Onsite Tours
Adult and University
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We are pleased to offer onsite adult tours at the Nelson-Atkins. Both docent-led adult group tours and self-guided group tours are available for booking.

All docent-led interactive tours are facilitated by skilled volunteer docents. Through inquiry and exploration, tour participants are invited to share their unique perspectives and observations while looking at works of art from across the museum’s many collections.

Self-guided group tours are asked to book their visit in advance, to ensure that everyone has the best possible experience in the galleries.

Details & Scheduling

  • Tours are 75 minutes long.
  • Minimum of 1 participant required for tour.
  • Maximum of 15 participants per docent for a docent-led tour. See tour descriptions for total group size limits.
  • Maximum of 60 participants for a self-guided tour.
  • Available during the week on Monday, Thursday, and Friday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., or 3 p.m. Tours also available at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., or 7 p.m. on Fridays.
  • Available on the weekend on Saturday & Sunday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.
  • Cost: Please click here to view full pricing details for adult group tours.
  • Must be scheduled at least three weeks in advance.
  • After submitting your request, you’ll receive a request acknowledgement email.

 

Collection Tours Docent-Led Collections Tours

COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS

Bloch Gallery Tour group

Join us for an exploration of works of art from across the collections. Skilled volunteer docents will facilitate a lively and interactive discussion as you are introduced to some of the museum’s biggest highlights. Galleries visited may include: African art, Contemporary art, Photography, European art, American art, Ancient art, Native American art, and art from China, Japan, and India. If you have a request for a specific collection to be included, please note it on the tour request form.

Pricing Details

REAL TO SURREAL

Surrealist painting tour in Bloch galleries

19th & 20th Century European Art: European art in the 19th-and 20th-centuries was influenced by the momentous social, political, scientific, and technological changes that delivered Europe and the world to modernity. On this interactive docent-led tour, participants will discover the progression of European art from Realism to Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Modernism.

Pricing Details

FEATURED EXHIBITION: Hokusai: Waves of Inspiration from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Best known for his iconic woodblock prints, Katsushika Hokusai’s unique approach to traditional Japanese imagery captured the imaginations of his contemporaries, students, and artists across the globe. On this interactive, Docent-led tour, guests will discover the wide-ranging influence of Hokusai’s art. This tour will explore a variety of media on including woodblock prints, paintings, ceramics, manga, and even a Lego wave.

Pricing Details

Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760–1849). Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa‑oki nami‑ura), also known as the Great Wave, from the series Thirty‑six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei), about 1830–1831, Tenpō Era (1830–1844). Woodblock print (nishiki‑e), ink and color on paper, 9 15/16 × 14 13/16 inches. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, William Sturgis Bigelow Collection. Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

 

RELIGION IN ART

Chinese Temple Tour Group

Explore the breadth and depth of some of the world’s most-practiced religions, including Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism. If you would like to focus on a specific religion or culture’s beliefs, please note your request on the tour request form. Requests will be accommodated so long as the collections on view can support them. Please contact tours@nelson-atkins.org with questions about the availability of a specific religion before booking.

Pricing Details

SCULPTURE PARK

The Thinker resting in Donald J Hall Sculpture Park

Discover the diversity of forms that modern and contemporary sculpture can take on this tour of our outdoor Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. Docents facilitate lively and interactive discussions on this walking tour, examining sculpture from the realistic to the abstract. In case of inclement weather, guests will take a similar tour using works inside the museum and focusing on the same concepts. Please note that the Sculpture Park has winding, brick-paved paths that include inclines, and some portions of the Sculpture Park are not as accessible as others. If you would like to ensure an accessible route, please note your need on the tour request form.

Pricing Details

Custom Tours Docent-Led Custom Tours:

Custom Docent Tours

Looking for a specific tour topic? Custom tours are available at an additional cost, based on the collections’ ability to support the chosen topic. To inquire about the availability of the topic you are looking for, please contact tours@nelson-atkins.org before booking.

 

Pricing Details

Self-Guided Tours

Looking to lead your own tour around the museum? To ensure the best experience in the galleries, self-guided tour groups are asked to book their visit in advance. Maximum of 40 participants for a self-guided tour. If your group arrives at the museum without pre-registering, you will need to fill out a self-guided visit form before taking your group into the galleries. Please note that, in such circumstances, priority access will be given to any booked Docent-led tour groups in the galleries.

Pricing Details

Self-guided tour

Docent Spotlight Stations

Looking for a drop-in experience? Free Docent Spotlight stations will be available during the week to engage in conversation with our skilled volunteer Docents about a work of art on display. Different objects will be highlighted each day.

PERMANENT COLLECTION

  • 1:30–2:30 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays
  • 11 a.m.–Noon on Saturdays and Sundays
  • Visit the Info Desk to learn which object will be featured when you arrive. Collection areas change each month:
    • September – Modern & Contemporary Art
    • October – Hispanic Artists (for Hispanic Heritage Month)
    • November – Japanese Art
    • December – Native American Art

Free.  Advance registration is not needed.

FEATURED EXHIBITIONS

  • 1–2 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays
  • 11 a.m.–Noon on Saturdays and Sundays
  • Visit the Info Desk to learn which object will be featured when you arrive.
    • September – Sonam Dolma Brauen: My Father’s Death
    • October – Hokusai: Waves of Inspiration*
    • November – Hokusai: Waves of Inspiration*
    • December – Hokusai: Waves of Inspiration*

*Featured Exhibition tickets required for entry into galleries. Reserve your tickets here.

Book a tour

To register, please click on the following and read our guidelines.

Adult Tour Guidelines and Registration

Late Starts
Due to scheduled events we may not be able to extend your tour. If your group arrives more than 30 minutes late, we may need to cancel your tour. If you are running late for your tour, please contact tours@nelson-atkins.org or call 816.751.1238 to alert us.

Cancellations and Changes
To cancel or make a change to your scheduled tour, please email tours@nelson-atkins.org. Please include your name, phone number, order number, and date and time of your scheduled tour. Cancellations are requested at least 48 hours before your scheduled event. Please note that all Docent-led adult tour costs are non-refundable.

Docent-led adult tours may be rescheduled one time with no additional cost.

BUS DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP

  • Enter the one-way, circular drive off of 45th Street between Oak Street and Rockhill Road and drop participants off at the East side by the Bloch Building.
  • All groups must enter and exit through the designated entrance doors.

PARKING

  • Bus parking is limited to designated areas facing north on Oak Street.
  • Vans and public vehicles pay $14.00 to park in the museum garage.
  • Limited free parking for cars is available in the northeast parking lot (45th before Rockhill) and on the west side of Oak Street on a first-come, first-served basis.

LUNCH

  • Groups are welcome to visit Rozzelle Court restaurant before or after their tour.

Questions?
For additional information please email tours@nelson-atkins.org.
We look forward to meeting and learning with you!

By clicking “REGISTER” you acknowledge you have read and agree to the guidelines above. Registration will begin on the next page.

REGISTER

 

Glass Labyrinth Experience

The Glass Labyrinth is closed for the summer 2024 season.

Guests explore inside and around the triangular glass labyrinth structure in the museum's Sculpture Park.