The Sheldon Swope Art Museum is a free art museum in downtown Terre Haute, Indiana, with a permanent collection spanning American art from the 19th century to the present. It’s about an 8-minute drive from Woodridge Motel, which offers guest rooms.
- Location: 25 South 7th Street, just south of 7th Street and Wabash Avenue
- Typical hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday; closed Monday
- Admission: Free
- Collection: Nearly 2,500 works of American art
Where is Swope Art Museum in Terre Haute?
Swope Art Museum is at 25 South 7th Street in downtown Terre Haute, just south of the intersection of 7th Street and Wabash Avenue. The museum is part of the Terre Haute 41|40 Arts & Cultural District, so you can place the visit within a downtown day.
The museum building dates to 1901 and is designed in the Italian Renaissance style; its interior is Art Deco. Terre Haute jeweler Sheldon Swope left the bequest that laid the museum’s foundations.
If you’re choosing between local cultural stops, the museums in Terre Haute guide can help you compare visits.
What can you see in the Swope’s collection?
The Swope collects, preserves, and shares American art. Its permanent collection contains nearly 2,500 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, with art dating from the 19th century to the present.
American Scene painting from the 1930s and 1940s is a particular strength. The collection includes works by Thomas Hart Benton, Charles Burchfield, John Steuart Curry, Edward Hopper, Reginald Marsh, and Grant Wood.
Other collection highlights span several periods. 19th-century artists include William Merritt Chase, George Inness, Frederick MacMonnies, Mary Fairchild MacMonnies, and Tompkins Harrison Matteson. George Bellows, Arthur B. Davies, Manierre Dawson, Jack Levine, George Luks, and Fairfield Porter represent 20th-century American art. Later holdings include work by Mark di Suvero, Robert Indiana, Paul Jenkins, Robert Motherwell, and Andy Warhol.
Indiana art is another thread, with Hoosier Group artists J. Ottis Adams, William Forsyth, Otto Stark, and Theodore C. Steele represented. Exhibitions drawn from the permanent collection change and may focus on subjects such as early 20th-century modernism, Indiana art, or postwar figurative and abstract art. The museum also lists annual Student Art, Plein Air, and Wabash Valley exhibitions.
What are the museum’s hours, admission, and access options?
Admission is free. Hours and visitor details can change, so check the official site before you go.
Opening hours
- Tuesday to Sunday: 12 PM–5 PM
- Monday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
For questions, you can call 812-238-1676 or email info@swope.org. A free Bloomberg Connects digital guide offers three audio tours covering 30 popular works across the First Floor and Zaun Galleries, plus the Hulman, Hodge, and Contemporary galleries on the second floor. Its audio descriptions provide full visual descriptions of artworks for visitors with low vision.
How do you get to Swope Art Museum?
The museum is in downtown Terre Haute at 25 South 7th Street, just south of 7th Street and Wabash Avenue.
What else can you pair with a downtown museum visit?
Swope’s location in the Terre Haute 41|40 Arts & Cultural District makes it straightforward to combine the museum with time in the city center. For a fuller day plan, the one-day Terre Haute city center itinerary offers a way to organize downtown stops.
FAQs
Is Swope Art Museum free?
Yes. Admission to the museum is free.
When is Swope Art Museum open?
Open Tuesday to Sunday; closed Monday. Check the official site before your visit for current details.
What kind of art does Swope Art Museum collect?
The collection focuses on American art, with works from the 19th century to the present, including American Scene painting and art by Hoosier Group artists.
Does the museum offer audio tours?
Yes. Its free Bloomberg Connects guide includes three audio tours covering 30 popular works, along with audio descriptions intended for low-vision visitors.