Charles H. MacNider Art Museum in Mason City

A mainstay, an edifice, a place to go and relax and be challenged.

Interesting museum.

I just love it. The architecture of the museum add the art. Ill be going back often!

We were truly surprised and delighted by this museum. They have a varied selection of paintings and art pieces, and the most joyful collection of puppets from movie and TV, including the puppets from Sound of Music and the Wizard of OZ.

Our children love the crafts they do. Highly recommend for Children

Dont miss put on this beautiful English Tudor style home-turned-museum. Great art, and very friendly staff!

A nice visit here with my daughter.

This is a great little spot, my kids love coming here and checking out the art. Ive been coming here since I was a young. They have great community events and different art classes. Definitely a hidden gem of north Iowa!

Very nice, it was my 1st time inside and I would like to see more

I absolutely love the McNider Art Museum! I have been coming here since I was a child. From making arts and crafts, to pottery classes, or looking at the Bill Baird goat puppets from the movie The Sound of Music; it is a must see stop while in Mason City. There are rotating exhibits in the lower level if you stop back from time to time, there is always something new to see.

Very nice architecture. Enjoyed exhibitions but wish we had gone earlier.

A must see in Downtown Mason City! The museum is host to several treasured annual events, unique exhibits and charming childrens arts programs!

Wonderful art museum. My 7 y/o and I loved it. The puppet room was my favorite.

Suprising collection of art in a midwestern Town.

We checked out the kids day program with our visiting grandchildren. Was a well organized event and had several activity booths the kids enjoyed. There were also several local art vendors and a stage with free local live music. Fun for all.

An excellent place for art enthusiasts.

Love this little gem of a place in North Iowa. Super fun to see The Sound of Music marionettes made by Mason City native, Bil Baird.

Unpretentious and accessible museum with an excellent collection. Recommended.

Super great little local museum! They have some really great (lesser knownpieces from well known artists. We were drawn to it bc of Bill Baird, the puppeteer who created the puppets in The Sound of Music, among others.

The building/home is amazing. The museum is nice too.

Great holiday open house for the kids, they made lots of neat things in the short time we were there.

We went multiple times on school field trips. I love the atmosphere and collections!

Very enjoyable! A surprising amount for artwork in the building and well laid out. Also the surrounding landscaping is very nice too with great views of the river below!

Loved this place. Elegant house from the outside. Great art in the inside. You are allowed to get very close to the artwork, unlike in Chicago museums

A gem of a smaller museum with some high caliber pieces by world renown artists on display and great programming/classes/events offered for both kids and adults. The gift shop is top notch with works by local artists available for purchase. I always make a point to visit when in town.

Very cool place that is fun to look around if you have time to kill!

Small, but very good collection, wonderful play space and puppet collection upstairs for the kiddos!

I was pleasantly surprised to see a museum of this quality in a town as small as Mason City. If youre in town and have a few hours to kill I highly recommend you walk through this Museum.

Great place to visit and see amazing local art pieces like paintings, pottery, and more.

Great collection for a smaller museum. Well done. Cant beat the admission rate.

It’s super fun to play with the foam stuff in the kids area... even if you’re an adult.

What a beautiful little museum! And the staff are so friendly and helpful!

Friendly helpers outstanding for childrens learning and us seniors using our brains natural plasticity to keep learning and growing. Great place.

This was a beautiful museum. I wish our group had more time here. It was wonderful. Exceptionally kempt.

Such a lovely museum. I was very impressed with the variety of artwork.

Bought the self guided historical home tour guide from HPI and walked our way around until we found this place. I was pleasantly surprised at the unique and interesting pieces they have on display. There seemed to be a collection of several local artists and several historical type exhibits as well. Its a good way to spend an hour or two.

Small but eclectic collection free to the public. Beautiful location and setting. Staff and volunteers are very friendly

Mason City is not a town known for its art culture, but the MacNider museum is the exception to the rule. Walking through the museum is an enjoyable experience. The museum has a small, but nice variety of pieces on display. For the low price of FREE, its worth an hour or two to walk around and appreciate the art.

Scope of the collection is impressive. Incorporation of traditional and modern is thoughtfully presented. Seeing the puppets from Sound of Music is a unique bonus.

A true masterpiece in itself.. what a collection..well done!The museum is a treasure in a beautiful small town that is full of history, Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, and sculptures galore around the city.

Views were great but a wedding was been performed, so I did not get to see all of them. The art is displayed very well. The building is interesting and comfortable. It is all well maintained and clean. There are restrooms. It is a smaller collection that features a local historic display of puppets and marionettes.

Great place with Bill Baird puppets from Sound of Music. There are studio rooms for artists, gift shop featuring local artists, a big room to rent for parties. Always actives for all ages!!!!

A wonderful museum with plenty of activities year long. They have art classes for all ages, tours, and a ceramic studio. You can also rent the Salisbury room or lawn for parties, weddings, birthdays, and baby showers.

We are always taking a bunch of classes here! I love the variety of classes they have to offer. And its always nice strolling through and spending an hour or two here checking out the various mediums that are on display.

Small but nice museum with free admission. Had the big blue blocks out on the front lawn for kids to play with when we were there on a Saturday. Big hit with my two. Museum had some interesting American pieces, and a large collection of Bill Baird puppets. Theres a puppet theater and hand puppets that the kids can use to put on a show for those seated on the pillows in front of the theater. The museum building itself also has some interesting features, including the undulating roof. We parked in the library parking lot and walked down a short path dotted with sculptures to the museum.

This is a wonderful treasure in the heart of Mason City. The building itself is a joy, with bright windows overlooking the river, and the beautiful mansion is itself very enjoyable. There is a small goldfish pond and several interactive activities for children, including drawing stations, Imagination Station blue construction foam blocks, kids puppet theater, and a dress up station and mirror that teaches about portraiture (the costumes match the ones in the paintings). Exhibits change frequently and the collection is impressive. Also not to be missed are the Bil Baird marionettes (Sound of Music and many programs in the classic age of TV); and the extensive list of classes, lectures, events, and workshops. It is a full-fledged teaching museum.

Always a good experience, everyone is friendly, I love the exhibits and the little gift shop.

Really neat and interactive place for all ages.

A very nice and cozy art museum tucked into a quiet and scenic part of Mason City.

Traveled to Mason City for a concert. Had the afternoon to enjoy the Macnider Art Museum. I highly recommend spend time to sit and enjoy the collection.