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Museum membership guide
Top 50 Family locations in United States
byShiry
Live update: Updated July 26, 2021Copy link
Copy link1. The California Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
ShiryThe California Museum educates visitors on the Golden State’s history and unique influence on the world through ideas, innovation, the arts and culture. Through interactive exhibits and engaging programs, the Museum inspires visitors to make their own mark on history
2. The Walt Disney Family Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
3. National Churchill Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
4. Shelton McMurphey Johnson House
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Shelton McMurphey Johnson House is an Eugene, OR Victorian House Museum. It is open for tours and available for rentals. On display are period furniture, glassware, and photos of historic Eugene, as well as changing exhibits. Experience the elegance of an Afternoon Tea or rent the House for a beautiful Victorian themed wedding!
5. Adams Museum & House
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Adams Museum is the Black Hills’ oldest history museum. In 1930 pioneer businessman W.E. Adams founded the Adams Museum in downtown Deadwood with the purpose of preserving and displaying the history of the Black Hills. He donated the building to the City of Deadwood and placed the operation of the organization in the hands of a board of directors.
6. Powerhouse Science Center Discovery Museum Campus ("IDs)
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryA Sacramento staple for more than 65 years, the Powerhouse Science Center Discovery Campus provides informal STEM education. Our mission is to engage and inspire people of all ages to explore the wonders, possibilities, and responsibilities of science. Through hands-on activities, you and your family can discover science together.
7. Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is a statewide museum system with 12 locations, offering visitors a chance to engage with Indiana’s past and present and see how their actions help shape the future. At each location, visitors are invited to explore big questions and create lasting experiences that will resonate long after each visit ends. Whether interested in art or architecture, history or science, there’s something for everyone and every interest. The Indianapolis museum is located in White River State Park in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. The historic sites are located statewide, stretching from Rome City in northeastern Indiana to Angel Mounds in the southeast.
8. Minnetrista
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryMinnetrista is the home of the Ball jar — a legacy site and gathering place for residents and visitors to East Central Indiana. Minnetrista’s 40-acre campus features beautiful gardens, historic homes, a nature area, outdoor event spaces, and a museum facility that hosts an ever-changing menu of original and traveling art, history, and science exhibitions for visitors of all ages. Minnetrista is a destination for signature family-friendly festivals and events, free summer concerts, and the region’s most robust Farmer’s Market. The Minnetrista Heritage Collection preserves the cultural and industrial heritage of East Central Indiana.
9. Grout Museum District: Bluedorn Science Imaginarium
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe mission of the Grout Museum District is to provide a better understanding of our world by collecting, preserving and interpreting history and illustrating scientific principles. The Grout Museum collects, preserves and interprets cultural and natural history of the region; the Rensselaer Russell House Museum and the Snowden House preserve and interpret elements of the Victorian age; the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium provides exhibitions and programming that inspire the study of the sciences. And the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum honors the service and sacrifice of Iowa veterans from the Civil War to present.
10. Louisiana Art and Science Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Louisiana Art & Science Museum is defined by the belief that the disciplines of art and science shape and inform one another and that interdisciplinary experiences enhance the audience’s ability to make connections and discover new ways of seeing and thinking. The Art & Science Museum is located in a 1925 historic railway station, on the banks of the Mississippi River, in a thriving downtown area. The Louisiana Art & Science Museum seeks to enhance the understanding and appreciation of art and science for general audiences and students by presenting unique, educational and entertaining experiences that encourage discovery, inspire creativity, and foster the pursuit of knowledge.
11. Springfield Museums Corporation
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryLocated in the heart of downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, the Springfield Museums offers access to four world-class museums and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden all under a single admission.
12. The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art and Technology
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Works®–central Ohio’s only destination for hands-on exploration in history, art, science, and glassblowing–all under one roof. Visiting The Works® is a great family day trip, school field trip, or creative center for adults and kids of all ages.
13. University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History ("IDs)
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryExplore thousands of years of human history and millions of years of natural history, all with an emphasis on Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Investigate the past and imagine the future through world-class collections and stunning displays—with family-friendly sections throughout.
14. Children’s Museum of Virginia
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
15. New Hampshire Telephone Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe New Hampshire Telephone Museum houses a tangible history of telecommunications which can be viewed via guided or self-guided tours. Our knowledgeable staff provides engaging commentary highlighting important moments in telephone history, such as the race to the patent office, the undertaker who invented the dial system, and much more.
16. Portsmouth Historical Society
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe mission of Portsmouth Historical Society is to, “Champion the history, arts and culture of the Portsmouth Region through acquisitions, preservation, museum exhibitions, programs and publications.” The Portsmouth Historical Society, which celebrated its centennial in 2017, administers two facilities in the west end of the heart of downtown, including Discover Portsmouth—a large historic structure featuring exhibition galleries, a museum shop, and a welcome center, and the historic 1758 John Paul Jones House (pictured) and Garden, a National Historic Landmark that was saved from demolition in 1917, and houses exhibitions of the Society’s permanent collections including Portsmouth memorabilia, furniture, textiles and other material culture. The Society also hosts two other nonprofits under its banner: Portsmouth Advocates, the city’s architectural preservation group; and Portsmouth Marine Society Press, our nonprofit publishing arm which has 38 titles to date.
17. American Precision Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe American Precision Museum combines the atmosphere of an original 19th century factory building with a world-class collection of historic machines. The 1846 armory building, the “Shaping America” exhibition and accompanying programs explore industrial history in the context of innovation, creative problem solving, and the impact of precision manufacturing on American history and culture. The museum is a National Historic Landmark and an International Mechanical Engineering Heritage Site and Collection.
18. Guild Hall of East Hampton
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryGuild Hall, one of the first multidisciplinary centers in the country to combine a museum, theater, and education space under one roof, was established in 1931 as a gathering place for community where an appreciation for the arts would serve to encourage greater civic participation. For nearly nine decades, Guild Hall has embraced this open-minded vision and provided a welcoming environment for the public to engage with art exhibitions, performances, and educational offerings. Art and artists have long been the engine of Guild Hall’s activities and the institution continues to find innovative ways to support creativity in everyone.
19. Corning Museum of Glass
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryFrom children looking for an adventure to artists in search of inspiration, there is something for everyone at The Corning Museum of Glass, located in Finger Lakes Wine Country of Upstate NY. The world’s largest glass museum offers the opportunity to browse 3500 years of glassmaking history in the collection galleries. See the new daylit Contemporary Art + Design Wing which houses the best of the last 25 years in glass, and a 500-seat Amphitheater Hot Shop, a space dedicated to live glass demos and design sessions. See glass come to life during a Hot Glass Demo, and be inspired to experience the wonder of glassmaking for yourself during a Make Your Own Glass workshop.
20. Heckscher Museum of Art
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Heckscher Museum brings art and people together. It is a catalyst for discovery, imagination, the exchange of ideas, and the sharing of experiences. Located in Huntington Village on Long Island’s North Shore “Gold Coast,” The Heckscher Museum’s beaux-arts building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum welcomes more than 50,000 visitors each year. New York City businessman and philanthropist August Heckscher (1848-1941) built the Museum for what was largely a rural community in 1920. He believed that people living outside of urban areas should have access to the fine arts as a part of their daily lives. Mr. Heckscher was also a champion of arts education for children. The Heckscher Museum plays a prominent role in the cultural and educational life of Long Islanders. An average of five changing exhibitions each year highlight the Museum’s impressive Permanent Collection of American and European art, as well as works lent by artists, collectors, and museums. The Museum lends works of art from its collection to museums around the world for special exhibitions. A leader in K-12 visual arts education, school programs reach more than 10,000 elementary, middle, and high school students each year. Public programs engage children, families, and adults with art thinking and art making. As The Heckscher Museum approaches its Centennial in 2020, it is committed to expanding its role as a cultural and educational leader on Long Island. The Museum’s Centennial will look to the exciting years ahead, and the ways to meet the changing needs and interests of current and future generations of Long Islanders.
21. Pioneer Works
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryPioneer Works is a cultural center dedicated to experimentation, education, and production across disciplines. Through a broad range of educational programs, performances, residencies, and exhibitions, Pioneer Works transcends disciplinary boundaries to foster a community where alternative modes of thought are activated and supported. We strive to make culture accessible to all. 85% of our funds are spent on free and affordable programs, across each disciplinary department and our community engagement team. This wide scope of accessible offerings attracts over 150,000 individuals per year to our building.
22. Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryAt the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling (SHCMAS), children and families grow and learn about the rich cultural history of Sugar Hill, and the world at large, through intergenerational dialogue with artists, art and storytelling. Within our gallery, workshop and gathering spaces, SHCMAS offers direct engagement with accomplished artists and storytellers, well-equipped art-making facilities, and firsthand experiences with historically significant and important contemporary art. Programs are particularly designed to nurture the curiosity, creative spirit and cognitive development of three- to eight-year-old children; positively impacting the outlook for their future, and the future of their community.
23. The Bronx Museum of the Arts
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Bronx Museum of the Arts is an internationally recognized cultural destination that presents innovative contemporary art exhibitions and education programs and is committed to promoting cross-cultural dialogues for diverse audiences. Since its founding in 1971, the Museum has played a vital role in the Bronx by helping to make art accessible to the entire community and connecting with local schools, artists, teens, and families through its robust education initiatives and public programs. In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the Museum implemented a universal free admission policy, supporting its mission to make arts experiences available to all audiences.
24. The Long Island Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Long Island Museum is dedicated to inspiring people of all ages with an understanding and enjoyment of American art, history and carriages as expressed through the heritage of Long Island and its diverse communities. The LIM houses collections that reflect the art, history and culture of 19th and 20th century America including the largest collection of horse drawn vehicles in the nation. The LIM features year-round changing exhibitions in it’s History Museum and Art Museum. Visit longislandmuseum.org to view current and upcoming exhibitions and programs!
25. Fitchburg Art Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
26. Larz Anderson Auto Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryHome to “America’s Oldest Car Collection” the Larz Anderson Auto Museum is just 5 miles outside of Boston and set in the beautiful 64 acre Larz Anderson Park. The Museum hosts numerous types of events throughout the year, including educational speaker series, musical events and car shows such as Tutto Italiano, the largest Italian Car Festival in the Northeast.
27. Discovery Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryInteractive science exhibits for children of all ages, as well as adults.
28. Berkshire Botanical Garden
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Berkshire Botanical Garden is a not-for-profit, membership-supported educational organization encompassing 15 acres of cultivated land at the intersection of Routes 102 and 183 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Classes, workshops, lectures and special events are offered year-round. Since its inception, the Garden also has offered a broad variety of educational programs to school children from the surrounding area.
29. Falmouth Museums on the Green
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Falmouth Museums on the Green, owned and operated by the Falmouth Historical Society and located on Cape Cod, is a 2-acre venue that offers a wide swath: the 1790 Dr. Francis Wicks House, which is a guided tour of a Federal-period home that shows how an affluent physician lived in the days after the American Revolution; the 1730 Conant House, which is used for rotating exhibits, a research library, and offices; the Hallett Barn Visitors Center, where tours begin and where exhibits on Falmouth history, as well as the “Whaling Wives Gift Shop”, are located; the Cultural Center, where public and private programs, lectures and exhibits are held; and the Colonial Gardens and Memorial Park, which are gardens maintained by the Falmouth Garden Club.
30. Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryLocation: 227 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107, United States. For more details: http://www.noahwebsterhouse.org , 860-521-5362
31. Mattatuck Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryWe use our history collections to tell the stories of our community and partner with neighborhood associations, ethnic organizations and manufacturing groups. Our art galleries display the work of American masters associated with our state and include Anni Albers, Alexander Calder and Frederic Church. The Mattatuck also presents more than 25 changing exhibitions every year featuring significant artist of the past as well as today’s contemporary artists. The Museum is also home to a button gallery displaying 10,000 miniature works of art collected from around the globe and donated to the Museum in 1999 by the Waterbury Companies (formerly Waterbury Button Company).
32. The Mark Twain House and Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Mark Twain House & Museum, a National Historic Landmark in Hartford, Connecticut, was the home of America’s greatest author, Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) and his family from 1874 to 1891. It is also where Twain lived when he wrote his most important works, including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and The Pauper, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. A stunning example of Picturesque Gothic architecture, the 25-room home features a dramatic grand hall, a lush glass conservatory, a grand library, and the handsome billiard room where Twain wrote his famous books.
33. New Jersey State Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
34. Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryWheaton Arts and Cultural Center, founded as Wheaton Village in 1968, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to engage artists and audiences in an evolving exploration of creativity. Celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2020, WheatonArts has earned regional, national and international recognition for its unique collections and programs.
35. Baltimore Museum of Industry
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI) celebrates Maryland’s industrial legacy and shows how innovation fuels ongoing progress. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and collections, the BMI engages visitors in the stories of the people who built Baltimore and those who shape the region’s future.
36. Chester County Historical Society
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryLocated in beautiful West Chester, outside of Philadelphia, and nestled between such sites as historic Brandywine Valley and Longwood Gardens, CCHS boasts a collection of more than 90,000 artifacts spanning four centuries of history, a research Library, an Archives, a History Lab for children, a Museum store, and permanent and changing exhibits. Programs, lectures, special events, book signings and group programming will appeal to history lovers of all ages.
37. Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science and Art
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Everhart Museum is one of the region’s leading resources for educational and cultural opportunities. With a multidisciplinary and diverse approach, the Everhart creates extraordinary experiences. Our programs stimulate creative expression and active engagement between art and science. Whether you attend a lecture, workshop, or studio course, our classes are designed for all ages, interests, and abilities.
38. Laurel Hill Cemetery
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryIn 1978, Drayton and Jane Smith, and John Francis Marion founded the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery. The Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and was established to support the cemetery. The mission of the Friends is to preserve, protect, and promote the historical and visual character of Laurel Hill Cemetery through progressive interpretation, education, and fundraising. In addition to developing and implementing educational programs at the cemetery, the Friends sponsor special events, including Laurel Hill’s famous Halloween festivities, and offer both public and private tours of the site, often in collaboration with local school, nonprofit groups, and historical organizations.
39. National Museum of Industrial History
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe mission of the National Museum of Industrial History is to forge a connection between America’s industrial past and the innovations of today by educating the public and inspiring the visionaries of tomorrow. Housed in a restored 100-year-old former Bethlehem Steel facility on the largest private brownfield in America, the Museum is home to exciting exhibits and engaging programs which tell the story of America’s industrial achievements and the accomplishments of our workers, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
40. Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Sigal Museum property tells an interesting history common to the evolution of old downtowns; with its design and function changing with the times: from family home to Opera House to Bridal Salon to history museum.
41. National Building Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution devoted to interpreting the history and impact of the built environment through exhibitions, public programs, and festivals. Located just four blocks from the National Mall, the Museum occupies a magnificent building with a soaring Great Hall, colossal 75-foot-tall Corinthian columns, and a 1,200-foot terra cotta frieze.
42. Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College houses an outstanding collection of American art. The collection is chiefly paintings, works on paper, and photographs from the 19th through 21st centuries. Located on the Randolph campus and open to visitors all year, the Maier serves both the academic community and the general public. It offers changing exhibitions, rotating displays of the permanent collection, and educational programs.
43. Levine Museum of the New South
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryLevine Museum engages a broad-based audience in the exploration and appreciation of the diverse history of the South since the Civil War, with a focus on Charlotte and the surrounding Carolina Piedmont. Through the museum we collect, preserve, and interpret the materials, sights, sounds, and ideas that illumine and enliven this history. The museum presents opportunities for life-long learning about this history for the benefit, enjoyment and education of children and adults, and provides historical context for contemporary issues and a community forum for thoughtful discussion.
44. Wrightsville Beach Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryWrightsville Beach has quite a story to tell with a history of post-Civil War sailing regattas and being known as the “Playground of the South” in the 1930s. Today it has been named “Best Small Beach Town” by U.S. News & World Report in 2018 and has the best East Coast surfing and stand-up paddleboarding. Walk through the 1909 Myers Cottage and feel what it was like to be at Wrightsville Beach during earlier generations with a bathroom of bathing suits hanging to dry, a kitchen filled with vintage items, and a porch lined with rocking chairs. As part of the permanent display, visitors can explore a shell collection, maps from the 1920s, and a scale model of the beach and its buildings circa 1910. The newly –opened 1924 Bordeaux Cottage features the Waterman Room exploring local water sports and professions, Chris Stone Exploration Room for hands-on activities, and the Lumina Room with exhibits on Lumina pavilion where the Big Bands of the 1930s once played.Visit the museum and explore its vibrant past as it relates to today’s beach.
45. Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
46. Culture & Heritage Museums
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
47. Historic Rock Hill
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryHistoric Rock Hill is a nonprofit historic preservation organization that owns and operates the White Home. Established in 1838, the White Home is one of the oldest homes in Rock Hill and houses the organization’s collection of artifacts and photographs spanning five generations of the White family. The White Home museum tells the story of the White family in addition to recording the growth and development of Rock Hill over the past 175 years. The historic site also serves as a gathering place for visitors of all ages, marking the start and end points for Old Town Historic Walking Tours.
48. Atlanta Contemporary
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryFounded in 1973 as Nexus, a grassroots artists’ cooperative, Atlanta Contemporary has since become one of the southeast’s leading contemporary art centers. We play a vital role in Atlanta’s cultural landscape by presenting over 20 exhibitions within four seasonal cycles each year, featuring over 100 consequential artists from the local, national, and international art scenes. We are one of the few local institutions that commissions new works by artists, paying particular attention to artists of note who have not had a significant exhibition in the Southeast. We organize 80+ diverse educational offerings annually, unrivaled by other local organizations of our size. We are the only local organization to provide on-site subsidized studio space to working artists through our Studio Artist Program, removing cost as a barrier to the creative process. We present 80+ educational programs and events each year, including Contemporary Cocktails, Contemporary Kids, Contemporary Talks, Curator tours, film screenings, panel discussions, performances, donor excursions, and workshops.Our Studio Artist Program supports local working artists by providing subsidized studio space and by fostering a collaborative environment supportive of the creative process. Supporters of Atlanta Contemporary enjoy an array of benefits ranging from free admission and discounts on select events, discounts at our SHOP & COVER Books, behind-the-scenes previews of exhibitions with artists, curator-led trips and excursions, and much more. Whatever your interest, there is a level for you. At Atlanta Contemporary, we strive to create unique experiences that are engaging, memorable, and thought-provoking.
49. Ohio Designer Craftsmen/Ohio Craft Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Ohio Craft Museum is a program of Ohio Designer Craftsmen, presenting five major exhibitions each year featuring fine craft. In addition, we offer educational workshops and events for all ages and levels of experience. Ohio Designer Craftsmen engages and enriches the community through high quality exhibitions, education programs for children and adults, and the professional development of fine craft artists.
50. Warren County Historical Society
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
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