Plan Your Visit
Welcome to the Spencer Museum of Art!
Admission is free for everyone, always; no tickets required.
Plan Your Visit jump links
Gallery hours
We are closed today.
Find us on Google Maps
Getting to the Museum
Parking
Free parking for Museum visitors is available in designated spots on the first level of the Mississippi Street Garage next to the Kansas Union during Museum hours. Make a note of your license plate number and stop at our Welcome Desk to have your parking validated. The garage is monitored; failure to validate parking may result in a ticket.
On weekends (and weekdays after 5PM) parking along Mississippi Street and in Lot 91 behind the Museum is free.
There is a drop-off area at the front entrance of the Museum off Mississippi Street. This is a five-minute load/unload zone and vehicles may not be left unattended.
Find out more about accessible parking and transportation options.
Please note that parking, including accessible spaces, is limited during KU Football games and other major events on campus.
Cycling
There are bike racks on the west side of the building facing Marvin Grove, next to the Art History Department entrance.
Public transit
The Spencer Museum is accessible via the Lawrence Transit system. You can find fare and route information online.
Accessibility
If you, or someone visiting the Museum with you, have additional needs, find out more about how we can support your visit.
Gallery maps
View maps of our 3rd and 4th floors to orient yourself.
3rd Floor
4th Floor
Visitor guidelines
Please follow these guidelines to respect and protect other visitors, staff, and the art:
✅ Store backpacks, large bags, and coats in our free lockers.
✅ Sketch or write in our galleries with pencil, but...
❌ Do not use art materials other than pencil.
✅ Take photos for personal use, but...
❌ Do not use flash or selfie sticks. If you want to use a tripod or take professional photos, please contact us in advance.
❌ Do not bring food or drink in the galleries.
Group visits
If you're planning to bring a group of 10 or more (including children), please let us know at least three weeks in advance so we can help you have the best experience.
We offer self-guided tours or one of our Museum staff can provide a free guided tour. All group visits and tours are free.
What our visitors say
“The Spencer Museum of Art is a real jewel in the Midwest. This is a world-class art museum and one that is worth taking the time to see. The Spencer has art from most time periods and all are first-rate works.”
“This museum has a great permanent display and if you go on Friday the curators can pull works from their archive. I have been coming here since I was a small child and it’s always nice to see what they have in exhibition. Their permanent display has changed since the last time I came and I was pleasantly surprised to see some things I haven’t seen before.”
“Very nice Art museum and a decent size for a college campus. They have some great permanent collections and the temporary ones are awesome and well thought out. Currently parking is across the street in the visitor parking, but you validate it at the museum easily.”
