Clymer Museum

Photo: Shell McKedy via Google Maps

The Clymer Museum in downtown Ellensburg is devoted to John Ford Clymer, the Ellensburg born painter and illustrator who created more than 80 covers for The Saturday Evening Post before turning to paintings of the American West. Central Washington University calls him one of the top five Western artists in U.S. history, and this museum in his hometown is built around his work.

The museum sits at 416 North Pearl Street and reopened on May 1, 2026, after a renovation that expanded its wall space by roughly 30 percent and added a new gallery near the entrance. It is small and focused, a good fit for anyone who loves illustration, Western art or classic magazine covers.

What You’ll See

The main gallery displays 75 original John Clymer works drawn from a collection of 135 paintings, which Central Washington University describes as the largest private collection of his work in the country. Expect his Western scenes and his Lewis and Clark expedition series alongside the Saturday Evening Post cover art that made his name, images the museum describes as clever and nostalgic. The museum has also long kept copies of every cover he completed for the Post, along with some of his memorable advertising work.

Beyond the Clymer collection, the museum uses its Main Gallery, McGiffin Gallery and new Front Gallery to show work by other artists, often students and alumni from the CWU Department of Art + Design, so you may also find contemporary work hanging near the classics.

The Story Behind It

John Clymer was born in Ellensburg in 1907. According to the museum, he first studied art through a correspondence course, and his pen and ink drawings from the age of 15 already show a serious artist at work. He spent eight years illustrating for Canadian magazines, then built his career in Westport, Connecticut, painting covers for The Saturday Evening Post and illustrations for books including The Yearling. He studied under Harvey Dunn and N.C. Wyeth, left illustration in 1965 to focus on historical Western scenes, won the Prix de West in 1976 and died in 1989.

During the last year of his life, a group of prominent Ellensburg residents, including members of the Western Art Association, started a campaign to create a museum in his name and memory. Today the museum keeps close ties with Central Washington University, awarding two scholarships to CWU art students every year and giving student artists wall space in the new galleries.

Tips for Your Visit

• Check the website before you go; the museum notes that visits outside its regular hours can be arranged by special appointment.
• The museum takes part in Ellensburg’s First Friday Art Walk, a good evening to catch a new exhibition opening.
• Questions about the collection or Clymer prints can go to the museum at info@clymermuseum.org.
• MyEllensburg, the local visitor site, includes the museum in its guide to experiencing Ellensburg history, a handy way to plan a downtown walk around your visit.

Plan Your Visit

Address: 416 N Pearl St, Ellensburg, WA 98926
Phone: 509.273.2958
Website: clymermuseum.org
Hours and admission: Check the museum website for current days, hours, and admission before you visit.
Directions: View on Google Maps