Boise Art Museum

The basics

The museum’s permanent collection comprises more than 4,000 works of art, while special exhibitions vary throughout the year. Docent-led tours are available occasionally, including as part of Especially for Seniors, Art Break, and First Sunday Art Tour. The museum also hosts numerous in-gallery and studio art programs, demonstrations, lectures, classes, workshops, school tours, and special events such as Art in the Park.

Things to know before you go

• The museum has an entrance fee but offers discounts for students, military, and seniors. Kids 5 and under enter for free.
• No photography of any kind is permitted inside the museum.
• You can’t take food, drinks, gum, bags, backpacks, and large strollers inside the museum.
• The museum is wheelchair-accessible; you can borrow wheelchairs free of charge.

How to get there

Boise Art Museum is at 670 Julia Davis Drive inside Julia Davis Park. It’s within walking distance of downtown Boise. Free 2-hour parking is available inside the park and extended parking passes are available at the museum admissions counter. Several paid parking lots are nearby; some offer the first hour free.

When to get there

The Boise Art Museum is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday, 12 to 5pm on Sunday, and 10am to 7pm on the first Thursday of the month, when there is no admission fee and visitors can pay what they want. Visit in September for the annual Art in the Park open-air art festival, featuring art from more than 200 artists, in addition to live entertainment and activities.

What to do in Julia Davis Park

Located along the Boise River, Julia Davis Park is the oldest park in Boise. In addition to a pond and recreational facilities including several pavilions and plazas, tennis courts, horseshoes, bocce courts, and a rose garden, it’s home to several museums and other attractions, including the Boise Art Museum, Idaho State Historical Museum, Idaho Black History Museum, Discovery Center, and Zoo Boise.