The National Ornamental Metal Museum is a genuine oddity — the only museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to metal art and craft in all its forms, from fine jewelry and silversmithing to large architectural ironwork and blacksmithing. The collection spans centuries and includes historic pieces alongside contemporary work from living artists. The working smithy on the grounds produces actual pieces, and visiting artists often work in residence.
The setting amplifies the experience considerably. The museum occupies a collection of Civil War-era buildings on the bluffs above the Mississippi, south of downtown, with panoramic views of the river. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the metalwork gates and fencing throughout the property are themselves worth examining. It is an easy place to spend two hours on a fine afternoon, particularly in spring or autumn when the bluff views are at their most dramatic.