From February through September 2025, the outdoor spaces of the Nasher Museum of Art will be closed for the construction of the Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Sculpture Garden. The museum itself, as well as the Nasher Café*, are open during this time. While we need to reroute entry from the parking lot to the building, we are committed to making this as easy as possible for our guests.

*The Nasher Museum Café will be closed for 4-6 weeks in summer 2025 for renovations. Closure dates are TBD; please check back soon for updates.

The museum parking lot will be open at reduced capacity and will only be accessible from Duke University Road. Vehicles will not be able to enter the parking lot from Campus Drive.

Because parking may be limited, we encourage ride sharing, biking, or hopping on a Duke or Durham bus for your visit.

GoDurham Transit: 7 days a week
Bus #6, Duke University Rd at Anderson St (EB) #5272

Duke Bus: Weekdays only
SWS: Swift Avenue Shuttle
C1: East-West

See below for ADA access

The two existing pathways from the Nasher Museum parking lot to the building will be closed for construction, and guests will use the sidewalk on Campus Drive to navigate to our open entrance. That walk is approximately .2 miles on a gentle slope and takes approximately 5 minutes.

During the hours below, we will have a golf cart shuttle running between the parking lot and the museum entrance. Please look for the sign in the parking lot indicating the pickup point. The golf cart can accommodate up to three guests at a time.

Golf Cart Shuttle Hours:
Tue – Fri  |  11 AM – 1:30 PM
Sat  |  10 AM – 5 PM
Sun  |  12 PM – 5 PM

You may also call the Visitor Services desk at 919-684-6090 for golf cart assistance at times when it is not already scheduled.

See below for ADA Access

West Entrance: Anderson Street and Campus Drive

• Open February – October
• Located at the northwest corner of the building, directly across from the Rubenstein Arts Center

Note that the West Entrance is currently pedestrian only (from Campus Drive) and is not available for vehicles or guest drop off.

East Entrance: Alexander Street, accessed from Museum Parking Lot

• Closed March – October
• East side of the building
• Previously accessible via paths from Alexander Avenue parking lot

Museum Loading Dock
From February 14 – March 6, guests who need ADA access should be dropped off at the museum loading dock, which is accessed by a driveway off the parking lot near Duke University Road. This entrance will remain open for ADA access through October.

West Entrance
After March 6, the West Entrance will be open to vehicle access and guest drop off. ADA parking will not be available at this entrance until summer 2025.

ADA-designated parking spaces are reserved for guests in the museum’s Alexander Avenue lot. Please make sure your state-issued placard is clearly visible.

Thank you for understanding that weather may impact the construction timeline. If you are planning to visit the Nasher Museum in early March, please check this page or call the Visitor Services desk at 919 684 6090 for updates.

The outside of the building makes it look like you’re closed. Are you open?
Yes! You can view our full operating hours and more to Plan Your Visit.

The Nasher Museum Café is also open and reservations can be made via OpenTable.

When will this the construction be finished?
We anticipate the Sculpture Garden and renovations to other areas of the property to be completed by the end of September 2025.

What exactly is this Sculpture Garden going to be?
The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Sculpture Garden will create almost nine acres of newly walkable landscape around the museum for visitors, including ADA-accessible pathways from the parking lot up to the building, and green spaces for community gatherings and events. The project is undertaking extensive native plantings and is removing invasive species from the site. The newly designed green space will also, of course, showcase art outdoors.

Will there be new work displayed in this Sculpture Garden?
The Sculpture Garden will open with signature works by artists Wangechi Mutu and Radcliffe Bailey, among others, and new works will be added over time through acquisitions, loans and artist commissions.

Will there be events in this new space?
Yes! The museum will host events and gatherings here, and it will also be available as a rental opportunity for the Duke and Durham communities.

Will there be more ADA parking? Will there be more parking overall?
The new Anderson Street entrance will have ADA-accessible parking spaces. A state-issued placard is required. At this time, we are not adding additional parking beyond what is described.

Will there be bus parking?
The new entrance from Anderson Street allows for buses to pick up and drop off groups with a circular driveway. There is no staging area for the buses while the guests are in the museum.

Can I still bring a group to the museum?
Yes. If you are planning to bring a group to the museum, please visit our Group Tours page. 

Over the past months, I notice that a lot of greenery has been removed. Why are you making such big changes to the natural environment?
You are right, we have removed overgrowth from invasive species that had slowly taken over the landscape, and it looks quite bare.  We have sourced new native plants from North Carolina-based farms and have prioritized sustainability in this project.

Under Duke Facility Management’s wood policy, any tree removed from university property will be replaced by at least two native plantings. The mulch and lumber from felled trees are put to use elsewhere on campus or donated locally.

Will there be seating outdoors?
Yes. There will be new seating at both entrances, as well as benches and resting areas along the pathways.

Will there be a new city bus stop closer to the museum?
The GoDurham #6 bus has a stop near the corner of Duke University Road and Anderson Street, which is a very short walk to the main entrance. There are no plans to add additional stops.