The Norton Simon Museum of Art in Pasadena is known for European art from the Renaissance to the 20th century and Indian and Southeast Asian art spanning 2,000 years. From the Rose Bowl Motel, it is about an 8-minute drive or a 54-minute walk, with buses stopping in front of the museum.
- Address: 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, at the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Orange Grove Boulevard.
- Collection: Approximately 12,500 objects, with about 800 on view at a time.
- Hours: Open Monday and Thursday through Sunday; closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Admission: $20 for adults; $15 for seniors ages 62 and above. Some visitors are admitted free.
What the Norton Simon Museum is known for
The Norton Simon Museum brings European, Indian and Southeast Asian art together in a collection of approximately 12,500 objects. About 800 are on view at any one time, so the galleries represent a selection of the museum’s holdings.
Art collector, businessman and philanthropist Norton Simon lived from 1907 to 1993 and founded the museum. It reopened on March 1, 1975, after a renovation that followed the combination of the Pasadena Art Museum and Norton Simon collections.
Highlights of the collection
The collection spans European art from the Renaissance to the 20th century, alongside Indian and Southeast Asian art spanning 2,000 years. The museum’s Sculpture Garden adds an outdoor setting to the visit; access may be restricted during heavy rain.
Informal, noncommercial photography and filming are permitted in the galleries and gardens. Flash, tripods, monopods and selfie sticks are not allowed, and works on loan may not be photographed or videotaped. Professional and commercial shoots are not permitted onsite.
Hours, admission, and visitor rules
The museum is open Monday and Thursday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. It is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For visitors without tickets, final entry is 4:15 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Sunday, and 6:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors ages 62 and above. Children ages 18 and under, students with valid ID, and museum members are admitted free.
Free admission is also offered to active military personnel with valid ID, museum colleagues with a business card or staff badge, AAM and ICOM members with membership cards, media members with a business card or staff badge, EBT cardholders, visitors who are legally blind, and caregivers accompanying visitors with disabilities.
Admission is free for everyone on the first Friday of every month from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Advance tickets are not required, but the museum recommends them to speed up check-in. General-admission tickets are for a specific day, not a specific entry time.
The museum has a free parking lot, plus limited free parking on adjacent streets; the lot can fill during peak hours. Accessible parking spaces are available in both the upper and lower lots.
Entrance ramps are beside the main entrance stairway and at the lower-level parking area. A limited number of complimentary wheelchairs are available first-come, first-served from the Admissions Desk or Coat Check desk on the entry level.
Outside food and drink are not permitted except for medical necessity; tell a security manager if you bring medically necessary items. The Garden Café and Museum Store close 15 minutes before the museum closes. Hours, admission and visitor rules can change, so check the official site before you go.
How do you get to the museum?
The museum’s address is 411 W. Colorado Blvd., at the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Orange Grove Boulevard.
Pasadena Transit lines 10 and 33 stop in front of the museum, as does Metro bus line 180. The museum identifies Memorial Park Station on the Metro A Line as the closest Metro Rail station; it is at 125 E. Holly St. at Arroyo Parkway.
Free parking is available in the museum lot, although it can fill during peak hours. If you are planning other stops around Pasadena, you can work the museum into a Pasadena day trip.
FAQs
Which days is the Norton Simon Museum closed?
The museum is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Its hours on the other days vary, with Friday and Saturday open later than the rest.
Do you need advance tickets?
No. Advance tickets are not required, but the museum recommends them to expedite check-in. General-admission tickets apply to a specific day rather than a specific entry time.
Is parking free at the museum?
Yes. The museum parking lot is free, and limited free parking is available on adjacent streets. The lot can fill during peak hours.
Can you take photos inside the museum?
Informal, noncommercial photography and filming are permitted in the galleries and gardens, subject to restrictions. Flash, tripods, monopods and selfie sticks are prohibited, and works on loan may not be photographed or videotaped.