Front of the Arkell Museum BuildingHomer Watching the BreakersDoctor's VisitPicturing WinterYoutubeCall for entriesWinslow Homer Wood Engravings The Shirley W. Brand Collection Perry Ground Storyteller

Welcome to the Arkell!

The Arkell Museum is open for the 2024 season.

Our Mission

The Arkell Museum at Canajoharie and the Canajoharie Library promote and celebrate the understanding and enjoyment of the arts and humanities in Canajoharie, the Mohawk Valley, and beyond. The Arkell Museum collects, preserves, researches and presents American Art and Mohawk Valley History, and promotes active participation in art and history related activities, to enhance knowledge, appreciation and personal exploration by all.

Picture of the interior of a gallery with a large painting in the center
About the Arkell Museum at Canajoharie

Bartlett Arkell, the first president of the Beech-Nut Packing Company founded the Canajoharie Library for the people of the village of Canajoharie. When it opened, gracing its walls were a dozen paintings from Arkell's personal collection, including works by Gilbert Stuart and Robert Henri. The paintings were so well received that in 1927, Arkell broke ground on our original museum building, and we became the Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery. Today, we are known as the Arkell Museum, and we are proud to continue the tradition of sharing art with the Canajoharie community and beyond.

The American painting collection includes seven oil paintings by Winslow Homer and significant paintings by many distinguished artists including; Thomas Benton, William M. Chase, Childe Hassam, John Singer Sargent, Albert Bierstadt, and Gilbert Stuart. Permanent and changing exhibitions also feature selections from the museum’s Mohawk Valley History collection as well as the Beech-Nut collection of early twentieth-century advertising material.

A major addition to the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library was completed in 2007 through the generosity of the Arkell Hall Foundation. The Foundation remains an important partner in our shared mission of providing educational and cultural opportunities in our community.

Exhibitions are supported in part by

C.J. Heilig Foundation

Fenimore Asset Management & FAM Funds

New York State Council on the Arts
with the support of the Office of the Governor.
and the New York State Legislature.

The Canajoharie Library

Through our front doors, you can visit both the Arkell Museum and the Canajoharie Library. The Canajoharie Library provides literary, entertainment, and information resources, and promotes the active use of these resources, for recreation, education, and community engagement.

Our building, staff, and resources exist for our community. The library wants to connect you with your neighbors, books, and resources to support you in finding and fulfilling your passions. Whether you are stopping by to check out the latest new book, find a favorite classic, meet with your neighbor, or try a new skill at a program, we want to encourage you to learn, discover, and foster your interests through reading.

The mission of the Arkell Museum at Canajoharie and the Canajoharie Library is to promote and celebrate the understanding and enjoyment of the arts and humanities in Canajoharie, the Mohawk Valley, and beyond. The Arkell Museum collects, preserves, researches and presents American Art and Mohawk Valley History, and promotes active participation in art and history related activities, to enhance knowledge, appreciation and personal exploration by all.

The Arkell Museum • 2 Erie Boulevard • Canajoharie, New York 13317 • 518 673 2314 • info@arkellmuseum.org
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