There are more than 35,000 museums in the United States — an impressive figure, even when considering the massive size of the country. It’s impossible to visit them all, of course, but you can prioritize and conquer the most important ones.
From the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, this list takes you on a tour of the U.S. museums you absolutely have to visit at least once. (And more if you can!)
Some, like the MoMa, are world-renowned, while others are hidden gems. Within each, you’ll gain a breadth of knowledge on subjects as diverse as space, Ancient Egypt, dinosaurs, Renaissance art, World War II and beyond.
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29. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis – Indianapolis, Indiana
No one ever has to wonder what to do on a family trip to Indianapolis, as the state capital has the largest children’s museum in the entire world. (Its size? Nearly half a million square feet.)
Of course, the museum is highly interactive, with kids being encouraged to touch and play with almost everything. Little ones can hunt for fossils at the Dig Site, examine a model mastodont skull, climb rock walls, build toy boats to float in actual water and much (much) more.
Even your antsiest kid will never get bored.
Where to stay: Stone Soup Inn
15. Salvador Dalí Museum – St. Petersburg, Florida
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No one expects the largest collection of Dalí works outside of Europe to reside in a small beach town on the west coast of Florida. Then again, when has anything related to Dalí been conventional?
The museum was born from the private collection of a couple who decided to share the masterpieces they had in their possession with the world. The building itself is inspired by surrealism and houses drawings, objects, paintings, photographs, prints and even book illustrations made by the artist.
Keep an eye out for the Aphrodisiac Telephone, more commonly known as the Lobster Phone.
Where to stay: The Inn on Third
13. Detroit Institute of Arts – Detroit, Michigan
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Listed as a National Historic Place and as one of the most visited art museums in the world, the DIA is a reminder that Detroit was once a major, thriving American city. (Happily, in recent years, it’s been working to reclaim this mantle.)
As with other large institutes of its kind, the museum covers thousands of years of art history, ranging from Ancient Egyptian encryptions to contemporary art. Of course, you can expect works from the great masters of Western art as well, including bold-face names like Degas and Van Gogh.
Where to stay: The Inn On Ferry Street
4. National Museum of American History – Washington D.C.
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Fitting the history of a nation within a museum is a difficult task, but the National Museum of American History is more than up to the job.
Exhibits cover different periods, from the life of indigenous communities before European colonization until today. The collection includes original letters from the Civil War, props used in iconic movies, propaganda posters for WWII and even Julia Child’s kitchen.
It doesn’t capture all you need to know about U.S. history, obviously, but the breadth and diversity of its collection wows.
Where to stay: Grand Hyatt Washington
1. The Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City, New York
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The Met is an icon of culture and the largest museum in the U.S. It is impossible to see everything in this vast museum in a visit (or two or even three), as the collection includes an Egyptian temple, ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, Middle Age armor, Nigerian ivory masks, Renaissance paintings, contemporary masterpieces and so (so) much more.
With more than 2 million pieces in its collection, this museum should be on every art and history bucket list. The Met also curates special exhibitions, bringing masterpieces from around the world to New York City, and hosts a wonderful lecture series.
Where to stay: Hotel Belleclaire
