Rockwell Museum of Western Art

Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Rockwell Museum of Western Art is located in the heart of the beautiful Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. The Museum boasts the finest American Western and Native American art collection this side of the Mississippi. Western and Native American art and culture are the focal points for engaging, dynamic exhibitions and educational events. The Museum renews exhibits several times each year, rotating its large permanent collection of art through galleries based on themes: Wilderness, Buffalo, Horse, Indian and Cowboy. Here, myths are explored and new ways of thinking about art encouraged.

Museum Mission Statement

To grow, preserve, research and promote the Rockwell Museum's unique collection through interpretive offerings, rich exhibits and dynamic programming to inspire and engage both the general public and the scholarly community in furthering their understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the cultures and aesthetic traditions of the American West and Native Americans.

Museum Vision Statement

The Rockwell Museum will be recognized for its imaginative programming and as a sought after resource for study, knowledge and engagement by local and national audiences.

Museum Origins

Bob and Hertha Rockwell, local business owners who had amassed an incredible collection of Western art and artifacts, Carder Steuben glass, firearms, and antique toys, originally displayed some of their vast collection in their family department store, at the site now known as the Rockwell Center.

However, the store allowed only a small portion of their growing collection to be shown, without the benefits of temperature and humidity control, security and, most importantly, the interpretation that a museum could bring. The Rockwell's generously decided to donate the majority of their collection so that it could be protected, seen and enjoyed by many more people.

Explore Related Categories