Just spent another great afternoon at the Paine Art Center and Gardens. Admission was free for Mother's Day, so my husband and I decided to browse the gardens after brunch. The gardens are absolutely beautiful, and many families were there enjoying a Sunday afternoon stroll. The crabapple trees and the tulips were especially grand. If you go, don't miss the garden kaleidoscope. It is a big planter you can spin and view through several eyepieces. When the sun hits the flowers it is visually breathtaking! Admission to the Art Center itself was also free, but the line was way too long for our patience! Next time. . .

Definitely a must do for Oshkosh. Your admission covers a self guided mansion tour, art exhibits and access to the gardens. The house was beautiful and all art and rooms were very well explained on the interpretive signs. I recommend watching the film running in the basement to get the full backstory. The gardens were pretty but I think they would be more magnificent in the spring with the flowers blooming. I would definitely return again and again since the art exhibits change.

Stunning mansion. As we learned, it was never occupied by the builder because of a downturn in the lumber business. However, they have filled each room with beautiful period appropriate furniture and it has a comfy, lived in vibe. The stained and tinted glass throughout the space gave everything a warm glow. We enjoyed the art in the main gallery as well. It was well suited to the building. We must return to enjoy the gardens in the summer, but it made a great stop on a snowy Wisconsin Friday. We were also able to take in the area history museum across the street, also housed partly in a lumber era mansion.