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 2019

    Christian Petersen Art Museum | contact

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

    • "Designed for a Modern Life: Decorative Arts & Fashion in the Mid-century," features selections from both permanent collections and select loans, Oct. 25 through June 28, 2019
    • "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

    • "Timeless: Love and Romance in the Victorian Era," an exhibition that takes a peek into love and romance in the Victorian era, through Oct. 31, 2019

    Gallery 181 | 515-294-7428

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

    • "Epilogue: BFA Senior Art Exhibition," an exhibit featuring work by 24 students who will graduate with a BFA in integrated studio arts, April 11-19

      Parks Library | contact

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

      • "We Are ISU: Snapshots of Student Life," an exhibit focusing on photographs, scrapbooks, journals, t-shirts, and more from past students, March 13 through Sept. 2019
         
      • Online exhibits: archives.lib.iastate.edu

      Memorial Union | contact

      Gallery, viewing based on room availability, free

      • Apex Exhibit, juried exhibit featuring artwork created by ISU students, March 29 through May 5.
         

      Pioneer Room, viewing based on room availability, free

      • Focus Grant Exhibit, annual student exhibit, April 4 through May 1. 
         

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

      Reiman Gardens | contact

      9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, $9 (youth $4.50, free for members)

      Hughes Conservatory

      • "The Magic Circle," a spring bulb display, through May 18

        Textiles and Clothing Museum, Mary Alice Gallery | contact

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

        • "2019 Fashion Show Winners Exhibit," May 1 through June 28.

         

          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.