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20 Best Museums in the US to Visit

America is a great destination that offers numerous beautiful destinations and great attractions not to miss during your visit. These are the best museums in the U.S. you need to visit.

There are also many incredible and outstanding museums in America, an ideal spot for every history and art enthusiast. The United States of America is undeniably a land blessed with wonders, sceneries, landmarks, and great destinations scattered within its 50 states.

In these states, there is an excellent selection of various museums. Foundations that house and preserve numerous gifts from the past, from paintings, sculptures, cultural history, archaeology, anthropology, and more, are now a treasure and great heritage in the present.

Best History & Art Museums in America

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Address: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as “the Met,” is a lovely place to visit if you want to see various art pieces in the beautiful city of New York. The museum is recognized as the largest museum in New York and the United States. All of the parts inside the museum are all legacies from the past and treasures in the present day.

Its permanent regal collection of artworks contains over 2 million extravagant works; the museum’s collection is divided among the spacious areas of 17 curatorial departments. The paintings that the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds represent over 5,000 years of artwork worldwide.

The excellent museum was built in 1870 and aspired to be more than a home of rare, unique, and beautiful objects worldwide and cross cultures masterpieces.

The museum’s dedication to campaigning and representing various artworks and masterpieces opens a branch that devotes itself to multiple arts, such as art from medieval Europe and modern and contemporary arts.

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The Art Institute of Chicago

Art Institute of Chicago

Address: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the spectacular must-see museums in Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois. The excellent museum was founded in 1879, and the Art Institute of Chicago is recognized as one of the great, oldest, and largest art museums in the United States.

The museum houses a permanent collection of nearly various types of 300,000 works of art and masterpieces to discover. It has hosted more than 30 annual special exhibits highlighting different facets of the art archive and showcasing cutting-edge art organization and experimental research.

The Art Institute of Chicago collects a variety of art, takes care of, and perseveres each artwork as they present it to the public. You can access the museum by purchasing a Chicago CityPASS for all-inclusive access to your favorite tourist attractions in Chicago.

The museum gained a lot of recognition for all the art it houses, as well as the majestic and regal way it presents all of its masterpieces. It has now become a popular and exciting tourist destination in Chicago.

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Smithsonian Institution Offices

Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.

Address: 600 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, D.C., DC 20002

The Smithsonian Institution Office is a spectacular and widely known museum in Washington, D.C. It is a former office that has become one of the world’s largest museums, educational spots, and excellent research complex.

The museum holds about 19 museums catering to various artworks and a significant zoo. The institution was established in 1846 from funds donated by James Smithsonian, an English gentleman. He created the institution as the spot where the community can increase and disseminate knowledge.

Smithsonian Institution Office is a unique destination because it is a museum with a zoo and campaigns to shape the future by preserving humanity’s spectacular heritage and discovering new information and academic knowledge that helps society and share various around the world. One of the best ways to see these great museums is through a guided Washington D.C. tour.

Aside from being the heart and one of Washington’s spectacular destinations to see various arts, the institution is recognized as one of the world’s leading research institutes focusing on skills and science subjects. Consider renting a car in Washington, D.C., to see all the museums in a short amount of time. Like what you are hearing? Check out these other best things to do in Washington, DC, to make the most of your trip.

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The Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art

Address: 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

The Museum of Modern Art is a lovely museum that gives stunning views of art in the beautiful Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It plays a significant role in developing and collecting modern art. It is often identified as one of the largest and most influential museums focusing on and holding contemporary art.

The comprehensive collection of arts in the museum houses spectacular art extending from an array of skills in the late 19th century American and European arts.

The museum houses paintings using cubism, surrealism, and abstract ways of portraying art. The Museum of Modern Art is home to one of the famous artist’s masterpieces, the Les Demoiselles d’Avignon of Pablo Picasso.

Besides paintings, sculpture, and graphic art, the museum was one of the first in the United States to include architectural designs and other art forms to admire in its industrial arts collection.

The Alfred H. Barr Foundation established an extensive collection of predominantly classical and regal American and European art from the late nineteenth century.

In New York City in 1929, Alfred H. Barr was the museum’s founding director. This spectacular collection makes the Museum of Modern Art a unique and must-see destination to appreciate art in all forms.

Check out these best places to stay in New York for sightseeing if you want to make the most of your trip.

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American Museum of Natural History

Natural History Museum in New York City

Address: 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024

One of the world’s prominent experimental and cultural institutions is the American Museum of Natural History. A museum that accommodates an array of spectacular arts in all forms. It is in an ideal and accessible location in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City.

The museum was founded and officially opened its doors in 1869. It is a spectacular spot to discover, learn, and interpret arts.

The museum disseminates various wide-ranging curricula of scientific study, education, and display, providing knowledge about human civilizations, the natural environment, and the cosmos.

The museum has over five active research divisions for arts and several support centers that house scientists who preserved and studied a world-class permanent collection of art it holds.

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Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Address: 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115

The Museum of Fine Arts is known to be a spectacular museum situated in Boston, Massachusetts. The museum is a stunning destination to see and admire various art masterpieces.

It is recognized and ranked 14 among the most extensive art exhibits in the world by measuring the public gallery area. The museum accommodates over 450,000 fine works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in America.

Founded in 1870, the museum is located in the ancestral homelands of the Massachusetts community, a location that has long existed as a gathering and trading point for people worldwide.

The museum has undergone significant expansion, renovation, and change in recent years. Today the Museum of Fine Arts is a part of exhibits that houses a comprehensive art collection.

The collection possessed has reached almost half a million artworks. With the group’s continuous growth, it opens new rooms or gallery wings to preserve and present an array of old and new art collections. This is a must-add to any Boston itinerary.

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The National WWII Museum

Address: 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

The National WWII Museum is a fascinating military history museum formerly called the “National D-Day Museum.” It is a beautiful destination and a must-see museum when visiting the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana.

The National WWII Museum is recognized as one of the popular tourist destinations in New Orleans. It ranks 2nd in the U.S. and is a destination that honors an unforgettable way to experience World War II.

The National WWII Museum hosts interactive exhibitions, multimedia environments, and an impressive array of artifacts and first oral histories, immersing visitors in the history of the war that shaped the past. Beyond the spectacular museum exhibits, the National WWII Museum offers an engaging online art collection viewing.

Virtual field trips through various communication meetings include webinars, travel programs, and more. The museum exceptionally showcases an excellent way for the community to access and connect history and arts.

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The Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Address: 11150 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106

The Cleveland Museum of Art is a simple yet full of beautiful pieces of art museum located in the charming city of Cleveland, Ohio.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is recognized and admired as a part of the most beautiful art museums in the United States. It has numerous collections of artworks and extensive facilities to display and showcase each masterpiece they hold.

The museum was founded in 1913 “for the benefit of all the people forever.” It aspires to educate and engage the vastest viewing audience in the world’s great art while upholding the most satisfactory artistic, academic, and ethical expectations.

The Cleveland Museum of Art sponsors several programs that demonstrate the significance and impact of art in contemporary culture.

It aspires to educate and engage the vastest viewing audience in the world’s great art while upholding the highest artistic, academic, and ethical expectations.

Detroit Institute of Arts

Detroit Institute of Arts
Susan Montgomery / Shutterstock.com

Address: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202

The Detroit Institute of Arts is a tourist attraction not to miss, for it holds an array of spectacular arts in the lovely town of Detroit, Michigan. The museum was acknowledged as part of the state’s finest, classical, and most notable art galleries.

There are over more than 65,000 artworks displayed in the museum—all of the museum’s paintings were dated from the earliest civilizations to the present. The museum offers visitors encounters with human creativity from all over the world.

The Detroit Institute of Arts collection highlights providing a global and international study of human intelligence from prehistory to the twenty-first century. It is one of the top six in the United States.

The DIA has served as a cultural torch in the Detroit area for over a century. Founded in 1885, the museum was initially located on Jefferson Avenue but later moved to a more spacious place on Woodward Avenue in 1927.

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Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Address: 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Los Angeles County Museum of Art is a spectacular tourist attraction and museum not to miss on a beautiful trip to Los Angeles, California. It is recognized as the largest art museum in the western United States.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, or LACMA, came from the information, background, and ideals of the beautiful Los Angeles Museum of History and Science and Art, instituted in 1910 in Exposition Park.

It houses a collection of over 142,000 beautiful artworks that span 4000 BC ago of creative expression around the world. Through exhibitions, public programs, and research facilities, its vast groups attract over a million visitors annually.

The museum is committed to showcasing a number and backgrounds of art histories. LACMA exhibits understanding and supports the works of emerging artists and other artists based on the region’s rich and diverse culture.

LACMA’s exploratory approach is to express art through collaborations with exceptional artists. It also extends to technologists and leaders among various organizations in the city, as well as international committees to campaign art. The museum works and plans to work and create an alliance to present art. While in town, check out these other amazing things to do in Los Angeles.

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Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Interior of Guggenheim Museum in New York City

Address: 1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is an outstanding museum to explore and enjoy art in Manhattan, New York City. It is a beautiful museum that is frequently referred to as the “Guggenheim.” It’s a gallery with many beautiful and marvelous works of art.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum began collecting art and exhibiting the works of the great abstract painter Solomon R. Guggenheim.

In 1939, the artist created and established the art museum. It was initially known as the Museum of Non-Objective Painting but was later renamed after its creator.

The majority of Guggenheim’s work was from the 1920s. Many of the magnificent artworks in the museum were beautifully restored, and the arts it held were undoubtedly excellent. In Manhattan, there are some artworks and masterpieces that you can not forget.

Via dynamic curatorial and educational projects and partnerships, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum gathers, maintains, and interprets modern and experimental art and explores concepts across cultures.

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Whitney Museum of American Art

Address: 99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014

The Whitney Museum of American Art is regarded as one of the most magnificent museums to visit to explore a wide range of outstanding works of art. The “Whitney,” as it is affectionately known, is a Manhattan art museum. It was established in 1930 by American socialite Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, after whom it is named.

Over 24,000 works produced by over 3,500 artists in the United States between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries are covered and presented on Whitney’s list and exhibits.

Its exhibits vary from generational reviews and in-depth retrospectives to group shows bringing new or comparatively unknown artists to a broader audience.

Collecting a rich gallery collection and offering a comprehensive and diverse calendar of exhibition events got the community’s interest from its American artists and artisans.

The museum organizes significant exhibits from its archives and the collections of individuals and organizations worldwide. They also focus on artists that used different art and painting styles and creative crafts dating from the 20th century.

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9/11 Memorial & Museum

Memorial, Buildings, and Skyline View

Address: 180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is a unique and spectacular tourist attraction in New York City.

The museum was established as a memorial to New York City dedicated to the 2,977 people killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks and the six people who died in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

The museum’s unique combination of art, archaeology, and history provides an exciting interaction with the narrative of the bombings, their aftermath, and the people who lived through them.

The museum’s 110,000 square feet of space feature rotating exhibits. There are also two galleries with turning and temporary exhibitions at the museum. The South Tower Gallery, located inside the footprint of the South Tower, is devoted to painting and artwork exhibits.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum uses a variety of exhibits, photographs, stories, and immersive media to share the narrative and history of 9/11. Visitors can learn about the core exhibitions and discover 911 special collections.

The museum’s Special Exhibitions, which cover a wide range of subjects related to the North Tower’s reminiscence footprint, focus on current issues that speak to the long-term effects of 9/11.

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The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Address: 3000 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a must-see attraction, especially for children, because it is the world’s spectacular, finest, and largest children’s museum. It is located at North Meridian Street in the United Northwest Area neighborhood of Indianapolis, Indiana.

The American Alliance of Museums has granted the museum accreditation for being an extraordinary museum for children.

The museum ranks as the 4th museum among the oldest institutions situated in the country. It was established in 1925 with the assistance of Indianapolis community leaders and institutions to Mary Stewart Carey.

The American Collection, the Cultural World Collection, and the Natural World Collection comprise the museum’s compilation of over 120,000 objects and display pieces.

Thousands of programs, such as plays, art lessons, seminars for children, traveling exhibitions, and donation events, are held at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

The museum features a simulated and virtual dinosaur habitat, impressive playgrounds, and a variety of exhibits. Among the exhibits are a carousel, a fun train to ride, and a glass sculpture.

The museum’s main emphasis is on family education. Most displays are immersive, encouraging children and their families to participate fully. Check out these other best places to visit in the Midwest.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

Address: 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI 48124

Are you looking for a spectacular destination to admire and appreciate in Dearborn, Michigan? The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is a massive and vast museum with an indoor museum and an exterior gallery establishment. It is also acknowledged as a National Historic Landmark in Dearborn’s lovely and charming city.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is a great museum that presents various classical to modern arts. It also showcases exceptional talents and masterpieces across the world.

The museum’s exhibits encourage visitors to immerse themselves in the tales of America’s greatest minds and talents.

The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation of Michigan is one of the world’s most comprehensive resources for researching and collecting stories of American innovation. The museum offers a great experience of strolling and admiring kind artworks from different eras.

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Philadelphia Museum of Art

Museum of Art in Philadelphia

Address: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a beautiful destination and blessed with spectacular scenery. Still, it also accommodates the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a destination not to miss when visiting the town.

In 1876 this excellent museum was the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, and in the year 1928, the main building was built and acquired to become the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The museum is perched ideally on a hill within the Eakins Oval of Philadelphia, and its majestic exterior lures visitors to check out the artworks in houses.

It is a place for all ages and is open to the public. Each piece of art presented in the museum’s gallery inspires visitors to learn and appreciate art in different forms. Philadelphia Museum of Art aims to unite the community through arts and creative ways.

The museum’s campaigns and care for each outwork make the experience of the museum an extraordinary, cheerful, and unforgettable trip. The museum also campaigns and aspires to invite local and international art enthusiasts to discover the art and see the world in it.

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The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Address: 1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005

In the vast and busy streets of Houston, Texas, lies an extraordinary museum that showcases outstanding art named The Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

It is one of the largest and most famous museums in the United States. The museum is filled with beautiful art in different forms, masterpieces from paintings, sculptures, etc. The museum has a beautiful collection of over 60 centuries of history and other eras.

The Museum of Fine Arts houses a comprehensive collection of nearly 70,000 works of art. All the masterpieces have been created worldwide, from antiquity to the present.

Every visitor can enjoy a lovely stroll around the gallery and see an array of artworks. With a large number of paintings, it holds a trip to the museum is worth it.

Each artist in the museum’s exhibits is clustered from which year it was created, so visiting feels like walking back to the past.

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Minneapolis Institute of Art

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Address: 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Looking for a great spot in Minneapolis’s busy and lively streets is easy for the Minneapolis Institute of Art within the city showcases beautiful art.

Minneapolis Institute of Art Travel Guide | Arts Tour [4K]

The Minneapolis Institute of Art is an art museum perched in the charming town of Minneapolis in Minnesota. The museum is home to almost a hundred thousand artworks showcasing 5,000 years of world history and modern and contemporary art.

Minneapolis Institute of Art (or MIA) is one of the largest and most beautiful art museums in the United States. Any tourist can experience a relaxing walk and an ideal tour through the museum and discover a diverse collection of exceptional artworks.

Inspirational wonder through the influence of art, the Minneapolis Institute of Art invested in collecting, storing, and rendering available exceptional works of art from around the world,

The Minneapolis Institute of Art houses a significant selection of artworks, making visiting the museum worthwhile. Each piece of art displayed at the museum is grouped by year, making the tour a wonderful walk down memory lane.

Check out these other best things to do in Minnesota if you visit.

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The Getty

Address: 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Los Angeles is filled with beautiful destinations and excellent museums, and one of them is The Getty. It is a worthy spot to visit as it caters to various artworks from various eras.

The museum is not just a museum that displays arts but also a lovely campus that offers multiple arts programs and supports emerging and well-known artists in town.

Every visitor of the Getty Museum can discover and learn each art background presented in the museum’s galleries. The Getty is a beautiful side trip after checking out other beautiful destinations in Los Angeles or stopping by for an afternoon delight strolling.

It is a spectacular destination to unwind, appreciate arts in all forms, and discover unique skills.

The museum distributes various wide-ranging intriguing masterpieces and presentations of artworks that fascinate every art enthusiast so as not to miss The Getty museum experience.

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