The Johnson Museum of Art in Ithaca is Cornell University’s art museum, set at the top of Libe Slope across the Arts Quad. Admission is free, and its collection spans six millennia, with works from most world cultures.
- Location: 114 Central Avenue, at the intersection of Central Avenue and University Avenue on Cornell’s campus.
- Admission: Free for everyone.
- Regular hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday; closed Monday
- Collection: More than 40,000 works across six millennia.
The museum’s place on Cornell’s campus
The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art stands at the top of Libe Slope, across the Arts Quad at Cornell University. Its address is 114 Central Avenue, at the intersection of Central Avenue and University Avenue.
Opened in 1973, the museum was designed by I. M. Pei & Partners and named for Herbert F. Johnson, Cornell Class of 1922. Its campus setting makes it easy to include alongside other nearby university landmarks; Bailey Hall, for example, is another stop for concerts and campus events, with details in this Bailey Hall visitor guide.
Collections and exhibitions
The Johnson Museum’s permanent collection holds more than 40,000 works spanning six millennia, with art from most world cultures. Its strengths range from Asian art to European art from ancient times to the present.
Look for prints, drawings, and photographs dating from the fifteenth century to the present, as well as modern and contemporary painting and sculpture. Other collection areas include African sculpture and textiles, and pre-Columbian sculpture and ceramics.
Exhibitions change, so check the museum’s exhibition listings when planning around a particular show. Cornell art faculty exhibit at the Johnson every few years.
Hours, admission, and visitor services
Admission is free for everyone. Hours may vary during major holidays and Cornell break periods, so check the official site before you go.
Opening hours
- Tuesday to Friday: 10 AM–5 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 12 PM–4 PM
- Monday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Free public tours led by student educators are offered when available. Tours last 45–60 minutes, need at least five participants, and should be scheduled at least two weeks ahead.
For personal use, nonflash photography is allowed except where noted; flash photography, video, and tripods are not permitted. Food, drinks, water bottles, backpacks, large bags, and umbrellas must be left in the lobby, where small lockers are available free.
The building is accessible to visitors with a range of disabilities. A wheelchair is available in the lobby, accessible restrooms are on the basement level via the wing elevator, and service animals are welcome. ASL interpreters can be requested in advance for lectures, tours, and other events; call 607-254-3531 about event accommodations.
How do you get to the Johnson Museum of Art?
You can reach the museum by bus, car, or on foot from other parts of Cornell’s campus. TCAT buses stop at Milstein Hall and Goldwin Smith Hall, both a short walk from the museum; consult TCAT for current schedules.
If you’re driving, the museum’s suggested route is to turn from Route 79 onto Stewart Avenue, then right onto University Avenue and uphill to the museum. Turn right into the metered lot. It has 12 paid spaces and one accessible space, reserved for museum visitors.
The museum is about 3.0 miles from Springwater Inn. You can browse the inn’s guest rooms when planning your Ithaca stay.
From Tuesday–Sunday, 7:30AM–5PM, drivers using the museum lot must register their license plate at either museum desk and sign out when leaving; the parking limit is three hours.
For weekday events after 5PM and all-day weekend events, parking restrictions differ, apart from accessible spaces and posted restrictions. The Forest Home Parking Garage beneath the Human Ecology Building is about a ten-minute walk from the museum and is an option for after-hours events.
For a broader route through the city and campus, this one-day Ithaca itinerary connects the museum visit with other stops.
FAQs
Is admission to the Johnson Museum of Art free?
Yes. Admission is free for everyone.
Is the Johnson Museum open on Mondays?
Open Tuesday to Sunday; closed Monday.
Can you take photographs inside the museum?
Nonflash photography is allowed for personal use except where noted. Flash photography, video, and tripods are not permitted.
Does the museum offer guided tours?
Free tours led by student educators are available when offered. They last 45–60 minutes, require at least five participants, and should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.