The Zimmerli Art Museum is a public art museum on the Rutgers University campus in New Brunswick, New Jersey, with free admission and collections spanning several regions and periods.
- Location: 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.
- Admission: Free.
- Regular hours: Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon–5 p.m.
- Getting there: The museum is a short walk from New Brunswick train station; the Rutgers University visitor guide covers campus maps and getting around.
What to see at the Zimmerli Art Museum
The Zimmerli Art Museum brings together American, Soviet Nonconformist, Eurasian and Asian art on Rutgers University’s campus. The museum began in 1966 as the Rutgers University Art Gallery and expanded and took the name Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum in 1983.
American art is a substantial part of the collection, with more than 16,500 objects. The museum’s Soviet Nonconformist art and arts of Eurasia holdings include over 22,000 objects, spanning the fourteenth century to the present.
The Asian collection focuses on prints, books and photographs, primarily from nineteenth-century Japan. It also includes over 200 woodcuts dating from the late eighteenth through the twentieth centuries. These different collections give you several ways to shape a visit, from concentrating on one area to comparing works across regions and periods.
Check current opening hours and admission
Admission to the Zimmerli is free, and regular public hours run from Wednesday through Sunday. The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Wednesday and Friday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Thursday: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: noon–5 p.m.
Hours and closures can affect your plans, so check the Zimmerli’s official site before you go.
Exhibitions and visit length
For a more focused visit, choose one collection area to start with, then leave time to see another if your schedule allows. The breadth of the holdings—from American art to Asian prints and Soviet Nonconformist works—supports several different routes through the museum.
How do you get to the Zimmerli Art Museum and where can you park?
The museum is at 71 Hamilton Street, at the corner of George and Hamilton streets. From New Brunswick train station, walk one block north on College Avenue to Hamilton Street, then one block east to reach the museum.
If you’re driving, the museum’s directions say to take the George Street—Rutgers University exit from Route 18 North and turn left onto George Street at the top of the ramp. Metered parking is available in front of the museum and on adjacent streets.
Paid parking is also listed at Gateway Center Parking Garage and other New Brunswick parking decks. For a museum-focused stay, Edison Motor Lodge rooms for a Zimmerli visit put the collection about a 9-minute drive away.
Parking arrangements and payment methods can change, so confirm details before you set out.
Accessibility and visitor information
The accessible entrance has a brick ramp, level landings and button-activated door openers. A designated accessible metered street-parking space is in front of the museum.
The museum has three levels—ground level, lower level and mezzanine—connected by an elevator in the lobby and stairs. Manual and electric wheelchairs are welcome throughout; one manual wheelchair is available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
Gallery rules prohibit food, beverages, backpacks, umbrellas, bags larger than 11 by 15 inches, pens and markers. Lockers are available. Personal, non-commercial photography is allowed unless otherwise noted on site, but flash, video cameras, tripods, monopods and camera extension poles are not permitted.
If you’re planning an evening in New Brunswick as well, see the guide to tickets and parking at State Theatre New Jersey.
FAQs
Is the Zimmerli Art Museum in Edison?
No. It is at 71 Hamilton Street in New Brunswick, on the Rutgers University campus.
Is admission to the Zimmerli Art Museum free?
Yes. The museum is open to the public and admission is free.
Can you reach the museum by train?
Yes. From NJ Transit’s New Brunswick train station, walk north on College Avenue to Hamilton Street, then east to the museum.
Are wheelchairs allowed at the Zimmerli?
Yes. Manual and electric wheelchairs are welcome throughout the museum, and one manual wheelchair is available to borrow at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis.