USA TODAY 10Best
10 best museums in the US that you can visit for free
Best Free Museum (2024)
Some of the nation’s most captivating, enriching, and enlightening museums have one great thing in common: admission is free. These 10 museums — selected by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best free museums in the U.S. — are no exception, offering priceless experiences at no cost to visitors.
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - Washington, D.C.
- National Museum of African American History and Culture - Washington, D.C.
- National Museum of American History - Washington, D.C.
- The Blue Ridge Music Center - Galax, Virginia
- Wagner Free Institute of Science - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Baltimore Museum of Art - Baltimore, Maryland
- Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum - Baltimore, Maryland
- Saint Louis Science Center - St. Louis, Missouri
- Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art - Bentonville, Arkansas
- National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center - Columbus, Georgia
Photo courtesy of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
No. 10:
One of the most moving museums in our nation's capital, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum invites visitors to learn about one of the greatest tragedies in history, remember the victims and survivors, and confront the ongoing threats of genocide and antisemitism.
Photo courtesy of National Museum of African American History and Culture
No. 9:
Part of the Smithsonian, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum focused exclusively on African American history, culture, and life. Visitors can view several special exhibitions and a collection of more than 40,000 artifacts, divided across themed galleries.
Photo courtesy of iStock / LUNAMARINA
No. 8:
Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of American History hosts several permanent exhibits that explore of the history of the United States from several different angles, including food, pop culture, transportation, and politics. It houses more than 1.7 million artifacts, from Abraham Lincoln’s top hat to Dizzy Gillespie’s angled trumpet, that help tell the stories of the American people.
Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Music Center
No. 7:
The mountains of Appalachia have echoed with traditional music for centuries, and The Blue Ridge Music Center in Southwest Virginia celebrates that rich cultural heritage. A partnership of the National Park Service and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the center includes a 17,000-square-foot museum with free admission where you can test your skill at writing song lyrics or mixing mountain music. The center consists of an outdoor amphitheater and indoor theater for live performances, jams, and programs.
Photo courtesy of Wagner Free Institute of Science Exhibit Hall. David Graham, photographer
No. 6:
This free Philadelphia museum showcases a collection of natural history specimens housed in a soaring three-story exhibition hall. Much of the collection is laid out as it would have been during the Victorian era, complete with cherry wood and glass cabinets dating back to the 1880s.
Photo courtesy of Mitro Hood
No. 5:
The Baltimore Museum of Art is home to the Cone Collection, the largest set of works by Henri Matisse in the world. In addition to the beautiful paintings and prints housed within the museum, the grounds also feature 3 acres of sculpture gardens.
Photo courtesy of praetorianphoto / E+ Getty Images
No. 4:
Named after notable civil rights activist Lillie Carroll Jackson, this Baltimore-based museum has multiple galleries dedicated to exploring matters of racial inequality and honoring the freedom fighters and change-makers like Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Juanita Jackson, and others. Visitors to this free museum have the option of adding a guided tour (for a fee), where you can hear more stories about these important historical figures.
Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Science Center
No. 3:
The Saint Louis Science Center offers a free place to learn and play through more than 700 interactive experiences across 10 galleries. The museum features an indoor-outdoor agricultural pavilion, five-story OMNIMAX Theater, and the McDonnell Planetarium.
Photo courtesy of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
No. 2:
The free Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art celebrates the American spirit through its collection of five centuries' worth of American art. Pieces span history from the colonial period to the modern day, and include masterworks by Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, and Georgia O’Keeffe.
Photo courtesy of National Infantry Museum
No. 1:
Immersive exhibits at the National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center in Columbus, Georgia, take visitors through the last 240 years of U.S. military history. More than 70,000 artifacts tell the story of what it means to be a U.S. soldier. Admission is free and tours are self-guided.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Deborah Fallows
Deborah Fallows is a writer and a linguist. She is... Read More
Deborah Fallows is a writer and a linguist. She is the co-author with her husband, James Fallows, of the national best-selling book, Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America, published in May, 2018. Our Towns, the HBO documentary based on the book was released in April, 2021. They recently launched the Our Towns Civic Foundation to support renewal efforts of communities across America. Deb has written extensively on language, culture, travel, and China for The Atlantic, National Geographic, Slate, The New York Times and The Washington Monthly. Her previous book, Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language, is based on her 3-year experience living and working in China.
Deborah Fallows
Deborah Fallows is a writer and a linguist. She is the co-author with her husband, James Fallows, of the national best-selling book, Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America, published in May, 2018. Our Towns, the HBO documentary based on the book was released in April, 2021. They recently launched the Our Towns Civic Foundation to support renewal efforts of communities across America. Deb has written extensively on language, culture, travel, and China for The Atlantic, National Geographic, Slate, The New York Times and The Washington Monthly. Her previous book, Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language, is based on her 3-year experience living and working in China.
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los... Read More
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jessica James
Jessica James is an award-winning novelist and... Read More
Jessica James is an award-winning novelist and freelance writer who shares her passion for history and travel by writing about historical destinations and off-the-beaten path sites across the United States. Her blog Past Lane Travels has been named the #1 history and travel blog in the USA, and features many regional destinations that are often overlooked. You can find out more about her books at www.jessicajamesbooks.com.
Jessica James
Jessica James is an award-winning novelist and freelance writer who shares her passion for history and travel by writing about historical destinations and off-the-beaten path sites across the United States. Her blog Past Lane Travels has been named the #1 history and travel blog in the USA, and features many regional destinations that are often overlooked. You can find out more about her books at www.jessicajamesbooks.com.
Joanne and Tony DiBona
Joanne and Tony DiBona know a thing or two about... Read More
Joanne and Tony DiBona know a thing or two about creating photo galleries to share their personal travel experiences around the world with their readers. Their articles have been featured on 10Best for the past decade, as well as in national and international print and online media. Their awards for photography and journalism fill up an entire wall in their office, the most recent being a top national award for their US and international galleries published on 10Best. Follow their travel adventures on their scenic photography website and travel blog. Have a question about travel? Contact them on their Instagram and Facebook pages.
Joanne and Tony DiBona
Joanne and Tony DiBona know a thing or two about creating photo galleries to share their personal travel experiences around the world with their readers. Their articles have been featured on 10Best for the past decade, as well as in national and international print and online media. Their awards for photography and journalism fill up an entire wall in their office, the most recent being a top national award for their US and international galleries published on 10Best. Follow their travel adventures on their scenic photography website and travel blog. Have a question about travel? Contact them on their Instagram and Facebook pages.
Karen Dawkins
An avid traveler with an eye on getting the best... Read More
An avid traveler with an eye on getting the best bang for the buck, Karen Dawkins shares destination guides, activity reviews and travel tips at Family Travels on a Budget and in many other publications. Writing since 2012, her family travel blog has evolved in recent years to include popular articles on travel with teens and adults only getaways in the United States and beyond.
Karen Dawkins
An avid traveler with an eye on getting the best bang for the buck, Karen Dawkins shares destination guides, activity reviews and travel tips at Family Travels on a Budget and in many other publications. Writing since 2012, her family travel blog has evolved in recent years to include popular articles on travel with teens and adults only getaways in the United States and beyond.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of... Read More
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
