Nelson Atkins Museum, Kansas City (must see)

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City is a celebrated art institution renowned for its Neoclassical architecture and extensive collection, particularly of Asian art. The museum stands on the grounds of Oak Hall, once the home of Kansas City Star publisher William Rockhill Nelson. Following Nelson's death in 1915, his estate was designated to fund the purchase of artworks for public enjoyment after the passing of his wife and daughter. Additionally, Mary McAfee Atkins left funds for the creation of an art museum, and these bequests were combined to establish the museum. The Nelson-Atkins is celebrated worldwide as one of the top general art museums in the U.S., boasting a collection of over 40,000 artworks.

Designed by prominent Kansas City architects Wight and Wight, the museum's Beaux-Arts style was modeled after the Cleveland Museum of Art. Construction began in 1930, and the museum opened its doors on December 11, 1933. The original structure was split into two wings: the Nelson Gallery and the Atkins Museum of Fine Arts, which merged in 1983 to form the current Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

The building is adorned with 23 limestone panels by sculptor Charles Keck and features oak leaf motifs, a nod to the original Oak Hall. During the Great Depression, the museum took advantage of a surplus of artworks on the market to quickly build its collection. The south facade, a classical Beaux-Arts masterpiece, overlooks a series of terraces that descend toward Brush Creek, making it an iconic sight in Kansas City.

On the museum's expansive lawn, the Kansas City Sculpture Park hosts the largest collection of monumental bronzes by Henry Moore in the United States, adding a dynamic outdoor dimension to the museum's already impressive indoor galleries. Designed with future expansions in mind, the museum has continued to evolve, with unfinished sections completed over the years to accommodate its growing collections.