bigtyke

I see information on 4 different Norman Rockwell Museums in New England. Which is the best

Stockridge, Mass
Salem, NH
Arlington, VT
Rutland, VT

nyer

Have only been to the one in Stockbridge, and it's very nice. I've heard of but haven't visited Arlington, never heard of the other 2. Stockbridge is the big one, and you can see some of the streets he painted., including the one long Main Street

RLA

I really enjoyed the N.R. museum in Stockbridge. That area of Mass. is also very worthwhile - very scenic.

Scarlett

We really enjoyed our visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge Mass. The museum was his home, after he moved to Mass from Vermont. It is lovely inside and on the grounds.
Here is the site:

http://www.nrm.org/

bigtyke

ttt

OliveOyl

Another voice for the Stockbridge museum which was established by Rockwell, and I believe is the primary museum for his works. There is so much in that one that new housing was built for it several years ago. It's hard to imagine the others coming close...

Our docent was a striking black woman, tall and with the sort of voice and accent one associates with years on stage or radio/tv work. When we came to the Post cover of the small pigtailed black girl, dressed in white and heading to school sandwiched between marshalls in AL, she revealed that she had been the model for that cover.

Having grown up in the Saturday Evening Post/Norman Rockwell cover era, and in that area, the museum tour provided a wonderful afternoon and look at his life.

annecal

I have also been only to the one in Stockbridge. If you go there, plan a lunch at the beautiful and stately Red Lion Inn, and perhaps end the evening with a trip to Tanglewood, depending on what time of year you go.

I was very impressed and entertained by the museum in MA. Hope that helps!

djkbooks

I am not aware of a Norman Rockwell Museum in Salem, NH (and I live in NH).

The museum in Stockbridge is a collection of his original paintings (so many they are rotated), including the Four Freedoms. Also on the premises is his studio (which has been moved there).

The Arlington venue is more a gift shop of Rockwell works - prints, plates, figurines, calendars, etc. Many of his models are there from time to time (Rockwell lived in Arlington for many years). There's also a video shown of his life and career (made for TV many long years ago).

The Rutland venue has originals of all the Saturday Evening Post covers, along with original Boys Life covers, print ads, even cartoons, along with many of his very early drawings and other works.

bigtyke

We ended up visting the one in Stockbridge. It was very nice, altho too small - I could have easily seen many, many more of the paintings without getting bored.

I was a little disappointed in that one room featured other artists (travelling exhibit)