Plains Art Museum

The Plains Art Museum in Fargo is the largest art museum in North Dakota, located in a renovated International Harvester warehouse in the city’s downtown district.

If you’re all about finding local art, this is the place to see it. This free art museum’s permanent collection has over 4,000 local, regional, and national works, including Native American art.

When it comes to museums in Fargo, ND, the Plains Art Museum is a can’t-miss for its rotating exhibitions of 20th and 21st century art.

And, if you’re looking for free things to do in Fargo, you’ve found one of them. Heck, we’d even call it one of the top free things to do in North Dakota.

PLAINS ART MUSEUM HOURS

Please visit the Plains Art Museum website to see the most current hours.

ADMISSION

Free

TOURS

Plains Art Museum Guided Tours

• $4 per person
• 60 minutes, led by a Plains Art educator
• Reservations required

Look closely and inquire about the museum’s galleries and the pieces of art that capture your interest while engaging with an experienced guide. If you have a specific topic you’d like to explore, make sure you request it at booking!

Self-Guided Tour

• Free
• Reservations are requested for groups of 10 or more

Explore the Plains Art Museum at your own pace, without a guide.

Group Tours

• Prices vary
• Reservations required

Have a group looking for fun things to do in Fargo? Let Plains Art know at least three weeks in advance to schedule a group tour. If you’re with a group of 60+, book at least six weeks in advance on their website.

EXPERIENCES

Looking to get hands-on with your art? Attend a class at the Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity and learn to paint, sculpt, make pottery, and more. Check the Plains Art Museum website for more information on class times and topics.

OTHER INFORMATION

Low-Sensory Mondays

• First Monday of every month from 2 to 5 p.m.

For individuals and families who prefer a quiet, less sensory-stimulating environment, the Plains Art Museum offers low-sensory Mondays on the first Monday afternoon of every month. At each event, loud gallery sounds and bright lights are turned down and attendance is limited. Fidget bags will be available for checkout.

FUN FACTS

• Largest art museum in North Dakota
• Only accredited art museum in the state (and only 7% of all American museums have the distinction of being accredited!)

HISTORY 

Plains Art Museum began as the Red River Art Center in 1965 and was housed in the former Moorhead, Minnesota, post office. The museum acquired its present name in 1975 and maintained residency in Moorhead until 1996.

The museum renovated a turn-of-the-century International Harvester warehouse in downtown Fargo, North Dakota, and opened to the public in October 1997.

This turn of the century warehouse was acquired in 1994 and renovated into the beautiful and accredited art museum it is today. With its combination of historical and new architecture, Plains Art Museum provides event spaces that are perfect for meetings, conferences, dinners, receptions and many other corporate and private events.

Our executive spaces are ideal for business gatherings. We can accommodate various sizes of groups with spacious classroom or open seating within a comfortable, professional, and creative environment. Our spacious and semi-private 3rd floor area is also suitable for presentations, lectures, training sessions, and seminars.