Permanent collection

The American Museum houses over 12,000 objects which showcase the finest examples of American decorative arts along with quilts and American folk art which are recognised as some of the most significant in Europe and the equal of many premier collections in the United States. The Museum is also home to Dallas Pratt’s map collection, one of the great collections of Renaissance maps in the world.

The founders of the Museum, Dallas Pratt and John Judkyn, went on a whirlwind collecting spree in the late 1950s and gathered much of what is on display in the Museum.

Today the collections are accessible to visitors through displays in the Museum’s permanent galleries, during temporary exhibitions, and on loan to other institutions around the world. We also acquire new objects to the collections to represent both current day and historical periods. For more information about donating an object to the collection, please click here.

Through these objects we tell stories that span 2000 years of American history. We acknowledge that there are many stories yet to be told and diverse voices yet to be heard. We are in the process of and will continue to make necessary updates to our displays and galleries to ensure a broader narrative.

“America is not like a blanket – one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size. America is more like a quilt – many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread.”

Jesse Jackson, 1984

Quilts & Textiles

Find out more about our stunning collection of textiles

Enter the world of Quilts & Textiles
Folk Art

From whirligigs to shop signs – this art collection is sure to delight

Explore our Folk Art collection
Dallas Pratt Map Collection

Over 200 maps from the Renaissance period

Explore our Map collection
Visit

Plan your visit to the American Museum

Donate an object

Learn more about how we add objects to our collection

Restitution and Repatriation Policy

For any enquiries, please see the policy