University of Michigan Museum of Art

One of the oldest university art museums in the nation, the University of Michigan Museum of Art recently underwent a three-year expansion and renovation and reopened as one of the most impressive. The original 1910 Beaux-Arts building contains European and American art, including on of the nation's most complete Louis Comfort Tiffany collections, while the new Frankel wing houses Asian, African and contemporary collections While the artwork is outstanding, the building's architecture almost steals the show. The older wing has traditional beauty, with a lovely colonnaded center court and natural light spilling in through skylights. The beautifully designed Frankel wing is slightly labyrinthine, with each space opening onto another. Wherever you go within the new building, glass walls and dividers invite you to see what's coming next. Enjoy a sack lunch in the common area with massive windows overlooking the campus. Complimentary Wi-Fi makes this a popular spot for those seeking a quiet, creative space to work. The museum also has a very nice gift store that sells, among other things, art objects carved of wood harvested from trees removed to make way for the addition.