Berkshire Museums and Galleries

Exhibiting Some of the Finest U.S. Treasures

Berkshire museums and galleries hold some of the finest artistic and historic treasures in the United States. Here you will find traditional and contemporary art museums, museums of history and science, animation, and railways, sculpture gardens, open artist studios, and so much more.

In Northern Berkshire, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute located in the town of Williamstown Massachusetts offers a wonderful collection of French Impressionist, Old Master, and American works of art. Included in its collection are Renoir, Monet, Degas and French 19th century works which span from the Renaissance through late-nineteenth century as well as American artists such as Frederick Remington and Winslow Homer.

Within walking distance of The Clark are several other Berkshire museums and galleries. The Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), located on the Williams College campus, has collections and changing exhibitions that highlight American, modern, and contemporary art as well as the art of world cultures. Gallery 37 features unique and extraordinary works by nationally-recognized artists and The Harrison Gallery offers contemporary art which focuses on landscapes as well as other types of media including etchings, sculpture, pottery, furniture, jewelry, scorched paper, and bronze cutouts.

Just a few miles away, the city of North Adams has more Berkshire museums and galleries to be explored.



Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) is the largest center for contemporary arts in the United States.

There are also several other galleries and open artist studios within the city limits to be explored. MCLA's Gallery 51, located in the middle of downtown, features works of international, national and local artists, including the artwork of Mass College of Liberal Arts faculty and students.

And, you are in for a treat if you visit the



Eclipse Mill Gallery and Artist Lofts located in a converted historic mill building containing public galleries and live/work artists lofts. These hold open studios, events and tours at different times throughout the year.

Just a short walk from the Berkshire Museum is the Storefront Artists’ Project where formerly empty storefronts now house art projects, installations and exhibitions, paintings, sculptures and works in progress.

Also in the city are the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts which features the current works of local and regional artists in changing art shows, open studios, and special events and Cormier Art Gallery which houses museum quality art and original antique prints.

Nearby, in the town of Dalton is the Crane Museum of Papermaking which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum traces its history from colonial times to the present and has been making paper for the US currency since 1879.

The town of Lenox has a multitude of Berkshire museums and galleries to be explored. Master sculptor, Andrew DeVries of DeVries Fine Art offers dance, figurative, symbolic, portrait, and bas relief bronze sculpture as well as pastel life drawings in his studio galleries.

Ferrin Gallery exhibits the work of numerous nationally known artists. Contemporary ceramics, sculpture, art, photography and mixed media are offered on a monthly basis.

Self-taught, outsider, and folk art are the specialties of Church Street Art Gallery while Gloria Malcolm Arnold Fine Art offers rotating exhibitions of a variety of media and subjects including oil and watercolors by Gloria Malcolm Arnold, scratchboard by Lois Ryder, and photographs by Shawn Ryder. And, Boreas Gallery exhibits international contemporary visual arts.

Also in Lenox, at the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum you can visit a restored 1902 train depot offering railroading exhibits and model train displays as well as explore the Berkshire Cottages exhibit located in a vintage railroad coach. Then, you can enjoy a ride in a vintage coach on a narrated train ride to Stockbridge or Lee.

And, Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio offers guided tours of the former home of George L.K. Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen with its extensive American and European Cubist art collections.





Southern Berkshire County is also host to a number of Berkshire museums and galleries. In the town of Lee you can book a guided tour at Animagic. At this museum of animation, special effects, and art, you can learn about the technologies used in movies like The Matrix, X-Men, Predator and Chicken Run, see a real Academy Award, or make your own animated movie.

Stockbridge is home to several Berkshire museums and galleries. The famous Norman Rockwell Museum is the most popular year-round cultural attraction in the Berkshires. The largest and most significant collection of Norman Rockwell’s original artwork is housed there as well as changing exhibitions of other masters of illustrative art. And, Berkshire Center for Contemporary Glass allows you to view its works of art as well as its glassblowing exhibitions or actually participate in the glassblowing process.

Inner Vision Studio is a wonderful rural studio featuring the original watercolors and photography of Karen Andrews, while Origins Gallery exhibits African tribal art such as ceremonial masks, statues, and Shona stone sculpture.

And, if you are interested in outdoor garden sculpture, Williamsville Sculpture Garden features the work of regional artists on its grounds.

West Stockbridge is the home of Hoffman Pottery featuring beautiful contemporary works for decorative, garden, or every day use.

Or, if you prefer contemporary art, Great Barrington has several Berkshire museums and galleries for you to visit. Located in the historic Mahaiwe building, Vault Gallery features changing exhibitions of local and internationally known artists. Works include paintings, photography, film, and sculpture. And, in a spacious storefront building, Lascano Gallery shows quality contemporary paintings, sculpture and photographs. There is also the gallery of Sanford Smith Fine Art which specializes in 20th century and contemporary paintings, fine prints, watercolors, sculpture and photography.

For more traditional works of art, Tom Warner Watercolors offers original paintings and limited edition prints of New England and the Berkshires, and Berkshire Art Gallery exhibits museum quality 19th and 20th century American, European and Contemporary art from the finest private collections and museums in the country. The gallery also sells selections from contemporary Berkshire artists.

If you are a history buff, you’ll want to visit the Du Bois Center of American History. This museum is dedicated to WEB Du Bois and provides programs that promote a better understanding of our shared heritage.

In the town of Tyringham, Naoussa Gallery and the Ruth O. Cowell Sculpture Garden combines a contemporary art gallery featuring photography, works on paper, sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry with a sculpture garden of marble and other stone works centered around symbolism and nature.

In Becket, nature enthusiasts will enjoy exploring the Becket Land Trust Historic Quarry and Forest There you will discover an abandoned granite quarry, spectacular vistas, extensive hiking trails, a self-guided historic walk, artifacts, exhibits, and programs based on quarrying.

And, in Sheffield, Loring Gallery features the fine art and sculpture of a group of talented 20th century artists, plus vintage prints and posters by Toulouse Lautrec.

As you can see, there are a multitude of Berkshire museums and galleries in Berkshire County to explore. Your only problem will be choosing which one to visit first.

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