1. Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is the largest museum in America and houses over two million works. The museum is home to works from renowned artists like Rembrandt, van Gogh, and Picasso, making it TripAdvisor’s top museum in the world for two years running. Visitors can currently see Transitional Object (PsychoBarn) by Cornelia Parker, a combination of a classic red barn with the Bates mansion from Psycho until Halloween.
2. Art Institute of Chicago – Chicago, Illinois.
Located in the heart of Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago is home to some of the most recognizable masterpieces in the world, including Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Grant Wood’s American Gothic, and Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Visitors can also dine at the museum’s Terzo Piano restaurant, which offers incredible views of Millennium Park and the Chicago skyline.
3. National 9/11 Memorial & Museum – New York City
Opened in 2014, the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum has already welcomed over four million visitors. The museum focuses on the history of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the attack on the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993. The memorial section uses touch-screen technology to honor the victims, and the museum also features artifacts and art, including the exhibit “Rendering the Unthinkable: Artists Respond to 9/11.”
4. National WWII Museum – New Orleans, La.
The National WWII Museum in New Orleans is located in a former factory for the boats used in the D-Day invasion. Visitors can board a train car to “the front” and view the Campaigns of Courage exhibit, which tells the story of the roads to Berlin and Tokyo. The museum features vintage planes and vehicles, as well as a 4-D film narrated by Tom Hanks.
5. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum – Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is located on the National Mall and is free to visit. The museum houses the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts, including the Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer, Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, and the LM lunar module from the Apollo moon landings. Visitors can also view the studio model of the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek.
6. USS Midway Museum – San Diego, California.
The USS Midway Museum in San Diego is a former aircraft carrier that served from 1945 to the First Gulf War in 1991. The museum houses over 60 exhibits and 24 restored aircraft on its flight deck. Visitors can explore the war room, galley, sleeping quarters, and brig.
7. Getty Center – Los Angeles, California.
The Getty Center in Los Angeles is located atop a mountain and offers stunning views of the L.A. basin. Visitors can take a driverless tram to the main complex of buildings, where they can view works from renowned artists like Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Monet. The museum also houses world-class collections of photography, decorative arts, and more.
8. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex – Titusville, Florida.
Located about one hour from Orlando on Florida’s Space Coast, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers visitors the chance to view the Space Shuttle Atlantis and rockets in their own pavilions,
