The United States of America is a diversified country blessed with world-class cities, ѕоаring ѕhоrе redwoods, аlрinе lаkеѕ, mоving vineyard, and mаnу more fascinating рlасеѕ. Comprises of 50 states and more than 20,000 cities, the USA is also boasting over 35,000 museums across the country featuring famous sculptures, artworks, and exhibitions. From the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the museums in the USA offer a uniquely different experience for visitors. Since it is impossible to visit all the museums, we came up with a comprehensive list of museums for your convenience. Let’s explore our list of best museums to visit as part of USA Tour Packages here.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially “the Met”, is the largest art museum in the United States, and among the must-visit tourist places in New York. The museum was founded in 1870 to bring art and art education to the American people. It is home to over two million works that include works of art from classical antiquity and ancient Egypt, paintings, and sculptures from nearly all the European masters, and an extensive collection of American and modern art. The museum also houses encyclopedic collections of musical instruments, costumes, and accessories, as well as antique weapons and armor from around the world. The main building at 1000 Fifth Avenue, along the Museum Mile on the eastern edge of Central Park on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, is by area one of the world’s largest art museums. A much smaller second location, The Cloisters at Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan, contains an extensive collection of art, architecture, and artifacts from medieval Europe.
Art Institute of Chicago
Established in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest museums in the USA with a permanent collection of about 300,000 works of art. The museum houses one of America’s most impressive and expansive impressionist and post-impressionist art collections. Among the must-visit Chicago tourist places, the museum’s collection covers over 5,000 years of human expression from cultures around the world in the form of painting, prints, photography, sculpture, decorative arts, textiles, architectural drawings, and more. Masterpieces such as Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Grant Wood’s American Gothic, Mary Cassatt’s The Child’s Bath, and works by artists such as Picasso, Warhol, and Van Gogh are the highlights of the museum.
National 9/11 Memorial & Museum
The National September 11 Memorial is one of the most spectacular tourist attractions in New York. The museum was established in 2014 as a memorial to New York City dedicated to the 2,977 people killed in the 11th September 2001 attacks and the six people who died in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The museum exhibits artifacts, photos, and videos, presenting the story of 9/11, as well as the aftermath and impacts. Surrounded by trees and grass, the memorial is a curving glass building with stunning architecture, between the two pools. Also, there are bronze panels with the names of all those who are killed in the attacks around the pool. Thronged by millions of tourists from all over the globe, it is one of the must-include places in New York Tour Packages.
Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
The Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington DC is one of the most popular museums in the USA as well as in the world. Established in 1946, the museum provides an insight into the history of planes and aircraft. If you love planes and rockets, then this is the right place to visit during your USA Trip. The museum is home to the world’s largest display of aviation and space artifacts, including nearly two million photographs and 60,000 relics. The main highlights include Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Vega 5B, the Apollo 11 Command Module, Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, and Wilbur and Orville Wright’s 1903 Wright Flyer. In addition, the museum also houses other objects like rockets, balloons, equipment, satellites, and engines that draw millions of tourists every year as part of Washington tour packages.
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art is one of the premier art museums in the world and among the best museums in the United States. Built in 1937, the museum is divided in two separate buildings connected by a tunnel that displays a vast collection of masterpieces of European and American paintings, decorative arts, and sculptures. Some of the highlights include the masterpieces of Da Vinci, Rembrandt, El Greco, Monet, Renoir, Vermeer, Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, etc. Also, the museum hosts several temporary exhibitions and free concerts that lures large number of visitors, especially art lovers. Besides, a recent addition to the museum is the Sculpture Garden that covers an area of 6.1 acres and houses around 21 modern and contemporary sculptures that add more beauty to the place.
American Museum of Natural History
Opened in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest and most visited museums in USA. Located in the Upper West Side within Manhattan, the museum houses a collection of 32 million specimens of plants, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, animals, and human cultural artifacts. With its wide range of scientific study, education, and display, the museum also provides knowledge about human civilizations, the natural environment, and the cosmos. Besides, the museum is highly appreciated by the researchers and scientists all over the globe for its unique and innovative collection. Thronged by millions of visitors, it is one of the best museums to visit in New York.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Founded in 1870, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is ranked 14 among the most extensive art exhibits in the world, and the fifth-largest museum in the USA. From contemporary art and ancient Egyptian art to a range of historic and modern American art, the museum accommodates over 450,000 fine works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in America. The main highlight here includes a 12th-century lacquered wood sculpture of a Bodhisattva and Korean painted screens, the ivory and gold statue of the Minoan Snake Goddess, and a statue of the Egyptian pharaoh Mycerinus and his queen. Besides, visitors can spend a day walking through the art exhibitions or participating in one of the many programs and activities of the museum. Whether you’re an art aficionado or not, this Boston Museum is bound to impress you.
Museum of Modern Art, New York
The Modern Art Museum or MoMA is one of the largest and most influential museums of modern art in the world. Situated in Midtown Manhattan, it is one of the best museums to visit in the USA. Be it paintings, photographs, or sculptures, this museum plays a major role in showcasing the world’s most extraordinary collections of modern and contemporary art. With a total of 150,000 pieces, the star attractions of the Museum of Modern Art are “Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond” by Claude Monet, “The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh, “Broadway Boogie Woogie” by Piet Mondrian, “Le Grand Nu” by Amedeo Modigliani, and “The Sleeping Gypsy” by Henri Rousseau. Besides, the cafe on the 5th floor is known for having an open view of the Sculpture gardens. It is one of the best places to visit in New York, especially for art and history buffs as part of New York Tour Packages.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is the largest natural and historical museum located in the western United States. The museum features nearly 35 million specimens and artifacts, covering more than 4 billion years of history. Divided into three floors, the main highlight of the museum is its newly reopened 14,000-square-foot Dinosaur Hall, which houses an amazing display of dinosaur exoskeletons and other intriguing artifacts related to the species. Triceratops and a Stegosaurus are also on display. The museum has one of the largest collections of marine mammal remains in the world, with almost 30 million specimens in marine zoology.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a popular art museum originally chartered in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. The main building was completed in 1928 on a hill located at the northwest end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Home to America’s largest collections, the museum exhibits over 240,000 works including major holdings of European, American, and Asian origin. The Perelman Building, which opened in 2007, exhibits more than 150,000 prints, drawings, and photographs, along with 30,000 costume and textile pieces, and over 1,000 modern and contemporary design objects including furniture, ceramics, and glasswork. Apart, people flock here to climb the famous ‘Rocky Steps’ from the iconic film and pose by the Rocky statue in front of this museum. It is one of the best museums in the USA that lures millions of tourists every year.
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center in Orlando is one of the ten field centers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). A visit to this center gives you the unique opportunity to spot one of NASA’s best-known operation centers. With various activities, exhibitions, and experiences, this space center will give you a better knowledge of space works. Some of the exhibits include a Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, lunar exploration, Shuttle Launch Experience, IMAX Theater, Apollo/Saturn V Center, Eyes on the Universe, Rocket Garden, and Astronaut Encounter. Visited by thousands of tourists, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Orlando and among the best museums in the USA.