Attraction of the Week: The Cleveland Museum of Art
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The number of great attractions which do not receive nearly enough press continues to surprise Mike and I the longer we live in Cleveland. It’s an underrated city with a lot of great tourist attractions, including one of the country’s most impressive art museums. The diverse collection includes 45,000 pieces of art from around the world.
Along with showcasing pieces from famous artists like Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh, the museum houses an incredible collection of rare African and Asian Art. Best of all, entry is completely free to the public all year-round. As the city’s premier attraction, you will definitely want to take a few hours to explore the wonderful pieces.
Taking a stroll here is one of my favorite things to do during the long winter season when heavy snow and overcast skies often make it impossible to do much outside. Thankfully, there are a number of great indoor attractions and plenty of great local restaurants to enjoy during the gloomy season. This museum is located not too far from Little Italy – one of the city’s major tourism draws, so you can enjoy a fantastic authentic Italian meal after your visit.
I have provided a little guide detailing the history and some highlights from the collection. Definitely check it out while you are in the vicinity along with other fabulous attractions like the wonderful Metroparks system, the zoo, and the iconic “A Christmas Story” house tour.
History of The CMA
The museum was founded in 1913 “for the benefit of all the people forever. Industrialist Jeptha Wade donated the land. Written into the deed was the phrase above. Today, the museum continues to strive to be a place of inspiration for all with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
Museum trustee Helen Forbes Fields said “As a museum dedicated to the art of every culture, place and period, diversity is a core value. With this plan, we are poised to set an example and better represent the many audiences of our community and world,”
Not only is the collection inspiring, but the building itself is quite stunning. Cleveland firm, Hubbell and Benes, designed the neoclassic white Georgian marble building. The collection has continued to grow since the museum opened in 1916.
Today, the wonderful Asian art collection takes center stage. However, you will get to explore art from around the world during your visit.
The collection
The diverse collection includes artwork from every part of the world. The CMA is a really interesting place to visit as you get to learn more about so many different cultures.
A brief overview of some of the outstanding collections on-site:
African Art – This collection includes roughly 480 works, mostly wood masks and figures from West and Central Africa.
American Painting and Sculpture – You will get to explore 300 American paintings and ~90 sculptures from 1750 to 1960 in this section. This also includes 100 works by local artists.
Egyptian and Near Eastern Art – According to the museum, Ancient Egypt artifacts were the first objects acquired. Today, the collection is considered one of the best. I have always been interested in anything to do with Egypt and their strange afterlife practices and cat worship, so I found this collection especially fascinating.
Greek and Roman Art – This collection spans 3800 years and includes stone and bronze sculptures including the Apollo Sauroktonos figure attributed to Praxiteles.
Chinese Art – Spanning 5000 years, the diverse collection includes beautiful paintings, ceramics, textiles, and sculptures in a variety of mediums.
Contemporary Art – Art pieces in this collection date from 1961 to today. Here you will find many popular modern art pieces including Andy Warhol’s famous Marilyn x 100. I love Warhol’s colorful pop art work. If you ever find yourself in Pittsburgh (it’s a quick 2 hour daytrip to this wonderful city), definitely visit The Warhol Museum.
Modern European Painting and Sculpture – Features 537 paintings and sculptures from 1800 to 1960. Most impressive are the impressionist and post impressionist paintings by Monet, Cezanne, Renoir, and Degas. Also, works from many avant-garde artists of the 20th century, most notably Picasso are featured here. This is my favorite section that I spend the most time in.
Japanese Art – Considered one of the best collections outside of Japan. This collection includes 1,950 works spanning ~5,000 years. Japanese calligraphy, paintings, sculptures, prints, and ceramics are represented.
Textiles – Over 4,500 textiles from 62 countries, 2000 BC to today are part of this renowned collection.
Museum tour: My favorites
A brief photo tour of some of what I found to be the most exciting/interesting pieces. Be aware that the space is pretty massive and this is simply a glimpse of some of the highlights. Do take your time strolling around, enjoying the wonderful diverse collection.
Visit the CMA website to explore more of the collection.
How long will it take to walk around?
I would plan on at least 2 hours to explore, however, you could easily spend a few hours if you want to read every detail. It’s best to limit your time and come back again rather than overwhelming yourself on one single visit. Take your time as your brain can only absorb so much information at a time! Fortunately, I live in the area, so I take advantage of the free admission on a regular basis.
Dining options
The Provenance Cafe is open 11am-2pm, every day except for Monday. The menu is quite small although there are options for everyone including a Lamb Burger, Mushroom Melt, salads, and Grilled chicken. I recommend relaxing with a great cup of coffee from local roaster Solstice.
Of course, there are also many local restaurants within a quick drive of the museum. I recommend heading over to Little Italy for an authentic Italian dining experience. Guarino’s is a great upscale choice and Mamma Santas, a casual favorite, serves the most delicious pizza in the city. Depending on whether or not you want to go fancy, these are both great choices.
Location, parking, & hours
- Address: 11150 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106
- Hours: 10am-5pm (closed Mondays – open until 9 on Wed & Fri)
- Admission: Free
- Parking: $7 members, $14 nonmembers
- Free parking: I usually find free street parking early in the morning on the weekends. This is a great strategy for anyone on a budget! Just watch the signs.
- Accessibility: Accessible parking on the top level of the parking garage. Wheelchairs and strollers available on a first come, first serve basis. All floors are accessible, as well as all bathrooms and drinking fountains. Service animals welcome.
What to do nearby?
Here are a few activities I recommend checking out while you are in the city.
- Stroll around Little Italy: Home to Italian restaurants, bakeries, and coffeeshops.
- Visit the Cleveland Museum of Natural History: Featuring dinosaur exhibits.
- Explore the Cultural Gardens: 30+ gardens designed by diverse cultural groups.
- Enjoy the free gardens at the Rockefeller Greenhouse: A beautiful free year-round garden featuring an amazing Christmas poinsettia display.
- Tour the A Christmas Story house: See the house where the Christmas classic filmed right down to the iconic leg lamp in the window! As a big fan, this is my favorite attraction in the city! I absolutely love this tour – you will learn so many odd tidbits about the filming process.
Also be sure to check out my guide to the best city attractions for the full rundown. As I stated, this is an underrated city with a lot of great attractions which seemingly no one knows about besides the people who have lived here for a long time. My family is always shocked when I tell them how many amenities we have access to!
