The museum contains a fully reconstructed 18th-century Italian library salvaged from the Palazzo Leti in Assisi.
The collection includes a diverse array of textiles, with over 3,000 items ranging from ancient Coptic fragments to modern fashion.
The museum's holdings include rare works by Rembrandt and other Dutch Masters donated through the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.
The institution originated from the Baum School of Art, founded in 1926 by Walter Emerson Baum.
The museum architecture incorporates elements from the former Allentown National Bank building.
The Allentown Art Museum houses a collection of over 17,000 works, ranging from Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary installations. It is home to the Samuel H. Kress Collection, featuring European paintings and sculptures from the 14th to the 19th centuries. The museum complex includes the historic 1913 Miller Building and a modern wing that expanded the institution's exhibition capacity. Rotating exhibitions showcase regional artists alongside internationally recognized names. A notable feature is the 18th-century library room from the Palazzo Leti in Assisi, Italy, which was dismantled and reassembled within the museum. The museum also maintains a library and archive dedicated to regional art history. Educational programs, including lectures and hands-on workshops, are integrated into the museum's seasonal programming. Visitors have access to a museum shop offering curated art-related gifts and jewelry.
The interior view of the ornate, hand-carved wood panels of the 18th-century Italian library room.
Check the online calendar for curator-led gallery talks that provide deeper context on current exhibitions.
Allow time to walk through the permanent collection galleries before visiting the rotating modern exhibitions.
Visit the museum gift shop for unique items produced by local Lehigh Valley artists.
Do not rush through the Kress collection wing, as it contains the museum's most historically significant and fragile pieces.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Maintain a quiet tone; flash photography is generally prohibited for the protection of delicate textiles and oil paintings.
