Arts and attractions

Fountain of the Four Seasons

Fountain of the Four Seasons sculpture by Christian Petersen.

Exhibits Calendar

Anderson Sculpture Garden | contact

South of Morrill Hall, free

Brunnier Art Museum | contact

Scheman Building, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $3 suggested donation

  • Closed for renovations through summer 2018

    Christian Petersen Art Museum | contact

    Morrill Hall, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, $3 suggested donation

    • "Figurative Expression: Manuel Neri and Christian Petersen," features works by Neri and Petersen, May 29 through July 27
    • "The People's College: The Morrill Act and Iowa State," ongoing
    • "Commissioning a Collection: 75 Years of Public Art," ongoing

    Design on Main Gallery | contact

    203 Main St., 2-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

    Farm House Museum | contact

    Central campus, Noon-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, $3 suggested donation

    • "In Focus: Daguerreotypes, Tintypes and Photographs from the Farm House Museum Collection," displays the Farm House Mueseum's collection of early photography, through Oct. 31

    Gallery 181 | 515-294-7428

    College of Design, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, free

      Parks Library | contact

      Special Collections and University Archives, 403 Parks Library, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, free

      • "Do[ing] Their Bit: Iowa's Role in the Great War," through June 2018
      • "Activist Agriculture: Farm Protest in Iowa," chronicles the struggle of the Midwest farmer to make a living during the twentieth century, July 18-January 2019
      • Online exhibits: archives.lib.iastate.edu

      Memorial Union | contact

      Gallery, viewing based on room availability, free

      Pioneer Room, viewing based on room availability, free

      Multicultural Center, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5p.m. Friday, 5-11 p.m. Sunday, free

      • "Untitled," abstract art by Edgard Camacho, through June 2018

        Reiman Gardens | contact

        9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, $8 (youth $4, free for members)

        Hughes Conservatory

        • "Botanical Balance," inspired by traditional Japanese gardens and the concept of Zen, through Aug. 12

        Garden Room Gallery

        • An exhibition featuring oil paintings by Des Moines artist Michele Baggenstoss, through June 19.
          Closing reception, June 15, 5 to 7 p.m.

          Textiles and Clothing Museum, Mary Alice Gallery | contact

          1015 Morrill Hall, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, free

          • Winners of the Fashion Show 2018, through July 27 (closed Memorial Day and the Fourth of July)
             
            Reiman Gardens

            Reiman Gardens

            Campus attractions

            Highlights

            Best public rose garden

            Iowa State's Reiman Gardens has been named the best public rose garden in the U.S.

            Most beautiful campus

            Iowa State's campus includes over 600 public works of art and was rated as one of America's 25 most beautiful in the book, The Campus as a Work of Art.

            Carillon

            The 10-bell carillon chime installed in the Campanile in 1899 was the first scientifically tuned bell chime outside of England; the carillon has 50 bells today.

            Building of the 20th Century

            Iowa State's Stephens Auditorium was named Iowa's "Building of the 20th Century" by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Iowa Chapter.

            Most Grant Wood murals

            Iowa State has the largest Grant Wood murals in the nation, including two WPA projects located in Parks Library -- "Breaking the Sod" and "When Tillage Begins, Other Arts Follow."

            Seamless curtain

            The main stage curtain in Stephens Auditorium is seamless, made entirely of silk, measures 85 by 35 feet and weighs 3,000 pounds. It was woven in Kyoto, Japan, on the world's largest continuous loom.

            Accredited museum

            The University Museums at Iowa State is one of only 10 percent of museums in the nation to be accredited by the American Association of Museums.

            Medallion site

            Iowa State's central campus was one of only three university campuses to make the American Society of Landscape Architect's 1999 centennial listing of "Medallion Sites."

            Most Christian Petersen sculptures

            Iowa State holds the nation's largest campus public collection of sculptures by Christian Petersen, who was artist-in-residence from 1934 to 1955.

            Online art tour

            You can take a virtual look at some campus art with University Museums' Digital Art on Campus project.