Top 10 Best Museums and Galleries in the USA

Last Updated on January 17, 2023 by Nikki Jain

What better way to enjoy the day with your family than to head to one of the many fantastic museums across the US. Many different states and their big cities have a diverse collection of museums. If you like art then places like Philadelphia Museum of Art or the Chicago Art Institute are ideal spots to plan a day out. For the tech fan in the crowd you can enjoy The Tech Museum of Innovation, curtesy of San Jose, CA. If you have a dinosaur lover and are in New York, you must head out to the American Museum of Natural History. Read on for our pick of the best museums and galleries in America.

Best Museums in America

Table of Contents [Show]

Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link.

1: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC
Flickr/wanderingYew2
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum was established in 1946. This museum has the major collection of spacecrafts and aircrafts. It is also dedicated as a research centre for aviation, geology, and many other fields. By visiting this museum, you can learn about the planetary sciences and get a lot of information about the aircrafts. Each year, there are about 8 million visitors who visit this wonderful museum.

Address: 600 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560

Visit Website

Also Read: Top 10 Space and Aviation Museums in the USA


2: J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California

J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California
Apart from the museum, J. Paul Getty is also an educational centre for the study of arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria. This museum is home to European paintings, drawings, manuscripts, sculpture and decorative arts, and European and American photographs. Each year, approximately 1.3 million visitors visit this museum to explore the collection of 44,000 Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities dating from 6,500 BC to 400 AD.

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

Visit Website


3: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Metropolitan Museum of Art is included among the three largest museums in the World and the largest art museum in the United States. This museum has a large and finest collection of drawings, paintings, manuscripts, sculptures from different cultures of the World. The museum is also home to collections of musical instruments, costumes and accessories, and antique armaments and armor from around the Globe. There is a collection of around 2 million artworks spanning more than 5000 years.

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

Visit Website

Also Read: The Best Museums in New York City


4: The Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois

The Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois
Facebook/The Art Institute of Chicago
Each year millions of tourists visit this beautiful art museum. This museum contains holdings from the American art, European art, Asian art and Modern art which make this museum a biggest center of attraction. Apart from the museum, it is also an art school which offers different educational programs for the students.

Address: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Visit Website


5: National Gallery Of Art, Washington DC

National Gallery Of Art, Washington DC
National Gallery of Art was established in 1937. This is a beautiful art museum which has a great collection of artistic pieces. It is a world class museum where art work that belongs to 13th century till now has been placed. The gallery includes a collection of paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture, medals, and decorative arts from the Medieval Ages to the present, including the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas.

Address: 6th and Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565

Visit Website

Also Read: Best Things To Do in Washington D.C.


6: Museum of Modern Art, New York

Museum of Modern Art, New York
Flickr/Ed Schipul
This is one of the highly visited museums in US known for its antique display and exhibitions. The museum has collection of modern and contemporary art, including works of architecture and design, painting, sculpture, photography, drawings, prints, illustrated books and artist's books, film, and electronic media. The interior of the building is so captivating and artistic making it an additional worth visiting place.

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

Visit Website

Also Read: 20 Best Art Museums in the USA


7: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Flickr/Christine
This is amongst the biggest museums situated in United States by means of collection of more than 227,000 works of talent and more than 200 galleries exhibiting the arts of canvas, statuette, works on paper, camera work, ornamental arts, and architectural settings from Asia, Europe, and America.

Address: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Visit Website

Also Read: Top 25 Attractions & Things To Do in Philadelphia


8: The Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose, CA

The Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose, CA
Flickr/HarshLight
The Tech Museum of Innovation is a hands-on technology and science museum for people of all ages. The museum consists of three floors, each with its own significance. The ground floor has the IMAX Theater, and an area reserved for special events. The upper level and lower level of the museum consists of four major theme galleries: Communication, Exploration, Innovation and Life Tech. The exhibits at Tech Museum provide information about the latest technology developments in areas of energy efficiency, customization, exploration, and the force of gravity, such as the G-Force.

Address: 201 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113

Visit Website


9: American Museum of Natural History, New York

American Museum of Natural History, New York
Flickr/Don DeBold
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest and most visited museums in the world. The museum is home to a collection of 32 million specimens of plants, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, animals, and human cultural artifacts. It is highly appreciated by the scientists and researchers all over the world for its unique and innovative collection.

Address: Central Park W and 79th St, New York, NY 10024

Visit Website


10: Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indiana

Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indiana
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the world's largest children's museum. It is a compilation of great work in the fields of art, science, fiction, history and culture that use to fascinate children of all ages. The museum has a collection of over 120,000 objects divided into three groups: Natural World, Cultural World, and American Collections.

Address: 3000 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208

Visit Website


Top 10 Indoor Water Parks In The USA

Read Article