When you think of museums do you think about boring old places where you stare at dusty artwork and are really only good for field trips or dates when you are trying to impress someone with your art knowledge? Sure, many museums are a little on the stodgy side, but the United States is filled with some of the most unique and interesting museums in the entire world dedicated to art, music, science, history and even favorite foods. Yes, food.
A while ago, 24/7 Wall Street put out their list of the best museum in every state based on attendance and general popularity, but we’ve compiled a list of some of the most interesting spots in every state that have to be on your must-visit list when you can travel again. Some of these spots have new entry policies post-COVID, and have even offered virtual tours!
Alabama
This important museum in Montgomery opened in 2018, and is located on the site of a former warehouse where enslaved Black people were imprisoned. It is also near one of America’s most prominent slave auction spaces and a dock where enslaved people were trafficked. Not an easy spot to visit, but this powerful museum has art, history and videos of this dark time in America's past.
Alaska
From their Hall of Cultures to the immersive life-sized village sites, stepping into the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage offers an in-depth look at 10,000 years of Alaska Native history.
Arizona
This Phoenix institution opened in 2010 and is the largest museum in the world strictly dedicated to musical instruments. Once inside, you’ll travel around the world, looking at galleries filled with instruments you’ve likely never seen before, and the world’s largest playable sousaphone.
Arkansas
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
This outstanding space in Bentonville not only houses some pretty amazing art, but is known for its unique buildings and walking trails. They use the space to craft some special exhibitions like the North Forest Lights, which is an immersive experience bringing amazing lights to the forest There’s a large American art collection, architecture, including a house created by Frank Lloyd Wright. The entire space is free to visit, as it is sponsored by Walmart (which has its roots in this town, and there is even a museum dedicated to the chain store nearby).
California
If you haven’t been to the Getty Center, that traditional landmark needs to be on your list as well, but a trip to the Broad in Los Angeles is a must. This modern art space is known for the famed infinity rooms created by Yayoi Kusama. But they’ve also got a huge collection of other artists as well.
Colorado
This distinctive space is not only known for its vast art collection, but also its stunning architecture. The sharp angled North building was designed by Daniel Libeskind, and is situated next to the original castle-like museum space designed by Italian architect Gio Ponti.
Connecticut
This Northern Connecticut coastal spot boasts a recreated 19th century seafaring village. Yes, there are plenty of boats to explore, including a whale ship, but also a one-room school house, printing shop and even a planetarium.
Delaware
This DuPont estate is open to the public and features tours of the historic 175 room mansion, a wide collection of antiques and 60 acres of land to explore.
Florida
This St. Petersburg museum has captured the spirt of the famous and bizarre artist, with from the quirky sculptural design that shapes the space to a garden filled with melting benches. They also have rotating exhibitions on other famed artists that were contemporaries of Dali’s like Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
Georgia
There’s a lot of great options in Atlanta, from the important National Center for Civil and Human Rights, to the sublimely silly Center for Puppetry Arts , but not none will delight the entire family like the World of Coca-Cola. This fun space opened 30 years ago and has a 3-D theater, a set-up so you can see how bottles are filled and a tasting room.
Hawaii
A trip to the Pearl Harbor National Monument is on every tourists list, but if you want to get to know more about the history of Hawai'i, this large space in Honolulu is filled with a huge collection of traditional artifacts and royal heirlooms, and is entirely dedicated to Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures.
Idaho
In Blackfoot, Idaho, you can visit this museum entirely dedicated to the state’s famous potatoes. The museum gives a history of the popular crop to its evolution to chips, fries and more, filled with potato facts and accomplishments.
Illinois
This iconic spot is famous for a reason, and a Chicago fave if you are looking to recreate some Ferris Bueller fun. But it’s notable for its vast collection of really famous art. You want to see Grant Wood’s American Gothic painting? They’ve got it. You want to see some famed works by masters like Van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso, Monet and more? They’ve got those in spades.
Indiana
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
It’s got a massive dinosaurs busting out of the building and nibbling on the roof. How can this NOT be on your must-see list? Geared towards the more young at heart, they’ve got some cool dinosaurs, a Sports Legend experience, an Avenue of Champions and some impressive artwork by glass sculptor Dale Chihuly.
Iowa
Located in Council Bluffs, this historic gem opened in 2003, aiming to share American history through the lens of the railroad, specifically how the Union Pacific railroad connected the country.
Kansas
This history museum in Wichita is filled with a little of just about everything, from military garb from World War II to shrunken heads and mummies, plus dinosaurs, fossils and more.
Kentucky
National Corvette Museum
There are a lot of museums out there that have spaces dedicated to history, but few that have a whole exhibit dedicated to a momentous occasion that happened at the museum itself. But this Bowling Green spot was the site of crazy event in 2014. Their Superdome structure, used to display some amazing Corvettes of yesteryear, was the site of a sinkhole that swallowed eight vehicles. Wild, right? The superdome has been repaired, but you can still see the wreckage in the Corvette Cave-In Experience.
Louisiana
National World War II Museum
If you are heading to New Orleans, you are probably visiting the famed French Quarter, having a few adult beverages and stuffing your face with beignets, but you can also visit this massive museum dedicated to the war and its veterans.
Maine
If you are a fan of Andrew, Jamie or N.C Wyeth, this collection in Rockland, Maine is the one you need to see. The museum spotlights many Maine artists, but has a lot of Wyeth family pieces on display. Plus, Rockland is a super cute town for exploring when you are done.
Maryland
This unique Baltimore spot highlights intuitive and visionary self-taught artists and their unbridled creativity.
Angel Madison is a writer, editor, and crafter living in New Jersey with her teenage daughter and two cats.