Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee
The Milwaukee Museum of Art, located on the shores of Lake Michigan, is known just as much for its stunning silhouette as its impressive collection. The museum began its history as Milwaukee’s first art gallery, but has grown to include 30,000 works of art across four floors and more than 40 galleries, as well as one of the largest museum-education programs in the nation.
Groups interested in touring the museum can choose between two perspectives: the museum’s selection of art or the museum itself. Groups can take a tour with one of the museum’s knowledgeable docents for a detailed look at the current featured exhibit or opt for an architectural tour of the iconic building. Another great option is the lunch-and-learn guided tours, where groups will go on a docent-lead tour followed by a meal at the museum.
An upcoming exhibit opening July 28, 2017, will feature the creations of Frank Lloyd Wright, including examples of his architectural design, stained glass and furniture. The exhibit will run through October 2017.
R ock and Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland
Located in Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum features impressive and unique artifacts from big names like Elvis, U2, the Beatles and many others. The museum includes seven levels, four large galleries and plenty of interactive experiences dedicated to the musicians and their contributions.
The “British Invasion” exhibit features one of the most comprehensive collections of Beatles memorabilia in the world. This exhibit includes items from all four Beatles, some of which have never before been on display to the public.
The “Inductee” exhibit features artifacts from the current year’s class of inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 2016 inductees include Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple, Steve Miller and N.W.A. Some of the items on display include handwritten lyrics from hits like Janis Joplin’s “Cry Baby” and Rick Nielsen’s five-necked guitar. Another popular exhibit is “Right Here, Right Now,” which features items and costumes from contemporary artists like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Taylor Swift.
www.rockhall.com
City Museum
St. Louis
The City Museum in downtown St. Louis is an interactive museum focused on fun and unusual experiences for the young at heart. The museum space makes use of found and repurposed objects, and the building’s architecture creates interactive areas where patrons are encouraged to touch, play with and climb on the exhibits.
Once a shoe factory, this facility now features an eclectic collection of interactive experiences across its four floors and outdoor space. The “Enchanted Caves” and “Shoe Shaft” run through the center of the museum and feature three multi-story slides, as well as hand-sculpted caves where you will see different creatures in every direction.
“MonstroCity” is the outdoor interactive space located in front of the museum. This display includes two airplane fuselages suspended from the building, a castle turret and four-foot wide slinkies that visitors can crawl through.
There are also circus performances most days on the third floor of the museum. Groups can watch the public performances or schedule a private performance for an added experience. Also on the third floor is Art City, where groups can draw, paint, and sculpt to create their own works of art.
