More than 33,500 artworks contribute to the international reputation of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri. African, American, American Indian, Chinese, European and Japanese art are all well represented, as are periods from ancient to contemporary.

Located a few blocks west of the famous Country Club Plaza, the first shopping district of its kind in the country, the museum is easily recognized, not only because of its impressive size and architecture but also the Shuttlecock sculptures adorning its lawn. The Shuttlecocks add a touch of whimsy that contrasts humorously with the building’s grandeur.

Inside the museum, you’ll find more than 300 works of African origin in a variety of media, including fiber, wood, beads, metal and clay. They include sculptures, textiles masks, vessels and many other items. The collection offers a glimpse of the history and culture of areas south of the Sahara, especially West and Central Africa.

The American collection covers the 18th century through World War II and includes paintings, sculptures, decorative arts and works on paper. About 600 artworks, almost 300 of which are paintings, watercolors and drawings, make this American art collection one of the finest in the country.

In the new American Indian galleries, you’ll discover more than 6,000 square feet filled with works from Native Americans throughout the country. The works on display represent historical eras dating from before contact with Europeans to the present and include basketry, pottery, quill and beadwork, paintings, textiles and sculpture.

Chinese art has had a home at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art since it opened in 1933. More than 7,500 works represent every historical era and every medium used in Chinese art. The collection is among the best in the world.

European painting and sculpture at the museum harks back to the Middle Ages and ranges through the 1800s. About 900 works offer a broad range of styles and subjects with some of the most important being paintings from Germany, Italy and The Netherlands.

The more than 2,000 works of Japanese art in the museum range in age from the 10th century BCE to the early 20th century. Among the finest pieces are the folding screens, including “Pine and Plum by Moonlight” by Kaiho Yusho of the Momoyama period.

When you visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, you must also tour the Kansas City Sculpture Park. It features works by a variety of artists and representing a wide range of styles.