Museums with a View
Lush landscapes surround these brilliant museums
Just outside the walls of these world-class museums, visitors will find inviting outdoor spaces featuring spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. The stunning natural beauty of the outdoors enhances the treasures found inside the museum doors. Take time to linger outdoors while visiting these first-rate institutions.
National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Wildlife Art
Dedicated solely to wildlife art, National Museum of Wildlife Art allows visitors to get up close and personal with more than 5,000 cataloged items of animal art representing wild animals from around the world. After perusing the indoor exhibits, step outdoors to take in the views of the National Elk Refuge. “In the winter thousands of elk migrate into the valley and spend months on the National Elk Refuge, directly across from the museum,” explains Madison Webb of NMWA. “We also have two spotting scopes in the Member’s Lounge and we frequently spot coyotes, eagles, and on rare occasions, wolves.”
Photo courtesy of the National Museum Of Wildlife Art
Visitors can also spot wildlife from the outdoor terrace. “In the summer visitors can enjoy lunch from Palate restaurant on the outdoor terrace with one of the best views in the valley. While the elk are gone, the verdant landscape of the refuge provides tranquility throughout the summer.”
The Brinton in Big Horn, Wyoming
Photo courtesy of the Brinton Museum
Located on the 620-acre historic Quarter Circle A Ranch in Big Horn, The Brinton Museum is surrounded by the grand Big Horn Mountains. Its sweeping landscape and surrounding mountain range have been the muse of treasured American artists and the setting for rich cultural traditions integral to the American Indian tribes inhabiting the region.
Photo courtesy of the Brinton Museum
Visitors enjoy learning the history of the storied museum while interacting with the museum’s world-class staff, as well as enjoying the views of the majestic mountains enveloping the space. “The museum includes four galleries, a museum store and the Brinton Bistro, which offers indoor and outdoor dining with 180-degree views of the Bighorn Mountains,” says Sarah Kennah of the Brinton. “Through home and museum tours, hands-on educational programming, artists’ series and a variety of special events that celebrate The Brinton and the riches of the Quarter Circle A Ranch, students of all ages leave The Brinton Museum with a deeper connection to art, American history, and the spectacular environment that surrounds them.”
Aspen Art Museum
Founded in 1979, this artist found institution houses 12,500 square feet of exhibition space in the heart of downtown Aspen. The art museum opened in 2014 and was designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. “He saw the project as an opportunity to create harmony between Aspen’s architecture and the beauty of its natural landscape,” explains Amy Roldan of Aspen Art Museum.
While visiting the stunning art museum, visitors can also take in views of Aspen Mountain. “Views of Aspen Mountain from our rooftop remind us of our commitment to serve the Aspen and Roaring Fork Valley communities, as well as the connections between the beauty and power of art and that of the natural environment,” says Roldan.
