Top 20 Museums To Visit In The United States

This article is from our print magazine issued July 1st 2022. To order a copy of the magazine please do so here.

America is home to some of the most spellbinding museums in the world. From the world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) to the quirky Museum of Death, the US has no dearth of unique museums that will capture your imagination like no other.

There are over 35,000 museums in the US and visiting them all is an impossible feat. We’ve done the hard work for you and have picked out 20 of the best museum experiences America has to offer. Here’s what made the list:

1) Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City

The Met’s two million-strong extensive art collection includes remarkable works like Self-portrait with a straw hat, The Sphinx of Hatshepsut, and The Temple of Dendur. The 17 curatorial departments encompass European paintings, Egyptian Art, Contemporary art, Asian art, and many wondrous collections.

2) Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum – Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian has many museums and cultural institutions under its umbrella, and the Air and Space Museum is a must-visit. It houses cool aircraft and space-related exhibits like Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit and even a real chunk of moon rock and is bound to be a treat for both adults and kids. The museum is currently closed for renovations through fall 2022.

3) Museum of Modern Art(MoMA) - New York City

MoMA focuses on modern and contemporary art and prides itself on curating inclusive, diverse, and thought-provoking paintings, movies, and creative spaces. While there, make sure you visit universally recognized pieces like Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Andy Warhol’s Golden Marilyn Monroe, and Frida Kahlo’s Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair.

4) American Museum of Natural History - New York City

The Museum has been around since 1869 and is widely popular for its extensive collection of prehistoric and historical artifacts, scientific, cultural, and educational exhibits that include dinosaur fossils, ocean life, and a state-of-art planetarium.

5) National WWII Museum – New Orleans, Louisiana

The military history museum in Louisiana is dedicated to the Second World War. It has several fascinating artifacts like warplanes, weapons, letters, and galleries that portray the American experience during World War II. There’s also a 4D theater show narrated by Tom Hanks that’s an engaging, immersive experience.

6) USS Midway Museum – San Diego, California

The historic aircraft carrier-turned-museum displays WW II aircraft, a 4-acre flight deck, glimpses of sailor life below deck, and engaging audio tours. It is perfect for a fun, family adventure trip and a wonderful learning experience.

7) National 9/11 Memorial & Museum – New York City

The museum is a powerful, moving tribute to 9/11 with memorabilia and monuments dedicated to those who perished that day. The memorial is free to all, and the museum ticketed, but both are undoubtedly worth experiencing when in New York.

8) Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Washington D.C.

The world’s most visited natural history museum has a massive collection of 145 million specimens that helps us learn about our world’s beginnings and its significant transformations. The museum is committed to addressing modern environmental problems and produces many enriching scientific and educational programs.

9) Museum of Fine Arts - Boston, Massachusetts

The museum’s exhibits are large and quite varied and display art and artifacts from many cultures and eras. Observe ancient Egyptian artifacts, French impressionist and post-impressionist works, and an impressive collection of Japanese art while you’re there.

10) National Gallery of Art - Washington D.C.

The National Gallery is one of the top museums in the country that you can visit completely free of charge. Their collections consist of Middle Ages to Modern-day American and European paintings, including Ginevra de' Benci, the only Leonardo Da Vinci painting you can see in America.

11) The Children’s Museum - Indianapolis, Indiana

The world’s largest children’s museum is great for children of all ages(and adults) and has plenty of indoor and outdoor fun experiences. Dinosaur and space exhibits, model trains, Egyptian mummies, shipwrecks, Marvel and DC zones, Barbie, Dora and Paw Patrol, giant water tables, mirror mazes, carousels - the list goes on!

12) National Museum of African American History and Culture - Washington D.C.

The museum was created to preserve the history, culture, and stories of the African American experience and highlight the contributions and influences of the community in shaping the country. The artifacts and interactive exhibits help visitors learn about slavery and segregation, African American military services, and the many dramatic and artistic achievements.

13) Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia’s majestic art museum(and iconic ‘Rocky’ steps) has an art collection spanning over three centuries and is home to 200 splendid galleries. The museum is one of the oldest in America and boasts of eclectic works curated from all over the world.

14) The Getty museum - Los Angeles, California

The museum has two campuses, Getty Center and Getty Villa. The Center has striking architectural structures and gardens, gorgeous city and ocean views, art exhibits, photographs, and paintings. The villa is similarly captivating and is also famous for its collection of ancient Greek and Roman artifacts.

15) The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio

The Cleveland Art Museum is known for its diverse collection of art from around the world, notably the works of art masters like Picasso, Dali, Monet, and Van Gogh. The African art gallery, the Tiffany Display, the Renaissance gallery, and the Armor Court are some other points of interest.

16) California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California

When you go to the Cal Academy of Sciences, you get to see an aquarium, a rainforest, a planetarium, and a natural history museum all on the same day! Kids will have many opportunities to learn and have fun with science and nature.

17) The Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago museum is the second largest in the US and rated as one of its best. On display are memorable works of art like American Gothic by Grant Wood, Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, and Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, among others.

18) Kennedy Space Center , Florida

The Kennedy Center has chronologically grouped zones assigned to different eras of space exploration, each featuring exciting exhibits like Space Shuttle Atlantis, a rocket garden, the Saturn V, and a cool IMAX theater. You even get to meet real-life astronauts and experience a shuttle launch while you’re there!

19) The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri

The museum has a comprehensive art collection. It's known for unique Asian artifacts like the Chinese-Buddhist sculpture Guanyin of the Southern Sea, a 13th-century Indian sculpture of Shiva Nataraja, and other SouthEast Asian and Islamic artworks. You can also find the sole Carravaggio painting in America, Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness at the Nelson-Atkins.

20) The Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago museum has many intriguing Ancient Egyptian mummy displays, the magnificent Hall of Gems, the science-inspired PlayLab, an aquarium, and a planetarium. Oh, and don’t forget to visit Sue - the most complete T. Rex skeleton in the world!

A museum is an excellent place to learn about the past and find inspiration for the future. With our handy list, it'll be a breeze to plan your next big trip. And we promise it's going to be a lot of fun! Stay safe, stay focused and stay traveling. Happy Travels.

Special mentions

Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington D.C.

The Exploratorium, San Francisco, California

The City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri

Mutter Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Tech Interactive, San Jose, California