Northern Illinois University
Art Museum
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Location and Maps

The galleries and our administrative offices are located on the first floor, west end of Altgeld Hall, on the corner of College Avenue and Castle Drive on the main campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL.

View campus map

Group Visits and Guided Tours

Prearranged group visits, field trips and guided tours of the exhibitions are available and free. For more information and useful tips please view our helpful guidelines (PDF). To arrange your group's visit or guided tour please complete our online registration form or download a request form (PDF).

Please know that gallery capacity changes with every exhibition and is limited per gallery. Guidance on university events will continue to evolve over the course of the semester.

Schedule a Group Visit or Guided Tour

Contact artmuseum@niu.edu if you have any questions about your visit.

Some of our exhibitions explore challenging, contemporary subject matter and may not be suitable for all audiences. We recommend that visitors contact the Museum before organizing visits with children or sensitive audiences.

Directions, Parking and Transportation

Driving Directions

• View driving directions to campus.
• Directions from the East: from downtown DeKalb, traveling west on Lincoln Hwy./Route 38, turn right onto Castle Dr. at the light past the lagoon. At the College Ave. intersection turn left, Altgeld is the castle building on your right.
• Directions from the West: from Annie Glidden, traveling east on Lincoln Hwy./Route 38, turn left onto Castle Dr. at the light, before the lagoon. At the College Ave. intersection turn left, Altgeld is the castle building on your right.

Visitor Parking

Parking on campus is now administered through AIMS mobile pay or parking pay stations available in the Visitor Pay Lot located at 200 Carroll Avenue, east of Annie Glidden Road north of Lincoln Hwy. Limited metered and accessible parking spaces are available in front of Lowden Hall with accessible aisles and route to Altgeld.

Campus parking is free on weekends and after 5 p.m. weeknights in nearby lots 3 and 14.

DeKalb Public Transportation

The Huskie Line provides public transportation for all residents of NIU's campus in DeKalb as well as the DeKalb metropolitan area. Visit the NIU Huskie Bus Line for bus schedules and travel information. All Huskie Buses are accessible for persons with disabilities, but special Freedom Mobile buses are also offered specifically for persons with disabilities. For more information about Freedom Mobile buses, call 815-753-1303.