"We are thrilled that the Palmer Museum continues to be nationally recognized for its distinctive design and innovative and accessible approach to sharing our collection with the public,” said Joyce Robinson, Interim Director. “We need all of our Penn State fans to vote — and vote again and again — to make sure we land in the top 10!”
As of the end of November, the Palmer had welcomed nearly 50,000 visitors to its new building, breaking all its previous attendance records in its first six months of being open at its location in the Arboretum at Penn State. Visitors from across the central Pennsylvania region and beyond have flocked to the new museum to see its iconic exterior, find serenity in its light-filled galleries, and view the inventive installations of special exhibitions and artworks from its 11,000-strong permanent collection. Its goal of becoming a cultural hub and gateway connecting communities through art has been realized through reenvisioned installations that invite visitors to reflect on what they know about art and the world around them.
The USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlight top-notch attractions and businesses, providing readers with trusted recommendations. In the "Best New Museum" category, organizations were nominated by an expert panel as the best new or newly transformed venues or collection facilities on the scene, representing the top openings of the past two years.
The other nominees, including the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras, North Carolina; Stonewall National Monuement in New York, New York; the Dolly Parton Experience at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; and the National Museum of Women and the Arts in Washington, D.C., among others, range from avant-garde art spaces to impactful history museums. To learn more, visit the nominee leaderboard page or read more about the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards at this link.
About the Palmer Museum of Art
The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is the largest art museum collection between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and the most significant academic art museum in the state of Pennsylvania. A key element of Penn State’s land-grant mission of teaching, research and public service, the Museum is a vital and accessible cultural resource for Penn State’s students, faculty and scholars, as well as for all visitors to and from the entire central Pennsylvania region. Through its world-class objects, programs and outreach, the free Museum is a welcoming, inclusive and vibrant forum for authentic arts experiences and cultivates meaningful dialogue about today’s most potent ideas and pressing concerns.
An expansive 21st-century teaching museum, the Palmer Museum of Art is a beacon for advancing the arts and humanities on Penn State’s University Park campus and throughout its diverse communities. The Palmer is dedicated to catalyzing groundbreaking research, scholarship and publications and providing impactful, object-based learning for Penn State and K-12 students. The Palmer’s rewarding and thought-provoking exhibitions and programs promote visitor participation, belonging and discovery.