Skip to Main Content

Kansas City, Missouri: World's Largest Shuttlecocks

Sculptures by Claes Oldenburg (1929-2022) and Coosje van Bruggen. Art or eyesores? Whatever; they're giant and they're scattered across an art museum's lawn.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Address:
4525 Oak St., Kansas City, MO
Directions:
I-70 to I-670. I-670 exit 2Q (McGee St.). Head south on Main St. almost four miles. Left onto Brush Creek Blvd, then quick left onto Oak St. The Shuttlecocks are widely spaced across the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art grounds.
Phone:
816-561-4000
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About World's Largest Shuttlecocks

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Shuttlecocks.

World's Largest Shuttlecocks

It is great, but the museum is even better. Have an afternoon available to see everything in the museum. It is free entry, but they do take donations.

[Kim Clark, 12/03/2013]

Inside a shuttlecock.

Largest Shuttlecocks

We went to see these, and they're pretty awesome. My husband was upset that we paid $5 to park at the "free" art museum, so we decided to go in. It is a wonderful museum. Lots of great collections and pieces. Worth the trip!

[Connie, 08/07/2013]

Shuttlecocks.

World's Largest Shuttlecocks

I have to take exception with the assertion that "Shuttlecocks" is in "bad taste" and that critics hate them. ART critics love them. People with narrow, mistaken, ideas about what makes art hate them. Pop art isn't for everyone. At the least, "Shuttlecocks" is very important work by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, arguably the most important Pop Art sculptors in the world.

[Hugh Williams, 09/02/2005]

April 2006 - Photo added.

World's Largest Shuttlecocks

The Nelson-Atkins Museum has balls, er, birdies for this one. In a very daring move, they installed a number of monstrous badminton shuttlecocks on the museum grounds. Each "birdie" is eighteen feet tall and weighs two and a half tons. Critics hate them saying they are in bad taste. Bad taste, the perfect ingredient for a roadside attraction!

[Frank Brusca, 06/10/2002]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Glass Labyrinth - Outdoor Maze of GlassGlass Labyrinth - Outdoor Maze of Glass, Kansas City, MO - < 1 mi.
Art and Mini-GolfArt and Mini-Golf, Kansas City, MO - < 1 mi.
Rows of Headless MenRows of Headless Men, Kansas City, MO - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Sculpture of Iron, Kansas City, KS - 5 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Missouri Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings