10 Museums to Visit in the United States

When cold days come it doesn’t mean you have to stay home and forget about traveling or exploring a city near you. In the United States, world-class museums abound, thanks in part to the many collections passed down and donated by art lovers of yester years.

If you are wondering which museum or museums to visit, here is Travelmath’s list of 10 museums to visit in the United States:

1. Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York

Located in New York City’s museum mile on Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was incorporated in 1870 under the leadership of lawyer John Jay. By 1871, the MET had 174 European paintings and by 1880, the museum moved to its current site and began to acquire more masterpieces from around the world.

Today this two million square foot Beaux-Arts building houses one of the largest Egyptian art galleries outside of Cairo, a collection of American paintings and a large collection of European, South American, Asian and African art, sculpture, instruments, photographs and more.

Information: MET

2. Dali Museum St Petersburg

The Dali Museum in St Petersburg Florida has 96 oil paintings, original drawings, book works, prints, sculpture, photos, manuscripts and documents by Salvador Dali from 1904 to 1989. It has the most comprehensive work by the Spanish surreal artist outside of Spain.

Located in St. Petersburg, about 20 miles from Tampa International Airport, Dali’s works in Florida started as a collection by Reynolds and Eleanor Morse. Mr. and Mrs. Morse had an interest in Dali’s work since 1942. By 1943, they acquired their first Dali piece- Longlegs of the Evening, Hope! This acquisition was the beginning of a lifelong relationship between the artist and the Morses.

It’s best to combine your visit to the Dali Museum with a vacation to one of the beautiful resorts in Clearwater Florida.

Information: Dali Museum
Read 5 Best U.S. Beaches 

3. Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC

The Smithsonian consists of 19 world-class museum, a zoo and nine research centers. There is no admission fee to visit any of the museums and the zoo. It takes months to visit them all.

If you have just a few days in Washington DC we recommend a visit to the National Air and Space Museum. The museum has the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts and it is also home to the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies.

Information:
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum
Read Visit for Free in Washington DC with Kids 

4. The J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles and Malibu

The J Paul Getty Museum has two locations, one at the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the other at the Getty Villa in Malibu. The Getty Center houses European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and photography. The Getty Villa is dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria.

Some of the famous work includes Van Gogh’s Irises (1889) and Rembrandt’s An Old Man in Military Costume (1630-1631).

Information: Getty Museum 

5. Whitney Museum in New York City

Whitney Museum is New York City’s new building at 99 Gansevoort Street opened on May 1, 2015. This spectacular building designed by Renzo Piano has 50,000 square feet of indoor galleries and 13,000 square feet of outdoor space and terraces.

Sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney started the museum for living American artists because she found that it was impossible for artists with new ideas to exhibit or sell their work. She started purchasing the work and collecting from 1907 until her death in 1942.

Information: Whitney Museum

6. Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum is one of the oldest art museums in the United States. Started in 1823 as the Brooklyn Apprentices’ Library, today the 560,000-square foot Beaux Arts building houses ancient Egyptian masterpieces, African art, European painting, decorative arts, period rooms and contemporary art.

Information: Brooklyn Museum

7. The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute was founded in 1879 and now has over 300,000 works of art in eight buildings with almost one million square feet of space. Located one block from Lake Michigan, it is here that you will view the most recognizable American art by Grant Wood known as American Gothic.

Information: The Art Institute of Chicago

8. Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art started in 1876 with the Centennial Exhibition in Fairmount Park. The museum collections include European ceramics, books, antique furniture, enamels, carved ivories, jewelry, metalwork, glass, pottery, porcelain, textiles and paintings.

This ‘temple of art’ is the third largest in the United States. Among the many famous artworks are Duchamp’s Nude Descending A Staircase and Cezanne’s The Large Bathers. It has over 80-period rooms from the medieval cloister to the Indian temple.

Information: Philadelphia Museum of Art 

9. Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art has 45,000 objects that span over 6,000 years. Some of the top art pieces include Monet’s Water Lilies, Salvador Dali’s The Dream, El Greco’s The Holy Family with Mary Magdalen and Caravaggio’s The Crucifixion of Saint Andrew.

Information: Cleveland Museum of Art

10. High Museum of Atlanta

The High Museum has 15,000 objects that include an extensive collection of 19th and 20th century American and decorative art, photography, African art and folk art and European pieces.

Information: High Museum of Atlanta
Read 5 Things to Do in Atlanta

Tips before traveling:

1. Hotels near the museum.
2. Flights to the city from your hometown.
3. Find a vacation.

Do you have a favorite museum? Please share.