Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture MuseumAbout Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum is a museum on the Saginaw Valley State University campus in University Center, Michigan, devoted to the work and legacy of sculptor Marshall M. Fredericks (1908-1998). It preserves and displays artworks, models and archival material created by Fredericks.
The museum’s displays center on original sculpture and studio materials that document Fredericks’ process for large public commissions and smaller works. Exhibits typically include finished bronzes and original plaster models, as well as drawings and maquettes used in design and fabrication.
The museum was established to house and interpret the artist’s body of work and related archives, and to provide educational programs about sculpture and public art. It supports research and loans related to Fredericks’ commissions across the United States.
The facility sits on the SVSU campus in University Center, adjacent to the city of Saginaw in Michigan; it serves regional visitors and scholars of American sculpture.
- Campus location: Located on the Saginaw Valley State University campus in University Center, near Saginaw in eastern Michigan.
- Collection focus: Focuses on original sculptures, plaster models and archival material tied to the artist’s public commissions and studio practice.
Best Time to Visit Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
Any time the campus is open works, but late spring through early fall makes viewing the outdoor sculptures most pleasant.
Weather & Climate near Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -10°C to 28°C. Moderate rainfall (772 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -10° - -2° | -12° | 36 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -9° - -1° | -10° | 30 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -4° - 5° | -4° | 54 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 2° - 13° | 5° | 68 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 8° - 20° | 14° | 73 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 13° - 25° | 19° | 83 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 15° - 28° | 22° | 60 mm | - | - | 2.7 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 14° - 26° | 20° | 85 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 10° - 22° | 16° | 101 mm | - | - | 2.8 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 4° - 15° | 8° | 65 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | -1° - 7° | 3° | 67 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -6° - 1° | -8° | 50 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
The museum is on the Saginaw Valley State University campus in University Center, Michigan. From I-75, take exit for State Route 13/US-23 (depending on route) and follow campus signage to SVSU and the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum. Local transit and campus shuttles may provide connections from nearby towns; driving is the most straightforward option.
Tips for Visiting Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
- Check the museum's calendar: many of the works are part of rotating displays and the sculpture garden is used for university events.
- Ask for the map at the desk - the outdoor pieces are spread across campus and can be missed by a casual loop.
- Look for smaller plaster studies and maquettes; they show how Fredericks thought through scale.