05/02/06

What a Find!

by csqamary

On the edge of Pasadena, this museum offers incredible history and quality. It has a great variety of exhibits, Van Gogh, Degas, etc and is a really nice size. The museum is actually fairly small but you can still take a few hours time perusing the art. It's one of my favorite art museums. Once you're done visiting you can pop down the street to Old Pasadena to help round out the experience for the day.

• Pros: Quality of Art, Variety, Parking
• Cons: None

10/27/08

Wonderful Museum

by am1975

This is a great place to go on the weekend. They have a nice collection of art work, the museum itself is beautiful, not too big.

• Pros: Great Art

09/29/08

Two thousand years of art tucked into one city block.

by Contributor

In Short
Located on Old Town Pasadena's western edge, this venerable art collection is one of the best-known in SoCal and among the finest in the world. Thanks to a major redesign in 1999 by starchitect Frank Gehry, the galleries follow an organic flow with natural overhead lighting and subtly tinted walls. Gone are the dead ends that once plagued the space, and great objects await visitors at the end of every vista. Outside, gardens yield a gorgeous space for wanderers to enjoy. The incomparable collection includes great Renaissance and Old Master paintings, a large body of work by the Blue Four group (which included Klee and Kandinsky), paintings, drawings and bronzes by Edgar Degas, and even a "Madonna and Child" by Raphael. Step down the lovely spiral staircase to enter the downstairs galleries, home to a selection of Southeast Asian and Indian sculptures.

07/11/07

Simply a wonderful museum-going experience

by netter1

The Norton Simon isn't the largest museum I've ever visited, but it does house some of my favorite pieces -- from the the ballet dancers of Degas to the Renaissance views of Venice's Piazza San Marco by Canaletto. There's always an interesting "visiting" show to view. I recommend visiting the museum early on the weekend...afternoons get rather busy. During the week it's packed with school children. If you're a museum "stroller" like me, you might not appreciate their "enthusiasm". You can usually get through the entire museum in a couple of hours (again...if you're a "stroller") and then have a late lunch/early dinner in Old Town Pasadena. If you're a Westsider...make a day of it and drive out to the Pasadena for some culture with shopping and dining just steps away. You won't regret it.

• Pros: Close to Old Town Pasadena
• Cons: Parking can be crowded on a busy day.

09/22/04

manageable and always nice

by hotpotatoe333

Please note that I'm neither an art major nor a die-hard enthusiast, but I do enjoy a trip to the museum now and then. I've always enjoyed the Norton Simon, which has an uber-friendly environment. The permanent collection includes some Van Gogh pieces and Degas sculptures, as well as many others. It lacks on exhibits, but has a warm atmosphere because of its smaller size. The base floor has an impressive Asian collection.

• Pros: good parking, uncrowded, helpful staff

03/24/03

Degas and More

by izelmorena

Excuisite showcase for artists such as Degas, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Fragonard, and Gauguin. Very serene venue with helpful staff. For those who like more info on some of the works, take the self guided tour. It's a great way to spend the day with your kids. Parking is free, but a pain. Perfect location, close to old town pasadena. After your tour, try one of the many restaurants just down the street.

• Pros: Great Collection, Gallery, Self Guided Tour

03/11/03

Take the kids

by knopfile

The art is extremely varied and eclectic, therefore a great place to take kids for an indoctrination into art. We took a couple of 9-10 year old grandkids there, and, instead of telling them what to see, let them lead the way. It was fascinating to watch them insinuate themselves (without adult instruction) into various pieces of art, as experienced from their perspective. We learned a lot about art that day.

• Pros: variety of art, ambience, presentation

07/25/02

very modern

by gnotu

great selection of Kandinsky and Modrian. comfortable and easy to see whole museum in a few hours.

07/23/02

Monet Moments

by drdbutler

Can anything match the tranquil beauty of the reproduction of Giverney gardens in the remodeled Norton Simon Museum? Stroll or sit in front of the reflecting pool and feel yourself become a part of a Claude Monet painting.

07/12/02

what a wonderful place to spend the day

by CrazyHappy

If you enjoy art and have some free time please visit this museum! It's a wonderful place to spend the day.