The plots from which it was assembled were originally zoned as either residential or agricultural land, which, unlike park land, can be freely bought and sold. On the day the museum opened, he donated the entire museum (including more than 1,000 of his own works and the museum's many pieces from noted sculptors at home and abroad) to the Ju Ming Culture and Education Foundation.
為了美術館能永續經營，朱銘主動將這塊可以自由買賣的建地與農地，變成公園用地，並在開館當日，將整座美術館，包括自己一千多件的作品，還有自己收藏的國內外大師名作全數捐給了「朱銘文教基金會」。