Nelson Atkins Museum, Kansas City (must see)

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is an art museum known for its neo-classical architecture and extensive collection of Asian art. The museum was built on the grounds of Oak Hall, the home of Kansas City Star publisher William Rockhill Nelson. When he died in 1915, his will provided that upon the deaths of his wife and daughter, the proceeds of his entire estate would go to purchasing artwork for public enjoyment. The building was designed by prominent Kansas City architects Wight and Wight. Ground was broken in 1930, and the museum opened on December 11, 1933. The building's classical Beaux-Arts architecture style was modeled on the Cleveland Museum of Art. The south facade of the museum is an iconic structure in Kansas City that looms over a series of terraces onto Brush Creek. Outside on the museum's immense lawn, the Kansas City Sculpture Park contains the largest in the United States collection of monumental bronzes by Henry Moore.