As a history buff, you probably know about the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. However, other historical museums throughout the nation will capture your intrigue. Here are 20 must-see American museums.
1. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
This museum follows the journey of civil rights advocates in the 1950s and 1960s. Its powerful exhibits explore the struggle of Black Americans from the Jim Crow laws of the 19th Century to the demonstrations in the ‘60s.
You can see the bars Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sat behind in a Birmingham Jail penning his famous letter. View shards of glass from the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing and a nightstick confiscated from a firefighter during the Children’s Crusade. You can also see the cross and shovel used in a Huntsville hate crime, and Bull Connor’s tank.
Admission to the museum is $15 for adults, and $13 for seniors and children grade five and above. Any child under grade four is free.
Birmingham is a city full of history. While there, you can also visit the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.
2. Alaska Museum of Science & Nature
Alaska is a gorgeous state to live in or spend a vacation experiencing the mountains, glaciers and valleys. The Museum of Science and Nature in Anchorage provides a unique experience, chronicling the area from prehistoric times to the present. You can learn the story of Alaska during the last Ice Age with recreations of extinct animals, including giant beavers, mammoths and saber tooth cats.
Anchorage underwent a unique transformation — it froze and then drowned as the climate moved out of the Ice Age and into the modern era. You can compare maps and photography to see how the topography changed. Those changes influenced the Alaskan culture that exists today.
Get hands-on access to the area’s dinosaur bones, teeth, claws and eggs. You can also view skeletons and artist reproductions of dinosaurs that lived there, including a pterosaur with a 32-foot wingspan.
Admission is $8.00 for adults over 19 years old, and $7.00 for kids, seniors and military members. Toddlers under 3 years old get free access.
3. Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum
Pioneer Arizona lies in the foothills of Phoenix and is a 90-acre open-air museum. It chronicles the experiences of pioneers in the area from 1863–1912. Travel the walkways that take you past the 19th-century village and explore the homes of those who tamed the Wild West.
Wander along paved pathways past the 20 historic 19th-century buildings forming the pioneer village. You can look through the rifle ports of the “Flying V” home commemorating John Tewksbury.
View antiques in the recreations of the carpenter, blacksmith and dress shops, and other establishments. On occasion, you might find a costumed volunteer that can help you further immerse into the world of the Arizona territory. While in North Phoenix, you can also explore the Telephone History Museum.
4. The Gangster Museum of America
You can travel back to the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s at the Gangster Museum. The location offers historical entertainment about notorious criminals and an expansive gambling ring from Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Hot Springs is a truly unique town. Audiovisual experiences throughout the seven galleries tell the story of how gangsters co-existed with the small community. Listen to fascinating stories and play in the antique casino. The casino gallery has a priceless video of Maxine Jones discussing the life of a madam in Hot Springs.
Visiting the museum gives American history buffs a one-of-a-kind look into the early 20th century. General admission is $15.00. Seniors pay $14.00, kids from 8–12 years old cost $6 and younger children can enter for free.
5. Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute
This presidential library in Simi Valley, California, tells the life of the 40th president and features artifacts precious to President Ronald Reagan. Near his ranch home, it explores everything from his time living and working in Hollywood to the end of the Cold War. You can explore an actual Air Force One jet, walk through a replica of the Oval Office and visit a salvaged piece of the Berlin Wall. While there, you can pay respects to the president and his wife, Nancy.
Some of the most unique features of this museum are its hologram recreations, so stop by President Reagan’s here. General admission to the museum is $29.95, with discounts for children and seniors. Active military members get in free. While in Simi Valley, you can easily hop over to Hollywood, where the former president spent his time as an actor.
6. South Park City
South Park City in Fairplay, Colorado, is an open-air museum containing 43 original buildings from the town’s Gold Rush days. You can visit a school, doctor, blacksmith, saloon, church, general store, train caboose and more from the 1880s. Ring the school bell, play home pianos and relax on the furniture, helping you feel like you’re a part of that time.
Experience a taste of living in these towns in the 1860s and 1900s while seeing more than 60,000 artifacts from the time. Seven buildings remain in their 1800s location, while others came from nearby locations.
Admission is $10.00 for guests over 13, $9.00 for seniors and $5.00 for kids 6–12 years old. Any child 5 and under gets in free. While in Fairplay, you can also visit the famed Kenosha Pass.
7. Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center
The Pequot Museum in Ledyard, Connecticut, explores the experiences of the Pequot tribal members living on and away from the reservation from the 1600s to the 1980s. It’s the largest Native American museum in the world.
You can view an outdoor farmstead from the 1700s and see the 1940s home of Aunt Matt. Learn how the tribe rebuilt before finally gaining Federal recognition in the early 1980s.
One of the most popular features is the immersive life-size dioramas, representing scenes from the tribe’s history. In the galleries, you can learn about the tribe’s language, and political and social organization.
While in Ledyard, enjoy the nature around you, including spectacular views of the Thames River. Admission is $25.00 for adults, $20.00 for seniors, college students and educators, and $16.00 for kids over 6 years old. Kids 5 and under get free admission.
8. Winterthur Museum
Winterthur is a historic estate and premier museum of American decorative arts, with an unparalleled collection of nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America since 1640. The items are displayed in the magnificent 175-room house, much as it was when the family of founder Henry Francis du Pont called it home.
The museum is in New Castle County, Delaware and has 1,000 acres of protected meadows, woodlands, ponds, and waterways. This museum is unique because it offers graduate degree programs and a large research library to study American art and culture.
In his later years, du Pont sincerely hoped the museum would be a continuing source of inspiration and education for all time. General admission is $22.00, $20.00 for seniors and students, and $8.00 for kids under 13. Children under 2 years of age get in free.
9. The Harry S. Truman Little White House
Florida’s only presidential museum — the Harry S. Truman Little White House — has the original furnishing and memorabilia from the president’s days. Many presidents — including Presidents Taft, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter and Clinton — enjoyed it over the years.
Initially built in 1890, it served as housing in Key West for naval officers. Guests include Thomas Edison, Edward Hayden and six American presidents.
Most notably, it was Harry Truman’s winter house, where he spent 175 days of his presidency. There, he made decisions regarding Civil Rights and labor unrest, rebuilding Europe, and the U.S. Cold War response. It was also where the 2001 peace talks took place between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. You can tour the museum for $22.95.
10. America’s Transportation Experience (AACA Museum)
America’s Transportation Experience in Hershey, Pennsylvania, honors the vehicles and innovations that helped shape the United States. With frequently changing interactive exhibits, this museum always has something new to see.
More than 100 cars are on display from the 1700s to the 1970s. It also has the largest permanent collection of Tucker automobiles.
While there, check out the Museum of Bus Transportation and many historic motorcycles. You can learn how each vehicle contributed to the development of the highways and technology that allow drivers to navigate the U.S.
The museum is a Smithsonian affiliate and is excellent for families. Children can check out the vehicles while adults can appreciate the intricate details and powerful history behind them.
Admission to the museum is $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for kids and $12.50 for seniors. Toddlers under 3 years old can enter for free. Immersed in the town of Hershey, you can stay near both the museum and theme park for a solo or family vacation.
11. Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
The Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Betty Strong Encounter sit on a 20,000-square-foot privacy cultural complex in Sioux City, Iowa. The museum is part of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail and commemorates the explorers’ 1804 quest along the Missouri River. Impressive recreations and elaborate murals bring the trek to life — from President Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase to the journey home.
Interactive stations include lift-and-drop panels and a brass-rubbing station. You can also examine recreations of military equipment from the era. History buffs and casual visitors enjoy the animatronic scenes of Captains Lewis and Clark, Sergeant Charles Floyd, Thomas Jefferson, and the dog Seaman.
The Betty Strong Encounter commemorates events the Corps of Discovery experienced before and during their expedition. The 10,000-foot encounter offers activities and events exploring the region’s land, waterways and people.
Admission to the interpretive center and encounter is free for all ages. While at Sioux Falls, you can also stop and see the Charles Floyd Monument.
12. Cosmosphere
The Cosmosphere International SciEd Center & Space Museum sits in Hutchinson, Kansas. It has an expansive collection of space program artifacts and the largest assortment of Russian space artifacts outside their homeland.
The combination of artifacts offers a broad picture of the innovations that led to the moon landing. It also has fully immersive educational experiences for kids and teens that meet Next Generation Science Standards.
You can take a break and watch a documentary in the Carey Digital Dome Theater or view a presentation in the Justice Planetarium. View the Cosmosphere’s sites as a day trip, or extend your stay by visiting the nearby zoo and nature center.
13. Hermann-Grima House
The Hermann-Grima House is a restored New Orleans French Quarter home built in 1831. It includes the original operating open-hearth kitchen, large courtyard and urban slave quarters.
You can learn about and see the conditions of urban enslaved people in the 19th Century, as well as how African Americans helped shape New Orleans. The building later served as part of the Christian Women’s Exchange and a women’s rooming house.
Museum admission is $17.00 for adults, and $14.00 for military members, students, seniors and children over 8 years old. Children under 8 get in free. While enjoying the town, you can explore its sister museum — the Gallier House.
14. Colonial Williamsburg
Visiting the United States’ largest living history museum is a fantastic experience for any American history buff. The museum in Williamsburg, Virginia, is free to enter, with fees existing to open certain historic buildings and experiences. The reenactors roam and work in the buildings, dressing, talking and acting like they live in the 1600s.
Williamsburg was the center of government and culture in the Colony of Virginia pre- and post-Revolution. Colonial Williamsburg transports you back to those times, showcasing the positives and negatives of living in that period in an educational environment. With accommodations in historic and modern buildings, you can spend days immersed in history.
15. National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force
The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia, preserves the stories of the members of the Eighth Air Force from World War II to the present. Throughout the museum, you’ll find tributes to monumental moments for the Mighty Eighth, including their presence at the Normandy Invasion. You can view two aircraft — an F-4C Phantom on loan from the United States Air Force and a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17A, owned by the museum.
See items used by the Mighty Eighth during combat and a gallery of artwork created by members during their time in WWII. It offers a spectacular view into the U.S.’s involvement in the war. Each section contains a unique audiovisual experience to educate about the sacrifices the brave face each day.
Admission to the museum is $12.00 for adults, and $11.00 for seniors, college students and retired military members. Children and active military members can enter for $8.00, active duty children get in for $6.00 and kids under 6 get in free.
16. Pearl Harbor National Memorial
The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a museum and memorial that pays tribute to the people killed during the attack that brought the United States into World War II. See the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, Aviation Museum, and independent sites that pay tribute to the 2,400 military members and civilians killed, and many more impacted by the attack on December 7, 1941.
The USS Arizona, Utah and Oklahoma memorials pay tribute to the soldiers who fought in the war. Admission to the sites is free, but some distributors charge a small service fee to secure tickets. When you visit the memorial, it makes spending time on the nearby beaches more meaningful.
17. The National Oregon/California Trail Center
The National Oregon/California Trail Center sits in Montpelier, Idaho, on the historic Oregon and California Trails between Jackson, Mississippi and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Go on a simulated wagon adventure where you can take the role of a wagon train member and get guidance along your journey by actors portraying pioneers. The museum contains diaries, artifacts and relics from the people who braved the 2000-mile trek out west, particularly from Bear Lake Valley.
You can explore the interpretive sets that include wagons, supplies and atmosphere. The museum also dives into the reasoning behind emigrating to the West Coast and the dangers faced as the travelers sought a better life in the 19th century.
Adult admission is $12.00, seniors get in for $11.00, kids over 8 years old get in for $9.00, younger-kid admission is $5.00 and kids under 5 can enter for free. While in the area, you can also explore the actual trail traveled.
18. Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan, celebrates the game-changing innovations that shaped the United States and the world. It places a unique focus on educating the public about what it takes to transform an idea into something millions of people use.
The museum houses nine acres of exhibition space representing the geniuses responsible for manufacturing and power innovation. As its name suggests, there are plenty of vehicles in the museum. There are presidential vehicles, rail cars and a gallery by General Motors. You can learn about aviation innovation, clockwork and professional racing.
The museum doesn’t just focus on machines — view exhibits on fashion, pottery, glasswork and other art forms. If you have children, consider taking them to Mathematica. This interactive experience focuses on interactive learning and sparking the imagination of young ones to pursue their dreams and make their mark on the world.
Admission to the museum is $35.00 for adults and $31.50 for seniors. There are varied discounts available for kids.
19. USS LST Ship Memorial
The USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc. in Evansville, Indiana, operates the last fully operational WWII Landing Ship in the United States. The museum seeks to preserve and educate about these ships and the people who served them.
The USS LST 325 was one of the over 200 ships at the Normandy Landings. Since the vessel is still operational, you must have a trained tour guide to enter.
As a history buff, this experience is the closest a civilian comes to experiencing the intense skill and emotion of operating a warship during a world war. During operating hours, tours happen every hour on the hour. You can choose to tour the entire ship or just the main deck.
Each year, the ship cruises to visit other ports, allowing more people to understand the mechanisms and living conditions of that prominent time in history. Go to the website or call ahead to ensure the ship is back in Evansville.
The tour takes place primarily outdoors, so dressing for the weather is a necessary part of the experience. Museum admission is free.
20. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
The Civil War is a time in American History you can’t ignore. You can see first-hand artifacts and experience the war through the eyes of the USA’s 16th President.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, follows Lincoln from a log cabin to the nation’s capital. As you travel through the facility, you’ll see the Treasure’s Gallery with writings from the president, his family and his colleagues.
Interact with living history performers who can tell you about living in such a dangerous and divisive war. There are also live theater productions exploring the president’s life and leadership up to his untimely death.
Directly across from the museum sits Union Station, opened by the Illinois Central Railroad in 1898. It stopped transporting passengers on April 30, 1971. Outside the museum, you’ll find an expansive courtyard and sculpture gallery, including the Acts of Intolerance sculpture that remembers the Springfield Race Riot. The museum is free to enter during operational hours and is a must-see for American history lovers.
Fueling Your Passion for History with Museums
History is an important tool for everyone. Knowing it inspires people to move forward without repeating their ancestors’ mistakes. America has museums that showcase all elements of its history, and taking the time to explore them can reignite your passion for history and give you once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
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Author Bio
Jack Shaw has spent the last five years writing freelance and seeing as much of the world as he can. He has a distinct love of traveling and exploring new cultures. Writings about his experiences can be found on Modded, The Travel Facts, Duluth Pack and more.
