with the $40 Individual/$70 Family Journey West Pass, which allow members free unlimited admission to the museum, and go up through the $2,500+ Gold category. A number of exciting incentives, including discounts on museum shop merchandise and meals at the Cantina, guest passes, and special gift items are part of membership packages at varying levels. In addition, members are invited to special events at the museum.
Kids & Teens (19 & under) FREE
Members FREE
55+ & Students w/ I.D. $5.50
Not-yet-Members $6.50
Free Sundays through March, 2009
Joint tickets with Corning Museum of Glass allow admission to both museums for a discounted price. The museum provides group tours, childrens' programs, workshops and overnights.
Nestled at the south end of New York's Finger Lakes Wine Country is a community full of surprises. Two world class museums - the Corning Museum of Glass and Rockwell Museum of Western Art are compelling reasons to make a trip to the region. But there's more! Historic Market Street is one of the nation's first and best "Main Street" historic preservation projects. Six blocks of charming nineteenth century buildings are filled with unusual shops - from hot glass studios where you can watch glass being made, to stores specializing in confections, clothing, gifts, and furniture. The Benjamin Patterson Inn, operated by the Corning-Painted Post Historical Society, gives visitors a glimpse into the community's past, with its historic inn, one-room schoolhouse, and log cabin. Nearby, there are three grand stories of aviation told compellingly at the Glenn Curtiss Museum of Early Flight, the National Soaring Museum, and the Wings of Eagles Museum. If it's wine you're after, two nearby Finger Lakes (Keuka and Seneca) boast over 50 wineries -including several that regularly win international awards. Tours of these give visitors a glimpse, as well as a taste, of the winemaking process. And if you want still more art - there's the Arnot Art Museum in nearby Elmira, and numerous galleries. There's plenty more, too - music, dance, and baseball are all part of the regional scene.
Corning, a charming city of 12,000, is located in south-central New York State, 100 miles southeast of Rochester, 50 miles southwest of Ithaca, 75 miles west of Binghamton, and 250 miles west of New York City.
From Route 17 - now being redeveloped as Interstate 86 -- take Exit 46 and turn south onto Centerway. Travel straight on Centerway (which becomes Cedar Street) past the Corning Museum of Glass and just past restored Market Street to the corner of Cedar and Denison Parkway. Turn right, and then right again into the Rockwell Museum of Western Art parking lot. Then follow the horseshoes around to the front door - and enter the West!
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