Cantor Arts Center

Wonderful free art museum at Stanford University. It has been a great escape from the valley buzz. Amazing African Art, Rodin and Asian Art collection.
Wonderful café run by Jesse Cool in the back.
Next to the Anderson Collection museum.
Also ask for a map of the public art through out campus.

I can’t believe this place doesn’t ever charge admission. Sure, you have to pay for parking sometimes, but it’s a nominal fee considering everything you are exposed to inside.
My advice is to definitely follow the museum map very closely and come up with a plan of attack if you want to visit every room. There is SO MUCH to see that it can easily become overwhelming, but luckily the map also acts as a key as to what exhibit lives where so you can easily skip rooms you aren’t necessarily interested in.
The big draw for me originally was the Rodin sculpture garden but in reality it actually paled in comparison to everything we had just seen inside (the garden was our last stop), though we did end our trip at the impressive Gates of Hell. Let’s be honest — the marble lobby is enough to take your breath away. Go your own way for sure, but try to remember to hit up the café or eat a snack of your own beforehand; this spot is a marathon and not a sprint so you will definitely thank yourself for carbing up beforehand.
I would highly recommend a day (and I do mean a DAY) at the Cantor to anyone who is interested in seeing a comprehensive collection of art from a variety of different movements. I’m definitely a fan and will plan to return when the exhibits change.

This is a top-​quality museum with an extraordinary permanent collection of Rodin, but also with really great, well-​curated rotating collections as well. I’ve been here many times over the years, and each time there is something new to look at.
You may not know:
* It is free
* You can’t bring in back-​packs /​purses. You must check them in the cubbies or leave them in your car.
* It’s closed on Tuesday
* Most days it closes at 5pm, sharp.
* It has a café inside with food and drinks.
* Parking is difficult to find on weekends /​holidays /​sunny beautiful days. Weekdays recommended.
I absolutely love coming here. I almost always end up having interesting conversations with people looking at the exhibits I’m looking at. The exhibits themselves are well-​designed, and a pleasure to walk through. The descriptions are also quite well-​written on the special collections that they rotate through. In particular «Soulmaker: The Times of Lewis Hine» had some of the best writing I have read in any context for quite some time. I went back and forth between the descriptions and the photos and kept getting more and more out of it. Amazing.
All museums should be free, and of this excellent quality! Arts for all!

This museum is very kid friendly, and has some thing for everyone in the family. My 9 year old loves to come here over some of the paid places in the bay area. They have a very large Rodin bronze collection, as well as other statues.

Outstanding museum. Just wish it has a longer business hours.

A great museum located right in Stanford. The great part is that the admission into the museum was completely free. The only thing that you had to pay for was the parking which was $ 1.25 per ½ hour.
We went on a friday afternoon and the museum was not crowded at all. There are lots of collections of art and sculptures from places around the world. The entire museum itself is perfectly laid out and rooms are separated by different cultures. The architecture of the entrance is amazing with all the marble. A perfect place to wander around and spend a good afternoon.

I visited the Arts Center to view the Red Horse Drawings of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, which is on display through May 19^th.
Admission is FREE to the Cantor Arts Center!
I’d been warned that it can be very crowded on the campus. No problem finding a parking space on a Saturday afternoon when there’s no football.
Friendly staff, lots of open spaces. Other than the exhibit, the Arts Center looks to be a series of collections from wealthy alumni. Each wing has a distinctive subject or theme, but I would be hard pressed to describe the museum’s focus.
I found modern art, classic portraiture, popular culture and media. On the second floor there was a display of a sort of hand crank movie projector that had a strange name. Very cool.
I’ll be going back to take more time to explore and hopefully visit the Anderson modern art museum next door.

This is a perfect place to get some culture on a weekend rainy day. The beautiful museum is tucked away in the Stanford university campus, parking is free on the weekend, it has free admission (donations welcomed), and is of great quality with a large collection of various artwork. It is also family friendly and they give out art packs for kids to soak up the art and draw their favourite artwork. They also offer family tours and children workshop on Sunday’s. I just love that it’s not that busy and that you can truly enjoy art in a relaxing environment! The outdoor courtyard is also a great place to hang out and you are surrounded by sculptures so Coke on the weekend enjoy a cup of coffee at the café, and enjoy some art.

A hidden museum that I did not know existed. I went there on a Saturday (parking free). It is on the Stanford university campus and a nice area to just walk the dog even if you don’t go in.
The musem is free. Their entrance way is amazing and done in marble. Spectacular. Total time to see everything about 2 hours. They have a nice café as well. Their is a Rodin garden outside also.
Not a kiddy type of environment with intereactive exhibits but more for the teen on up.

I love this place. Especially to sketch (pencils only, no messy erasures.) Weekends are certainly rowdy with the family/​kid programs & free parking. I prefer the week. Park at the shopping center, get your walk on to Cantor, return to shopping center, pick up some good chow. Go home & pig out while going over how badly my perception was with the Thinker. Repeat next week cause practice makes perfect…

Wow. How did I not know that such a high quality museum existed near me… and FREE?
Being that it is free, it’s amazing how much is offered here– 2 stories of traditional and modern art, plus a huge collection of Rodin sculptures, both inside and outside the museum. The building itself is regal and classic looking on the inside… (one of the first all-​concrete buildings built though). I spent a good 2 hours here (but I’m a slow museum person).
The parking is not free until 4… but honestly, if the museum is free itself, i count that as my small price to go to a free museum. So much better than that travesty in downtown san jose, which costs $ 5 (more than the parking here) and takes all but 5 minutes to walk through… but i digress, this is not about that museum.
Favorite galleries were the rodin collection and the missing persons collection.

The museum was closed today but still got to enjoy the small but lovely Rodin sculpture garden outside (I think sculpture gardens are the best part anyway). Not sure it’s worth driving here just to visit but if you’re in the area it’s worth a detour for some quiet contemplation.
Wasn’t very busy (a dozen people?) today and walking around was very mellow.

Over the years I’ve visited the Cantor Arts Center about 4 times and each trip, I discover a new favorite exhibit or work of art that particularly speaks to me. Parking, on weekends, is free and ample, while entry to the museum is always free (donations encouraged.) Most impressive at Cantor is the Rodin collection-​I believe one the largest in the U.S. In addition to the outdoor Rodin Garden, there are also several rooms with many popular works (including The Kiss and The Thinker.) I’ve spent at least an hour in these galleries reading up on the stories and history behind these works.
If Rodin’s not your thing, Cantor has something for everyone. From a respectable Asian Art collection, to 20^th Century Modern Art, 18^th and 19^th century American works to European paintings and sculpture-it’s a very diverse collection. The building itself is also a work of art, with a classical exterior, to the grand marble stairways at inside the front entrance. There are also plenty of rotating and special exhibits to view, so that each visit can be unique. I’ve also seen them promote Family Days with kid’s activities. Cantor is truly a quality museum experience with a wealth of art, culture, history and education for all ages. I’ve even brought out of town guests here, who were equality impressed. In short-​GO, enjoy and support Cantor Arts Center.

Palo Alto, CA (Stanford Campus, Rodin Sculptures)
* Rodin outdoor exhibit is really awesome and always available to visit as long as access to campus is open.
* Rodin indoor exhibit inside the museum includes The Thinker and is very impressive. Although entry is free it’s suggested to add a donation.
* Perhaps the best museum presenting art /​artifacts from different periods, culture’s North of Hearst Castle. A real gem and if you’re stateside planning to visit San Francisco it’s worth the drive. Only takes 2 hours to see everything and think of it as a Mini-​MET with a Hall of Fame Rodin collection.
* Information desk at both entrances and when I entered was greeted in a friendly fashion.
Only visited the lower level of the museum and spent time outside. Overall about an hour.
Next time I’m looking forward to visit the second level and excited to see the outdoor exhibit at night.
* Be careful if you park on the side of the Rodin exhibit the curb may clip your car.

I usually have a 2 hour max limit in museums before I no longer am enjoying myself. Short attention span, just ask my college professors for verification that «I look uninterested.» But not at the Cantor. I can spend hours here, taking a break at the cool café for a snack or tea.
Exhibits change and the beauty of the museum itself is in the architecture inside not only the Rodin gardens outside or the grand foyer, but also the seemingly secret alcoves and maze inside awaiting discovery.
I especially love the statute of Minerva, my Roman counterpart.

Great and convenient. The rodin sculptures are definitely my favorite followed by the gates of hell and the angel of grief nearby. They also have a delicious café inside and quite nice bathroom stalls.
Some of the exhibits on the second level could cause you to get locked out-​so beware. Also there is this lovely /​horribly realistic business man on the second level that takes the cake in a creepy reality.
I’d say if you’re in the area you need to check it out, it’s free but they ask for donations and it’ll definitely broaden your knowledge on art, plus afterward you can grab a bite at the café and head over to the Anderson Center.

The last time we were in the area, we came here on a Monday (IIRC) and the museum was closed. This time I happened to be in the area with a bit of extra time, but on Sunday. It turns out both the normally-​metered parking and the museum entry are free on Sundays! I did make a donation, though, as this was pretty nice.
The building itself is impressive. It is divided up into areas like several Rodin sculpture galleries (my personal favorite), a more modern art area upstairs, a space for temporary exhibits, and some Asian and Native American galleries.
I had seen the Rodin Museum in Paris, but this gallery is a close second. If you like sculpture, you’ll enjoy it. I also liked the modern gallery.
The separate exclusively-​modern museum next door is not as good, IMO.
You might want to save time for visiting the Standford campus as well, since you’ll be on it anyway.

Came here on a random day b/​c my friend wanted to go with her to the art museum for an assignment – I wasn’t even in the art class with, but yet I wanted to go…
This place is gorgeous… the exterior of the building is beautiful enough as it is, but right when you walk in… it’s just as beautiful… I even joked around with my friend saying that I would want to hold a small wedding here and walk down the stairs with rose petals scattered all over the floor hahaha… anyway…
I hardly know anything about art, but a lot of the exhibits looked very interesting… nice way to pass the time by… I wouldn’t eat at the café…the menu looks good, but I’m not about to spend almost $ 10 on a sandwich alone… just sayin’ lol
It’s free admission which is nice, b/​c the price of parking is already ridiculous (hence my four stars for the parking and sandwich lol)
If you want to feel inspired, find something to admire and ponder on, this is a great place to be… I didn’t find it boring at all…

Awesome, FREE museum at Stanford. I can’t believe I haven’t been here until now.
Lots of pretty art, great sculptures both inside and in the outside sculpture garden. I discovered a new favorite artist of mine, Robert Arneson.
The building itself is a work of art, awesome to just look up at the structure. Tons of marble haha.
I had a nice time here. I was pleasantly surprised at the wide range of exhibits.

A simply AMAZING museum on the Stanford University campus. The best part? It’s totally free! Asian sculpture and art dominate the works, but there’s also galleries of European Art, Modern Art, and a Warhol! Set on two floors it winds through rooms that change the themes. Just a great time for kids, adults, students, anyone!
Also make sure to check out the Rodin Statue Garden on the side. It has one of the bronze casts of ‘The Gates Of Hell’ from 100 years ago!
I can’t wait to go back!