Special Report

Best Museum in Every State

Greg Goebel / Wikimedia Commons

Few institutions stamp the cultural identity of a nation, region, or city like museums.

Whether they are venerable sites such as the Art Institute of Chicago, whimsical venues like the Kazoo Museum in South Carolina, or contemplative places like the Civil Rights Museum in Atlanta, museums are sources of civic pride.

Museums celebrate mankind’s achievements, acknowledge shameful episodes like slavery and genocide, and look ahead to the future with exhibits on space exploration. A visit to a museum is among the earliest memories children have of family excursions — and among the most cherished. Many adults who bring their kids to iconic institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History in New York City that they frequented as children are revisiting fond memories of gazing on the various exhibits like prehistoric mammals and, of course, dinosaurs.

Many of the traditional museums on our list such as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston are located in the Northeast. Going west, many of the institutions have forged their own identity by celebrating the local culture. Among these places are the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Iowa, Idaho Potato Museum, and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Wyoming.

To select the best museum in each state, 24/7 Wall St. sifted through rankings of these institutions by various sources, considered the top museums from a listing for each state, observed annual attendance figures, and weighed visitor comments. Admission cost is based on general admission. Many of these institutions are free.

Click here to see the best museum in each state.

Rob Hainer / Shutterstock.com

1. Alabama: U.S. Space & Rocket Center
> Where: Huntsville
> Admission: $25 adults; $17 children 5-12; free for children under 4.
> Annual attendance: 786,820
> Known for: Saturn V rocket exhibit.

See all stories featuring: Alabama

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anchoragemuseum.org

2. Alaska: Anchorage Museum
> Where:Anchorage
> Admission: $18 adult; $15 Alaska resident; $12 senior, student, and military; $9 children 3-12; free for children 2 and under.
> Annual attendance: 200,000
> Known for: Native prehistoric and ethnographic artifacts illustrating Alaskan history.

See all stories featuring: Alaska

mim.org

3. Arizona: Musical Instrument Museum
> Where: Phoenix
> Admission: $20 general, $15 ages 13-19; $10 for ages 4-12; free for children 3 and under.
> Annual attendance: 250,000
> Known for: Biggest museum of its kind in world.

See all stories featuring: Arizona

Charvex / Wikimedia Commons

4. Arkansas: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
> Where: Bentonville
> Admission: Free to view permanent collections
> Annual attendance attendance: 633,000
> Known for: Works from Georgia O’Keeffe and Benjamin West.

See all stories featuring: Arkansas

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mixmotive / iStock

5. California: The Getty Center
> Where: Los Angeles
> Admission: Free
> Annual attendance attendance: More than 2 million
> Known for: Art from the Renaissance, Dutch masters, Spanish painters, and contemporary artists.

See all stories featuring: California

Wikimedia Commons

6. Colorado: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
> Where: Denver
> Admission: $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for ages 3-18, $16.95 for ages 65+
> Annual attendance: 1.7 million
> Known for: Fossils, Egyptian mummies, and science exhibits.

See all stories featuring: Colorado

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Nick Allen / Wikimedia Commons

7. Connecticut: Yale University Art Gallery
> Where: New Haven
> Admission: Free
> Annual attendance:  232,185
> Known for: Oldest U.S. college art museum; has paintings from John Trumbull.

See all stories featuring: Connecticut

U.S. Air Force / Senior Airman Jared Duhon

8. Delaware: Delaware Air Mobility Museum
> Where: Dover
> Admission: Free
> Annual attendance: 154,000
> Known for: All things pertaining to aircraft.

See all stories featuring: Delaware

Andreas Lamecker / Wikipedia

9. Florida: Ernest Hemingway Museum
> Where: Key West
> Admission: $14 adults; $6 ages 6-12; Free 5 and under
> Annual attendance: 180,000
> Known for: The author’s residence during the 1930s.

See all stories featuring: Florida

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civilandhumanrights.org

10. Georgia: The Center for Civil and Human Rights
> Where: Atlanta
> Admission: $19.99 adults; $17.99 students and seniors; $15.99 youth; free for children 6 and under.
> Annual attendance: More than 200,000
> Known for: Linking U.S. civil rights movement with human right movement.

See all stories featuring: Georgia

Prayitno / Flickr

11. Hawaii: USS Arizona Memorial
> Where: Honolulu
> Admission: Free
> Annual attendance: 1.8 million
> Known for: Site of ship sunk at Pearl Harbor.

See all stories featuring: Hawaii

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rayb777 / Flickr

12. Idaho: Idaho Potato Museum
> Where: Blackfoot
> Admission: $6 adults, $5.50 seniors, AAA, military; $3 children 6-12; free for children 5 and under.
> Annual attendance: About 25,000
> Known for: History of the potato.

See all stories featuring: Idaho

Page Light Studios / iStock

13. Illinois: The Art Institute of Chicago
> Where: Chicago
> Admission: $25 general, $19 for senior citizens, students, and teens; free for children under 14.
> Annual attendance: 1.62 million
> Known for: Rodin, Medieval and Renaissance art, architecture and design.

See all stories featuring: Illinois

HstryQT, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

14. Indiana: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
> Where: Indianapolis
> Admission: Varies.
> Annual attendance: 1.25 million
> Known for: Pop culture, science exhibits on dinosaurs and space travel.

See all stories featuring: Indiana

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America's Power / Wikimedia Commons

15. Iowa: The Union Pacific Railroad Museum
> Where: Council Bluffs
> Admission: Free
> Annual attendance: 28,000
> Known for: Artifacts from Abraham Lincoln’s railroad car.

See all stories featuring: Iowa

Wildcat313 / Wikimedia Commons

16. Kansas: Museum of World Treasures
> Where: Wichita
> Admission: $9.95 adults; $8.95 seniors (65+); $7.95 children 4-12; free for children 3 and under.
> Annual attendance: 45,000
> Known for: Part of Berlin Wall, fossils, Civil War artifacts, presidential documents.

See all stories featuring: Kansas

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Mr. Blue MauMau / Flickr

17. Kentucky: Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
> Where: Louisville
> Admission: $15 adults; $14 seniors (60+); children (6-12) $8; free for children under 5.
> Annual attendance: 326,595
> Known for: Story about the famous baseball bat and its impact on the game.

See all stories featuring: Kentucky

Courtesy of NJF

18. Louisiana: National World War II Museum
> Where: New Orleans
> Admission: $28 for adults; $24 for seniors over age 65; $18 for students K-12 and college with ID and active military with ID; and museum members, World War II veterans and children under 5 admitted free.
> Annual attendance: 754,465
> Known for: In-depth exploration of America’s role in World War II.

See all stories featuring: Louisiana

Maine Maritime Museum, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

19. Maine: Maine Maritime Museum
> Where: Bath
> Admission: $17.50 adults; $16 seniors; $10.50 children 6-12; free for child under 6.
> Annual attendance: 56,000
> Known for: Shipwreck restoration, Maine maritime history.

See all stories featuring: Maine

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Daniel Lobo / Wikimedia Commons

20. Maryland: The American Visionary Art Museum
> Where: Baltimore
> Admission: $15.95 adults; $13.95 seniors (60+); student/child $9.95; children 6 and under free.
> Annual attendance: More than 100,000
> Known for: Great Mystery Show explores mystery behind art and science.

See all stories featuring: Maryland

Wikimedia Commons

21. Massachusetts: Museum of Fine Arts
> Where: Boston
> Admission: $25 adults‎; $23 seniors (65+)‎: ‎$23 students (18+); free for children 6 and under and for youth 7-17 weekdays after 3 p.m., otherwise $10.
> Annual attendance: 1.23 million
> Known for: Collections of Klimt, Rothko, and Escher.

See all stories featuring: Massachusetts

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Michael Barera / Wikimedia Commons

22. Michigan: The Henry Ford
> Where: Dearborn
> Admission: $24 general admission; $22 seniors (62+); $18 (5-11).
> Annual attendance: 1.8 million
> Known for: American innovation, bus ridden by civil rights figure Rosa Parks

See all stories featuring: Michigan

Alvintrusty / Wikimedia Commons

23. Minnesota: Minneapolis Institute of Art
> Where: Minneapolis
> Admission: Free
> Annual attendance: 760,000
> Known for: Chinese and African art, paintings from Monet and Matisse.

See all stories featuring: Minnesota

Julian Rankin / Wikimedia Commons

24. Mississippi: Mississippi Museum of Art
> Where: Jackson
> Admission: Many exhibits free to public, admission prices for others. Free admission for students on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
> Annual attendance: 50,000
> Known for: Mississippi artists, Robert Henri, Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, and Radcliffe Bailey.

See all stories featuring: Mississippi

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Wikimedia Commons

25. Missouri: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
> Where: Kansas City
> Admission: Free
> Annual attendance: 550,000
> Known for: Ancient, Asian and Islamic art.

See all stories featuring: Missouri

Courtesy of Museumoftherockies.org

26. Montana: Museum of the Rockies
> Where: Bozeman
> Admission: $14.50 adults, $13.50 seniors (65+), $9.50 children (5-17), free children 4 and under.
> Annual attendance: 196,201
> Known for: Dinosaur exhibits and planetarium.

See all stories featuring: Montana

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Ckahler / WIkipedia

27. Nebraska: Omaha Children’s Museum
> Where: Omaha
> Admission: $13 adults and children (2-15); $12 seniors (60+); free for children under 2.
> Annual attendance: 324,078
> Known for: Interactive exhibits on science and art.

See all stories featuring: Nebraska

themobmuseum.org

28. Nevada: The Mob Museum
> Where: Las Vegas
> Admission: $23.95 non-local adults (18 and over); $20.95 Nevada residents, military, seniors (65+), children (11-17); free for children under 10
> Annual attendance: 370,000
> Known for: History of organized crime in U.S.

See all stories featuring: Nevada

mountwashington.org

29. New Hampshire: Mount Washington Weather Discovery Center
> Where: North Conway
> Admission: $2 adults; $1 children (7-17); free for children ages 6 and under.
> Annual attendance: 50,000
> Known for: Educating visitors about the weather.

See all stories featuring: New Hampshire

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chensiyuan / Wikimedia Commons

30. New Jersey: Ellis Island Immigration Museum
> Where: Ellis Island
> Admission: Cost of ferry to island: $25.50 adults 13 and up; $21 seniors (62+); $16.00 children (4-12); free children under 4.
> Annual attendance: 3 million
> Known for: The American immigration experience.

See all stories featuring: New Jersey

Courtesy of Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

31. New Mexico: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
> Where: Santa Fe
> Admission: $13 general admission, $11 students (18+), free for children under 18
> Annual attendance: 621,000
> Known for: Oil paintings and drawings from Georgia O’Keeffe.

See all stories featuring: New Mexico

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diegograndi / iStock

32. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art
> Where: New York City
> Admission: $25 adults; $17 seniors, $12 for students, free for children under 12.
> Annual attendance: 7 million
> Known for: Art and artifacts from every epoch.

See all stories featuring: New York

NC Museum of Art / Wikipedia

33. North Carolina: North Carolina Museum of Art
> Where: Raleigh
> Admission: Free
> Annual attendance: 450,000
> Known for: Classical, Egyptian, European, Judaic, contemporary.

See all stories featuring: North Carolina

buffalomuseum.com

34. North Dakota: National Buffalo Museum
> Where: Jamestown
> Admission: $8 adults; $6 seniors, children 5-14 and active military; free for children under 5.
> Annual attendance: 8,713
> Known for: Fostering awareness of North American bison.

See all stories featuring: North Dakota

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tupungato / iStock

35. Ohio: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
> Where: Cleveland
> Admission: $26 general admission; $24 seniors (65+); $16 youth (6-12); free for children 5 and under.
> Annual attendance: 568,000
> Known for: Institution recognizes achievements of music genre’s most influential artists, producers, and engineers.

See all stories featuring: Ohio

Michael Barera / Wikimedia Commons

36. Oklahoma: American Banjo Museum
> Where: Oklahoma City
> Admission: $8 adults; $7 seniors (55+) and students; $6 youth (5-17); $5 military; free for children 5 and under
> Annual attendance: 10,000+
> Known for: Celebrating history of “America’s instrument.”

See all stories featuring: Oklahoma

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M.O. Stevens / Wikimedia Commons

37. Oregon: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
> Where: Portland
> Admission: $14.50 adults; $11.25 seniors (63+); $9.75 youth (3-13).
> Annual attendance: 1.1 million
> Known for: Science education and U.S. submarine tour.

See all stories featuring: Oregon

User:Rgordon6~commonswiki / Wikimedia Commons

38. Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Museum of Art
> Where: Philadelphia
> Admission: $20 adults; $18 seniors (65+); $14 students and youth (13-18); free for children 12 and under.
> Annual attendance: 792,000
> Known for: Auguste Rodin and Constantin Brancusi sculptures, works from Impressionists, “Rocky” statue.

See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania

americanillustration.org

39. Rhode Island: National Museum of American Illustration
> Where: Newport
> Admission: $20 adults; $18 seniors and military; $17 groups of six or more; $14 students; $10 children 5-12
> Annual attendance: 5,000
> Known for: Works from American artists such as Norman Rockwell, Frank Schoonover, N.C. Wyeth, and Charles Dana Gibson.

See all stories featuring: Rhode Island

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MCG Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

40. South Carolina: Gibbes Museum of Art
> Where: Charleston
> Admission: $15 adults; $13 seniors (62+) and military; $10 college students; $6 youth (4-17); free for children 3 and under.
> Annual attendance: 66,000
> Known for: South Carolina history experienced through art.

See all stories featuring: South Carolina

Jeff the quiet / WIkimedia Commons

41. South Dakota: Mammoth Site & Museum
> Where: Hot Springs
> Admission: $10.14 for those 13-59; $8.29 for those 60+; $7.37 children 4-12 and military; free for children 3 and under.
> Annual attendance: 100,000
> Known for: Largest concentration of mammoth remains in world.

See all stories featuring: South Dakota

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Thomas R Machnitzki / Wikimedia Commons

42. Tennessee: Tennessee State Museum
> Where: Nashville
> Admission: Free
> Annual attendance: 115,000
> Known for: Artifacts pertaining to frontier years, antebellum South, and Civil War.

See all stories featuring: Tennessee

Bryan SJS / Wikimedia Commons

43. Texas: Space Center Houston
> Where:Houston
> Admission: $29.95 adult; $27.95 senior (65+); $24.95 child (4-11); free for children 3 and under.
> Annual attendance: 1 million
> Known for: Largest collection of moon rocks.

See all stories featuring: Texas

Jim Nista / Wikimedia Commons

44. Utah: Natural History Museum of Utah
> Where: Salt Lake City
> Admission: $14.95 adults; $12.95 seniors (65+) and young adults (13-24); $9.95 children (3-12); free for children 2 and under.
> Annual attendance: 250,000
> Known for: Native American art and Utah natural history.

See all stories featuring: Utah

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Rolf Müller / Wikimedia Commons

45. Vermont: Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home
> Where: Manchester
> Admission: $23 adults; $6 youth; free for children 6 and under.
> Annual attendance: 45,000
> Known for: Home of Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert contains artifacts belonging to Robert and his parents.

See all stories featuring: Vermont

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts / Wikimedia Commons

46. Virginia: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
> Where: Richmond
> Admission: Free
> Annual attendance: 600,000+
> Known for:Faberge jeweled objects, Impressionist works, and artmobile traveling museum.

See all stories featuring: Virginia

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Cacophony, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

47. Washington: Museum of Pop Culture
> Where: Seattle
> Admission: $28 adults; $25 seniors (65+) and students; $22 military; $19 youth (5-17); free (4 and under).
> Annual attendance: 743,000
> Known for: Founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Houses pop culture artifacts.

See all stories featuring: Washington

Daderot / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

48. West Virginia: Huntington Museum of Art
> Where: Huntington
> Admission: $5; free on Tuesdays
> Annual attendance: 25,000
> Known for: Largest art museum in West Virginia; houses Appalachian folk art and plant conservatory.

See all stories featuring: West Virginia

Michael Hicks (Mulad) / Flickr / Wikipedia

49. Wisconsin: Milwaukee Art Museum
> Where: Milwaukee
> Admission: $19 adults; $17 students and seniors (65+); free for children 12 and under.
> Annual attendance: 400,000
> Known for: American decorative arts, German Expressionist prints, and Haitian art.

See all stories featuring: Wisconsin

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Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

50. Wyoming: Buffalo Bill Center of the West
> Where: Cody
> Admission: $19.50 adults; $18.50 seniors (65+); $18 students (18+); $13 youth (6-17); free for children 5 and under.
> Annual attendance: 140,000+
> Known for: Art and artifacts of American West.

See all stories featuring: Wyoming

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