Do you love walking through art, history, and science exhibits that entertain and fascinate the mind? Who doesn’t? If you consider yourself a museum buff, then you should explore our list of the best American cities to visit if you love museums. Whether you’re on the East or West Coast, in the Midwest, or down South, there’s something for everyone on this list!
New York City
If you’re putting together a bucket list of cities you want to visit for their museums, New York, should probably be at the top. Many of the best art, history, and science museums—from the American Museum of Natural History to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Guggenheim—are in New York. If you want an experience that’s more out of the box, check out the Tenement Museum, which documents immigrant experiences in New York with guided tours of old tenement housing.
Washington, D.C.
As the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. is packed with all kinds of museums that draw visitors worldwide. The National Air and Space Museum is renowned worldwide. One of Washington, D.C.’s newest attractions is the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a museum exclusively about the experience of African Americans.
Chicago
Chicago may be famous for its food and skyscrapers, but it’s also home to over 60 museums. If you’re a history or science buff, the Field Museum hosts the world’s largest T. rex ever discovered. You should check out the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art if you prefer art.
Austin
Austin, Texas, may not be the biggest city on this list, but it’s one of the fastest-growing in the country. There are many things to do in Austin, including visiting its excellent museums! With museums such as Big Medium—which offers curated studio tours so that you can meet the artists yourself—Austin is great if you want to connect with local artists. For families and kids, check out the Thinkery, an indoor and outdoor children’s museum that teaches kids about art, science, and engineering with hands-on activities.
San Francisco
San Francisco is considered one of the great art cities in the country and the world, and one of the reasons is its wealth of art museums and galleries. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Asian Art Museum, and the Cartoon Art Museum are some of the city’s most famous, showcasing incredible exhibits. If you’re looking for something unique, stop by the Museum of Ice Cream!
Luckily, whether you prefer art, natural, or science museums, there’s no shortage of American cities to visit with all three! Which of these best American cities to visit if you love museums will you head to first?