Check out this list with many of the top museums to visit in the United States. Each U.S. museum review contains Linda’s pick of the exhibits, an overview of the museum and its collection, Linda’s road trip tips for the destination, who should visit the museum and how to visit, and plan, your trip to the museum.
Top Museums in the U.S.
- Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum: Waco, Texas
Discover 200+ years of law enforcement history in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco. A variety of galleries take visitors through the centuries, including a pop culture gallery. - MOPOP in Seattle: Unparalled Look at Pop Culture
Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture has one of the world’s largest pop culture collections. Check out everything from Guitar Gallery to the Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction. - Inside the Cattle Raisers Museum: Fort Worth, Texas
Discover the rich history of cattle raisers and how they contributed to the culture and economy of the Southwestern U.S. Explore 3 chronological sections starting with 1690. - Front Street Cowboy Museum: Ogallala, Nebraska
Step into the wild, wild west in Ogallala, Nebraska. Its stories cover cowboys and lawmen to the Nebraska Sandhills Warrior Rabbit and undertakers. - Fort Worth Museum of Science & History: Museum School™
From the 80-seat planetarium to the state dinosaur, the museum is an amazing attraction. Families will love visiting the Fort Worth Science and History Museum with its fun, hands-on educational exhibits. - Discover the Mormon Handcart Historic Site & Devil’s Gate in Wyoming
Discover the history of pioneers who walked across the U.S. pulling hardcarts holding all of their belongings. The Mormon Handcart Historic Site consists of Martin’s Cove and the Sun Ranch. - Historic Home of 1800s Governor in Lafayette, LA: Alexandre Mouton
Check out this Lafayette, Louisiana, historic house restored to its 1848 grandeur. Its distinctive architectural elements make it listed on the National Register of Historic Places. - See 100 Miles Across Nebraska From Scotts Bluff National Monument
From hiking to museum exhibits about the Oregon Trail that ran through Gering, Nebraska, Scotts Bluff National Monument is a great summer stop. You’ll also see photos, sketches, and watercolors by William Henry Jackson. - Standout Ranching History at the MonDak Heritage Center: Sidney, Montana
Check out the ranching displays and 1930s Main Street at the MonDak Heritage Center in Sidney, North Dakota. If you love Western art, see the collection from J.K. Ralston. - Finney County Historical Museum: 150 Years of Garden City, Kansas, History
From the Clutter Family Murders to agriculture history, this museum gives you a decade by decade look at life in Garden City, Kansas. Right next to the free Lee Richardson Zoo, it’s a must-see Kansas attraction. - Lafayette Science Museum: From Dinosaurs to the Space Age in Louisiana
From a rare Saurophagan dinosaur to nanotechnology to a state-of-the-art planetarium, the Lafayette Science Museum is a great destination. There’s lots to see in this 10,000 sq foot science museum in Louisiana. - Adams Museum in Deadwood: Where Legends are Larger Than Life
Deadwood, South Dakota has been entertaining people since1876. The Adams Museum archives the history of the infamous and the mundane in a house circa 1892. - U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii Artillery Battery in Honolulu
From early Hawaiian Warfare to Pearl Harbor and WWII to the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii is a fascinating attraction. Visit it in Battery Randolph in Waikiki, Honolulu. - Bishop’s Palace in Galveston, Texas: Victorian Era Castle
Visit this historic house museum included in the top 100 most important U.S. buildings by the American Institute of Architects. It even withstood the 1900 Galveston Hurricane! - EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin: Airplanes from All Eras
Find original historic ariplanes and some replicas along with the stories of the aviators who built and flew them at the EAA Aviation Museum. This world-class airplane museum is situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. - Minnesota Discovery Center: Iron Range Mining History Museum
The Minnesota Discovery Center covers dozens of topics related to the Mesabi Iron Range. From iron mining to trade union history, this general museum in Chisholm is the largest Minnesota museum outside of the Twin Cities. - Museum of North Texas History: Wichita Falls
From 500 western hats to Vietnam War artifacts, the Museum of North Texas History in Wichita Falls, Texas, is a great attraction. - Fick Fossil & History Museum: Buffalo Bill to Prehistoric Fish in Oakley, Kansas
With over 11,000 shark teeth and the largest known Mosasaur skull, the Fick Fossil & History Museum has lots to see. Located in Oakley, Kansas, the museum has many other 1800s & 1900s artifacts. - Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum: Simi Valley, California
President Ronald Reagan contributed to the ending of the Cold War. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley, California, preserves that history. - Rip Van Winkle Gardens & Historic Mansion: Jefferson Island, Louisiana
The 1870 historic home of Joseph Jefferson is the location of the Rip Van Winkle Gardens. The New Iberia, Louisiana, house is on the National Register of Historic Places. - USS Lexington Museum: WWII Aircraft Carrier in Corpus Christi, Texas
The USS Lexington Museum & National Historic Landmark is a must-see aircraft carrier in Corpus Christi, Texas. Onboard experiences include everything from vintage planes to a flight simulator to a 3D theater. - Missouri State Penitentiary Museum: Jefferson City, Missouri
Whether you’re looking for quirky or historic, a visit to Jefferson City’s Missouri State Penitentiary Museum fills the bill. After operating for 168 years, the prison was opened as a museum in 2013. - Crazy Horse Memorial & Museums: South Dakota’s Black Hills
The Crazy Horse Memorial is a sculpture cut into Thunderhead Mountain in the Black Hills of South Dakota. There’s also a museum and cultural center with the memorial. - Butch Cassidy Bank Robbery Museum: Montpelier, Idaho
Montpelier, Idaho, is home to the Butch Cassidy Bank Robbery Museum. See this last verified location robbed by the Wild Bunch. - Regional Military Museum: Artifacts from all US Wars in Houma, Lousiana
The Regional Military Museum in Houma, Louisiana, has a good collection of artifacts from all wars the U.S. has participated in. This includes Eisenhower’s Air Force One plane. #museums #travel - Myra Museum: Lustron House & More in Grand Forks, North Dakota
The Myra Museum in Grand Forks, North Dakota, is an open air heritage museum. It features the historic Campbell House and a Lustron metal prefabricated home, as well as several other furnished buildings and a main museum building. - Fort Cody Trading Post: Miniature Wild West Show in North Platte, Nebraska
The key attraction at the Fort Cody Trading Post in North Platte, Nebraska, is a miniature wild west show. This amazing piece of art consists of 20,000 to-scale carvings of Buffalo Bill’s show. - Morro Bay Maritime Museum: Morro Bay, California
California’s Morro Bay Maritime Museum has some unique artifacts in its outdoor collection, as well as lots of history indoors including oral histories. - The Sheriff’s House Museum & Historic Site: A Hidden Gem in Devils Lake, North Dakota
The Sheriff’s House Museum is an historic house and National Historic site in Devils Lake, North Dakota. The restored brick home is beautifully decorated. - Oklahoma Route 66 Museum: Clinton, Oklahoma, Exploring the Mother Road History
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton is the official state museum for the “Mother Road.” Covering 1926 to 1985, many exhibits focus on the heydays of the 1950s. - Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum: Galveston, Texas, Oil Drilling History
The Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum is located in Galveston, Texas. The drilling rig once operated in the Gulf of Mexico and has been converted to a museum with lots of artifacts and information. - Miracle of America Museum: 40+ Buildings in Polson, Montana
The Miracle of America Museum is located in Polson, Montana, just outside Glacier National Park. It’s an eclectic collection of Americana from logging tow boat to toys and dolls. - Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum: Ashland, Nebraska
The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum has a collection of around 40 Cold War military airplanes and many types of missiles. It’s located in Ashland, Nebraska. - National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame: Cowgirl history in Fort Worth, Texas
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is in Fort Worth, Texas, Cultural District. It’s dedicated to cowgirls from Annie Oakley to the present. - McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum: Chicago, Illinois
The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum in is Chicago, Illinois. This small museum lets visitors see the technology behind Chicago’s movable bridges. - National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum: Hayward, Wisconsin
The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum is located in Hayward, Wisconsin. Check out its four-and-a-half story fiberglass musky on its grounds. - Naranjo Museum: Dinosaurs & Fossils in Lufkin, Texas
The Naranjo Museum of Natural History is located in Lufkin, Texas. You’ll find lots of dinosaurs, fossils, and even a moon rock. - Museum of the Yellowstone: 150 Years of Travel In Yellowstone National Park
The Museum of the Yellowstone is in West Yellowstone, Montana. It’s dedicated to curating the 150 year history of transportation in Yellowstone National Park. - Pioneer Auto Show Museum: Cars & More in Murdo, South Dakota
The Pioneer Auto Show museum is located in Murdo, South Dakota. It has five main collections: cars, motorcycles, tractors, collectibles & Americana, and open air prairie town. - Texas Seaport Museum: Gulf Coast History in Galveston, Texas
The Texas Seaport Museum in Galveston is a many-faceted attraction. See the 1877 tall ship Elissa or experience immigration or see the remains of a concrete ship! - Children’s Museum of Acadiana: Family Attraction in Lafayette, Louisiana
The Children’s Museum of Acadiana is situated in Lafayette, Louisiana. It’s fully interactive with nearly 20 different learning centers for children from toddler age to teens. - Stafford Air & Space Museum: Space Shuttles to Rockets in Weatherford, Oklahoma
The Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford, Oklahoma, is dedicated to the history of aviation & space flight. With over 3500 artifacts including many actual flown artifacts, and a dozen interactive exhibits, it’s a must-see attraction. - Texas Energy Museum: Oil History in Beaumont, Texas
The Texas Energy Museum showcases the history and significance of oil in Texas. With state-of-the-art displays and interactives, it’s a fascinating attraction for people of all ages. - Dr Pepper Museum: Great Tastes in Waco, Texas
The Dr Pepper Museum is located in Waco, Texas. With a collection of over 100,000 items of Dr Pepper memorabilia and Americana, you’ll learn about its history and how soda drinks are bottled. - Moody Gardens: Resort & Fun Attractions with Pyramids in Galveston, Texas
Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas, is AZA accredited for its aquarium and rainforest zoo. It’s also home to a museum of regularly rotating exhibits, featuring topics such as Body Worlds RX: Prescriptions for Healthy Living. - Vermilionville: Living History Open Air Village in Lafayette, Louisiana
The Vermilionville Historic Village is an open air museum in Lafayette, Louisiana. It has a variety of displays, artifacts, buildings, and costumed interpreters on 23 acres along Bayou Vermilion. - The Enchanted Highway: Giant Metal Sculptures in North Dakota
The Enchanted Highway is home to 7 giant sculptures — an open air art museum — near Dickinson, ND. The highway is right off I-94 and 32 miles long. - Museum of Clean: Pocatello, Idaho
The Museum of Clean is a must-see attraction when you’re traveling through Idaho on I-15! From the history of vacuums through to all kinds of cleaning tools and accessories, it’s a fascinating stop. - Frontier Prison Museum: Rawlins, Wyoming
Prison life in the early 1900s was a matter of survival as you’ll learn when you visit the Wyoming Frontier Prison Museum in Rawlins. - Bishop Museum: Cultural Treasures in Honolulu, Hawaii
With 25 million historical, cultural, and natural treasures, the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a must-see museum when you’re in Honolulu. It curates history from across the entire Pacific Basin. - Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum: Puunene, Maui, Hawaii
There’s more to an historic sugar cane plantation than meets the eye! This museum curates the gruelling job of growing sugar cane – Hawaii’s biggest contributor to the economy for a century. - Frontier Auto Museum: Classic Cars & Collectibles in Gillette, Wyoming
Gillette, Wyoming Museum with an amazing collection of Americana objects from cars, fuel stations, toys, and more. Showroom ready cars include Hudson, Studebaker, Packard, Chandler, and Crosley. - Levine Museum of the New South: Charlotte, North Carolina
The Levine Museum of the New South in Charlotte, North Carolina, focuses on changing exhibits that foster empathy, ignite dialog, and inspire action. It aims to create a stronger, more equitable community. - North Carolina Music Hall of Fame & Curb Museum for Music: Kannapolis, NC
The Curb Museum for Music in Kannapolis, North Carolina, curates the history of Curb Records as well as the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. See displays of well known performers like Roberta Flack and George Hamilton IV. - Curb Motorsports Museum: Kannapolis, North Carolina
The Curb Motorsports Museum is owned by race car sponsor and owner, Mike Curb. The collection includes cars ranging from Dale Earnhardt’s stock car to modified winged cars. - NASCAR Hall of Fame: Charlotte, North Carolina
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is a museum for everyone who loves motorsports. From Glory Road vintage cars, to the Great Hall of inductees, to 50+ interactive experiences, it’s a must-see attraction. - Vilas Historical Museum: Snowmobiles to Paul Bunyan in a Wisconsin Museum
The Vilas Historical Museum curates the history and artifacts of Vilas County, including the original first Eliason snowmobile. The collection also includes everything from dolls to lumberjack tools. - World Snowmobile Headquarters Museum: Eagle River, Wisconsin
Eagle River, WI, is snowmobile central, whether you’re hitting the snowmobile trails or racetrack. This snowmobile museum has a great display of sleds and tons of information about every aspect of the industry. - Polaris Experience Center: Polaris Snowmobile Museum in Roseau, Minnesota
The Polaris Experience Center is a must-see for snowmobile enthusiasts. From the Midnight Blue Express to the Polaris Thrill Team, it’s a fascinating museum. - Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience: New Orleans, Louisiana
The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience curates the history and experiences of people from 13 southern states. Jews and non-Jewish people will find the history fascinating. - Audubon Insectarium: Natural Science Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana
There’s more to bugs than you might imagine! Discover all kinds of fascinting things about insects at New Orleans’ Audubon Insectarium Science Museum. - Nanaimo Museum: Diverse History of Nanaimo, British Columbia
From a Snunéymuxw First Nations totem pole to a “boat” from the annual July bathtub race, there’s lots to see in the Nanaimo Museum. This general museum provides a great introduction to the history and culture of Nanaimo. - Jefferson Historical Museum in Big Cypress Bayou: Jefferson, Texas
The Jefferson Historical Museum in Jefferson, Texas, preserves the town’s heritage as a bustling riverport town. It’s located in the town’s original 1888 Post Office and Federal Court House. - Gone With the Wind Museum: Memorabilia in Jefferson, Texas
Scarlett O’Hardy’s Gone With the Wind Museum appeals to the romance in all of us. Whether you just want to know more about the book and movie or their Hollywood production, the museum takes you back into Southern U.S. history. - National Museum of the Pacific War: Fredericksburg, Texas
The National Museum of the Pacific War is located inFredericksburg, Texas. With comprehensive coverage of the Pacific theaters and regularly scheduled re-enactments, it’s a must-see Texas attraction. - Hearst Castle: National Historic Landmark in San Simeon, California
Visit one of the world’s most luxurious residences — Hearst Castle — in San Simeon, California. With everything from a Roman Pool/bath to 42 bedrooms this spot was a paradise for the rich and famous in the 1920s and 1930s. - Hill Aerospace Museum: Military Aircraft at Hill AFB, Utah
A free attraction, the Hill Aerospace Museum is military aviation museum. The collection includes 90+ military aircraft and missiles. - Legends Motorcycle Museum: Harleys to Merkels in Springville, Utah
Legends Motorcycle Museum is home to 100+ vintage motorcycles. From Harley Davidsons to rare bikes, like the Merkel and Thor motorcycles, it’s a great stop off Interstate 15 in Utah. - Battleship Memorial Park: 1942 Battleship & 1941 Submarine in Mobile, Alabama
Battleship Memorial Park is home to both a 1942 battleship and a 1941 submarine. It also includes an aircraft pavilion with some Cold War planes. - Museum of the Fur Trade: Chadron, Nebraska
The Museum of the Fur Trade has a collection of over 6000 primary objects and a 10,000 volume library. Extensive amounts of information are provided with the objects. - Oak Alley Plantation: Grand Dame of Louisiana’s River Road
Oak Alley is an historic plantation that offers everything. You can stay on site, enjoy authentic Cajun and Creole food, and tour the mansion. - Evergreen Plantation: National Landmark Site in Edgard, Louisiana
The Evergreen Plantation is one of the largest, most intact plantation complexes in the south. It has 37 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. - Frontier Gateway Museum: Dinosaur Fossils & Glendive, Montana History
The Frontier Gateway Museum is located in Glendive, Montana. It has a variety of well-developed displays, from early fashion to farm machinery to dinosaur fossils. - Idaho Potato Museum: Blackfoot, Idaho
Potatoes are a staple in North America and Idaho’s Potato Museum is in the world’s potato capital. Discover history and fun facts about potatoes. - Fagen Fighters WWII Museum: Granite Falls, Minnesota
Visit this Minnesota WWII museum to find many unique artifacts from World War II. It also features large realistic wall murals depicting important battles. - Mystic Seaport Museum: Historic Seafaring Village in Mystic, Connecticut
The Mystic Seaport is a maritime museum dedicated to the history of whaling. Its impressive ship collection includes the Charles W. Morgan last wooden whaleship in the world. - Manhattan Project National Historical Park: WWII History in Hanford, Washington
The National Historical Park B Reactor in Hanford, WA, was one of three sites in the Manhattan Project. Take a free tour to see the reactor as it looked during operations. - Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum: Naubinway, Michigan
The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum is in the small Michigan town of Naubinway. It’s collection has many unique machines with lots of information provided. - National World War II Museum: New Orleans, Louisiana
The National WWII Museum takes you to 27 countries around the world, covering all the theaters of WWII. It also has a Dog Tag experience that let each visitor have a real-life story to follow. - Hawk Museum’s Educational Doll Collection: Wolford, North Dakota
The Educational Doll collection is part of the Martha Hawk Museum & Campgrounds near Wolford, ND. From celebrity dolls to international dolls to tiny dolls from the 1940s, there’s lots to see. - Rosebud County Museum: Homesteader History in Forsythe, Montana
The Forsythe County Museum preserves the history of this local Montana county. The focus is on pioneer homes and farming. - Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum: St. Germain, Wisconsin
The Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum is in St. Germain, Wisconsin. Displays include winning race sleds, vintage snowmobiles, gear, & memorabilia. - Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum: 25+ Dinosaur Skeletons in Glendive, Montana
The Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum in Montana is narrated from the Young Earth Creationism perspective. It features many dinosaur fossils and a biblical history room. - Bagg Bonanza Farm: Historic Landmark in Mooreton, North Dakota
The Bagg Bonanza Farm is a National Historic Landmark in North Dakota. It features a 20-room house and restored barn, along with outbuildings and furniture. - Bonanzaville: Open Air Pioneer Village Museum in Fargo, North Dakota
The open air pioneer village museum, Bonanzaville, in Fargo, North Dakota, has 40+ historic buildings. It contains typical pioneer community & agricultural exhibits with lots of extras. - Range Riders Museum: Old West Lives Again in Miles City, Montana
Visit the Range Riders Museum in Miles City, Montana, for a real old west experience. Created by working cowboys, it tells the story of the West.
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