The Museum's varied collection of art originated around a nucleus of Cos Cob Impressionism and holds paintings by American and European artists of the 19th- and 20th-centuries, such as Daniel Ridgway Knight, Francis Silva, Potthast, Chase, and Twachtman. The collection includes drawings and prints and photography. Sculpture includes 19th- and 20th-century work by Hiram Powers, MacMonnies and Rodin.
Decorative arts collections include holdings in French art glass and American art pottery. Textiles include ladies' gowns, American-made plus examples of French couture, Belgian lace, and Kashmir shawls, as well as court robes from the Qing Dynasty. Pre-Columbian objects are utilitarian and ceremonial.
The Native American collection includes Navajo jewelry; Pueblo blackware; beadwork, blankets and baskets from Plains, Southwest, and Northwest Coast peoples; and Inuit baskets, ivory and soapstone carvings.
Museum is a member of the Connecticut Art Trail, a partnership of 18 museums and historic sites. The Art Pass, which is good for a year, includes one-day admission to each museum.