The RW Norton Art Gallery

The R W Norton Museum is an immaculately maintained facility. The floors are polished to a high gloss, shinier than the finish on my car. The only lint or dust in the facility probably came from my Carhartt tee shirt. It has a stately, reverent, ambiance that causes everyone to feel like they have to whisper. I am not sure why; sound doesn't damage paintings only bright light does. As long as you don't use a flash you can take as many pictures as you like. And I did. There are docents available through out the museum to answer questions. A first, I thought they were stationed to keep a watchful eye on people of questionable character like me.

I am a big fan of Charles Russell and Frederic Remington. The museum has a great collection of Russell's painting, along with works from many other western artists. The collection is not solely western art, there is a good variety. Check the pictures.

If you are a folk-art enthusiast, or if you are an Antiques Roadshow nerd, you may have seen paintings by Clementine Hunter, a local artist from Natchitoches Parish. The history of this lady is worth the time to read if you are not familiar with her work. Anyway, getting to see her work was my event of serendipity from the visit.

In comparison, I enjoyed the R W Norton Museum, much more than I do the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa.

Visited with a local friend, she says the grounds are normally lovely but sadly they have been damaged by recent storms and were not open. Admission to the museum is free, which is amazing.

The building is a great space with the artwork grouped into an American Collection and a European Collection. I was disappointed that no photography of any kind is allowed inside the building (or on the grounds) - as you can see, I followed the rules, which is why I have no pictures to share. Normally when visiting museums I photograph favorite works to revisit later and/or photograph the descriptive info for future reference. I don't know when this rule was instated but there appear to be quite a few photographs online so I can reference those. There are guides stationed in each room, some seemed like they were there to be welcoming and helpful while others seemed to be watching for rule infractions and were a bit unnerving. Overall, visiting is a very nice experience, especially with it being free. I hope to return in the future and visit the botanical garden.

An absolute hidden gem in ratchet city, who would've thought. My favorite secluded spot from the hustle and bustle of downtown which is literally a stone's throw away. Lovely collection of art and pristine gardens you could get lost in for hours, definitely a safe and aesthetic place to hang out with friends, family, or a solo picnic date; and the best part? It's totally FREE!

If you have kiddos definitely check out the FB page for cute lil events they put on throughout the year.

Parking is easy, anywhere along the side of the gate. Please never change, y'all! This place is too precious.

The Gallery inside is beautiful and so peaceful, such a hidden treasure. The gardens are my favorite place to take a small walk and their events are fun to attend.

I'll admit as a newbie to the south, Louisiana keeps winning me over. And RW is no exception!

In fact, it's been a highlight of my recent trips down here. While the museum was closed, their garden area was magical and great idea for a post-holiday stroll with a large family.

The garden was quiet, vast, and rich with various fauna and art pieces. A great offering for excited kids in need of entertainment without being plugged to screens :)

So glad I stopped in! An amazing collection of breath-taking art!

A bit of everything!

We had one day to spend in Shreveport, and fortunately chose to visit this museum We were very pleasantly surprised by the size and quality of the collection especially considering that there is no charge to visit the museum. You could easily spend a couple hours. Almost every work of art had a very detailed description of the artist and the artwork. You will see works from well known American artists like Mary Cassatt, Winslow Homer and Frederick Remington. They currently have an exhibit of art work about the life of Frida Kahlo. And if you're not too tired from walking around the museum, you can tour the beautifully maintained garden behind it.

The collection and facilities are absolutely wonderful. Even our 3 year old loved it and had lots of questions.

It is not likely that we will return until the mask requirements are removed. When my glasses knocked my mask down, a docent was quick to scold me even as I was adjusting it. I don't need my visit ruined by an over zealous authoritarian type. There are probably not more than 25 people in the whole place at the time. We rarely saw others beyond our party of three. Given vaccinations and social distancing that was occurring it is too much needles drama from over zealous staff. The art is great. This staff in the American gallery needs a lesson in courtesy.

Great experience! My daughter thought it was absolutely amazing. If you're looking for something free to do in a healthy outdoor environment, this is it. Fresh air and a fun little adventure.

Lovely to walk through! Brought my little brother and a friend and had a great time. Gorgeous place. Outside garden is also absolutely lovely. 10/10 would recommend!