Each of the fifty states in the US boasts incredible culture, art, and opportunities to deepen one’s cultural understanding of the world. Among these opportunities, are the best museums in the US that are an experience that one simply can’t afford to miss.
For those who love art, history, and science, there could be no greater destination than the United States to take in awe-strikingly preserved sculptures, archaeology, paintings, anthropology, cultural history, science, and more. These aspects of US museums are more than just a window into the past, but priceless treasures that remind us of our roots as a species.
While it would take a small lifetime to explore all of the museums that the United States has to offer, it isn’t possible for everyone – especially vacationers – to experience all of them. That’s why we’ve done the research and even taken reviews by visitors into account, to create our comprehensive guide to the top 11 museums in the US that everyone should visit. The guide features some of the best art museums in the US, as well as famous museums in the realm of history and culture.
1. The Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City, New York
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Built in 1870, The Metropolitan Museum of Art – colloquially known simply as “the Met” – has grown to house over 2 million pieces of work across 17 departments. It is the most highly rated museum across travel portals like TripAdvisor, which has named it the best museum in the world for two years now – and for good reason. The museum isn’t just known for being the largest and most famous museum in the US, but also because the art it houses represents 5,000 years of art created by human beings across cultures and continents.
The Met houses priceless pieces by the likes of Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso, and more. If you feel like you’ve heard about the Met before, it’s because you have – since the museum also hosts the Met Gala, which is the most exclusive, high-profile night in fashion. While it’s going to be a lot more challenging getting a ticket to the gala, the Met is a timeless institution representing humanity’s greatest achievements that can’t be missed.
2. The Art Institute of Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
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The Art Institute of Chicago is in the heart of Illinois, in the picturesque Grant Park. It also has the distinction of being one of the best art museums in the US, holding over 300,000 pieces of art for your viewing pleasure. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get to see an annual special exhibit that truly dives into the finer nuances of the world of art. Among the works that the Art Institute of Chicago houses, are some that are easily recognizable to connoisseurs – masterpieces such as Grant Wood’s “American Gothic”, George Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”, Edward Hopper’s ‘Nighthawks’, and more.
Visiting the Art Institute isn’t heavy on the pocket. A ticket to the museum comes included in the Chicago CityPASS – a must-have all-access pass to some of the most famous tourist attractions in Chicago.
3. The National September 11 Memorial Museum – New York City, New York
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9/11 was a tragedy that changed the world as we know it. While images of the twin towers remain ingrained in the world’s collective memory, the National September 11 Memorial Museum was built to change this. The museum is a touching, artistically unique tribute to those who lost their lives in this tragedy. While the museum was only opened in 2014, its art exhibits depicting the history and the aftermath of the attacks have seen millions of visitors already.
The museum is a must-visit destination purely because it’s a reminder of how the best of humanity can rise from its most devastating moments. So, if you decide to visit spot number 8 on our must see cities in the US list, then we highly recommend visiting the National September 11 Memorial Museum.
4. Smithsonian Institution Offices – Washington D.C.
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Established in 1846 using funds donated by James Smithson, the Smithsonian Institution Offices used to be just that – offices for the Smithsonian Institution that was founded to promote the discussion and dissemination of knowledge that would facilitate the advancement of the human race.
Today, the Smithsonian Institution Offices house 19 museums and a breathtaking zoo filled with rare species. Apart from the rare distinction of being a museum that also has a zoo, the Smithsonian Institution Offices are also recognized as one of the world’s most esteemed research institutions in matters of arts and culture. In a city like D.C. that is so replete with heritage, the Smithsonian Institution Offices are a sight you can’t miss.
5. The Museum of Modern Art – New York City, New York
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The Museum of Modern Art, unlike several other museums, doesn’t have one crown jewel – it has several of them. Situated in the bustling area of Midtown Manhattan, the museum displays various forms of art that use abstract techniques such as cubism and surrealism. Among the museum’s most prized works is the “Demoiselles d’Avignon” – one of Pablo Picasso’s most famous works – one of many reasons why the museum is considered one of the world’s most influential centers of modern art.
The museum also has the distinction of being the first to introduce an industrial arts section, featuring architectural arts and other underappreciated forms of art that fly under the radar on account of being part of an industrial profession.
6. American Museum of Natural History – New York City, New York
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The American Museum of Natural History is located in Central Park West, in the Upper East Side of Manhattan that’s conveniently accessible. The museum features a jaw-dropping 32 million specimen pertaining to biodiversity, and is most famously known for its larger-than-life real skeletons of dinosaurs that are its biggest tourist attraction – including the 122 foot Titanosaur that truly is a titan in its own right.
Visit this museum to learn more about the building blocks of our biosphere, from amphibians and other life forms, to the very core of planetary science, and discover how incredible our planet truly is.
7. Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, Massachusetts
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A trip to Boston is never complete without a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts – one of the top museums in the US which houses the most expensive art collections in the United States, with over 450,000 pieces spread across the fourteenth largest public gallery area in the world. The grounds on which the museum is established form a part of the ancestral homelands of the Massachusetts community, which is now a melting pot of cultures from around the world.
While the Museum of Fine Arts stands on hallowed ground from a historical perspective, the building itself strikes the perfect balance of still representing its roots while undergoing renovations and modernization initiatives.
8. National Gallery of Art – Washington D.C.
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While Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States, the National Gallery of Art is a museum that’s befitting of its location’s capital status. The museum is famed for housing works by practically every maestro in the world of European Art – featuring the likes of Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Cézanne, Dégas, Durer, Van Eyck, John Constable, and more.
The neoclassical West building and the more modern East building are two attractions that make this one of the best museums to visit on any trip to the capital.
9. National WWII Museum – New Orleans, Louisiana
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Another example of how humanity rises from its worst moments, the National WWII Museum is a respectful tribute to those who lost their lives in the Second World War, while telling stories of bravery and the indomitable nature of the human spirit. The museum is one of the most popular tourist destinations anywhere in the United States, and is arguably its most famous museum in many respects.
The Museum features interactive installations, multimedia displays, and several unique ways of bringing the oral histories of the Second World War to life. It’s an absolute must-visit museum that should be on your bucket list if you’re planning a trip to the United States.
10. The Cleveland Museum of Art – Cleveland, Ohio
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It is believed that good things come from the best of intentions, and The Cleveland Museum of Art has the purest of them all. The intent behind its inception in 1913 is quoted verbatim as being “for the benefit of all the people forever.” The museum truly lives up to that promise in many ways.
While The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the simpler museums in the United States, it is also a famous museum for its rich collections as well as the unique programs it hosts to enable everyone to develop a better understanding of art and art appreciation.
11. Detroit Institute of Arts – Detroit, Michigan
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The Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the most famous museums in the United States, on account of its stately collection of over 65,000 artworks. The Institute is widely regarded by connoisseurs to be one of the finest art galleries in the United States, with work dating from the earliest civilization to the wonders of modern art.
While the museum boasts of several priceless works of art that are some of the most widely regarded in the world of art, the building itself is another attraction that’s just as special as the work it houses inside. Regarded as one of the top six museums in the United States, it should definitely be at the top of your list.
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