The 10 Best Free Museums in the US
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
While exploring any new city can be pricey, thankfully, there are a number of great budget friendly attractions to enjoy in pretty much every major metro area in the country. I travel a lot and I have no problem finding frugal attractions in 90% of new cities I visit. If you are someone who loves exploring ancient history and incredible artwork, you are in luck as there are so many wonderful history and art museums across the US which will cost you nothing. Some of these places I never knew about until relocating to the area.
I have highlighted a few of the best free museums I have come across in the last decade. I have visited all of these on numerous occasions and highly recommend basing a trip around each and every one. All of my featured museums are well worth traveling for, and because there is no entrance fee, you will save a few bucks on overall trip expenses in the process. I like to save any money I can for dining out (which is so overpriced today!).
1. Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Location: Washington D.C.
Washington D.C., “The Nation’s Capital” is a wonderful vacation destination for history buffs. I planned my first vacation here several years ago and have been back many times since. It’s an underrated city with a lot to do especially if you are into historical attractions.
In addition to being home to some of the nation’s most stunning monuments and memorials, there are 17 free Smithsonians to discover. These Smithsonians are so large that you could easily spend hours exploring which is great because outside of hotel and food costs go up by the year.
One of my favorites, The Museum of Natural History, should be high on your bucket list. Highlights include the Hall of Human origins where you can explore evolution, the dazzling Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals, and the Hall of Mammals featuring realistic dioramas showcasing animals in their natural habitats.
Learn more about this excellent history museum
2. Cincinnati Museum of Art
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati’s wonderful art museum is not only one of the oldest, but also one of the best in the country. For true art lovers, I would say this institution alone justifies a visit to this city. Of course, there are plenty more notable attractions (including the retro American Sign Museum) to justify the trip.
The museum, founded back in 1881, claims the title of first purposely built art museum west of the Alleghenies. With more than 67,000 pieces of artwork, you can literally spend all day here. We spent so much time walking around that we had to leave for lunch. Thankfully, you can get your hand stamped and reenter later in the day.
What I found most impressive is the East Asian art collection featuring incredible artwork from China, Korea, and Japan. The 5000 piece Japanese collection includes an impressive assortment of paintings, ceramics, metalwork, prints, sculptures, as well lacquer and ivory objects. Overall, this is just a really impressive place with so many unique pieces I’ve not seen elsewhere.
Browse highlights from the museum collection
3. Cleveland Museum of Art
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Equally as impressive as Cincinnati is The Cleveland Art Museum. I was lucky enough to have access to this gem for 2 years during my time living in the metro. This definitely makes my bucket list of top things to do in this metro. On a side note, I think Cleveland is such an underrated city. There is so much to do here whether your interests lie in art, food, or the outdoors.
The expansive museum includes over 45,000 works spanning 6000 years. Highlights of the collection include European Paintings and Sculpture from 1500 to 1800, a contemporary art exhibit featuring works from 60’s icons like Andy Warhol, and a renowned Greek and Roman collection which features iconic bronze sculptures including Apollo the Python-Slayer from 350 BC attributed to Praxiteles, as well as painted vases from Archaic, Classical, and late Classical periods. I also loved exploring the Textile collection which includes over 4000 textiles from 62 countries, dating from 2000 BC to the present.
Discover more of the museum’s collection
4. Smithsonian Museum of American History
Location: Washington D.C.
The original star spangled banner, a 24+ piece First Lady’s dress collection, Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, Lincoln’s top hat, and Jefferson’s lap desk, are just some of the exhibits which have made the Smithsonian Museum of American History one of the most popular museums in D.C. What a fantastic free gem for anyone interested in exploring the political, military, scientific, and cultural history of the United States.
If you are a history buff, you will definitely be intrigued by museum’s expansive historical collection, which includes more than 3 million objects, from colonial times to the present. There is so much to see and read here that you really need at least a few hours to cover it all! On our first visit, we didn’t plan nearly enough time. You really don’t realize how big these Smithsonians are until you get here. I would only schedule 1 or 2 a day at most if you want to really get into each individual exhibit!
Check out the list of current exhibitions
5. Griffith Observatory
Location: Los Angeles, CA
While it’s quite expensive to live in L.A., free activities and attractions are easily found. Mike and I lived in neighboring Long Beach a while back and had no problem filling our weekend itinerary with freebies. Out of all the freebies, I would say the Griffith Observatory is my top recommended attraction for new tourists. I am a big movie buff and this place just screams Hollywood to me. It’s been featured in so many movies like The Terminator, La La Land, and Yes Man.
Thankfully, philanthropist Griffith J. Griffith donated the land (in 1896) to make astronomy accessible to all. Since opening in 1935, the Griffith has remained the world’s most visited observatory.
At no cost, you can enjoy a world-class observatory, stargazing, and the best views of Los Angeles. What I love most though are the miles of incredible on-site hiking trails. Honestly, before moving to the L.A. region, I never even knew about all the wonderful hikes outside of Runyon Canyon. You can really get up close and personal with the famous Hollywood sign here and enjoy great views of the surrounding Santa Monica mountains and multi million dollar homes.
6. National Portrait Gallery
Location: Washington D.C.
One of D.C.’s best museums features beautiful portraits of every President, as well as many other famous figures. The expansive collection at the National Portrait Gallery includes over 1600 portraits and 5,450 glass-plate negatives, plus the original artwork for over 2000 Time Magazine covers.
There are 3 massive floors of themed galleries to explore, the most renowned being the Hall of Presidents collection. It was cool to see the first portrait – the 1796 Lansdowne portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart.
If you like history, there is plenty to learn during your visit. This is another museum that we underestimated the size of on our first visit and did not have nearly as much time to explore as we wanted. Overall, it’s a great choice for history buffs and art lovers alike. If you are more interested in modern art, definitely plan for some time to explore the 3rd floor, dedicated to celebrities and sports figures.
Explore some of the wonderful portraits
7. The Rodin Museum
Location: Philadelphia
Philadelphia is home to a wonderful assortment of world-class museums and historical attractions. Best of all, most of these wonderful historical sights cost nothing! Several prominent art museums line the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, thus lendings to its’ nickname, Museum Row. The Parkway was modeled after the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Outside of Paris, The Rodin holds one of largest collection of Rodin’s incredible sculptures. The beautiful Beaux-Arts style building and gardens houses 150 famous sculptures including Rodan’s iconic Thinker. While I was familiar with this piece of art, I enjoyed seeing all his other’s works too.
Admission to the outdoor gardens is always free and the indoor museum operates on a pay-as-you-wish format. I also recommend visiting the Museum of Art (you will get free entry to the Rodin with your ticket).
Explore highlights from the Rodin collection
8. Independence National Historical Park
Location: Philadelphia
I had the opportunity to live in Philly for a year and I really loved exploring the historic sights each weekend. It’s a really underrated city in my opinion. Most tourists head to Old City aka “birthplace of America”. There’s a lot to do here if you are interested in history. I also love all the local restaurants, coffeeshops, and the beautiful ice rink along the waterfront. There are so many great events all year and endless opportunity for people watching. This is one of those cities where I can just stroll around for hours and not get bored.
Most notably, Independence National Historical Park is home to Independence Hall where our nation’s most important documents were signed. Today, you can take a free educational tour and see the rooms where both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were signed.
Other must-see historical sites include the Liberty Bell with the famous inscription “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof” and the Benjamin Franklin museum.
9. National Gallery of Art
Location: Washington D.C.
If you love art in all its’ magnificent forms, then I recommend adding The National Gallery of Art in D.C. to your bucket list. From Byzantine altarpieces, to modern and pop art, to classic impressionist paintings, there is something in the massive collection for everyone here. This is one of the museums I have returned to the most because I just love everything about it.
With more than 150,000 sculptures, prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, and decorative arts comprising the collection, it is easy to spend hours getting lost in beautiful artwork. On a side note, I really love their Christmas display which features hundreds of gorgeous poinsettias. I especially love the colorful flowers surrounding the fountains.
A few of the most famous pieces include: the Rotunda Mercury fountain, Women with a Parasol by Claude Monet, Portrait of Ginevra Benci by Leonardo da Vinci, The Sacrament of the Last Supper by Salvador Dali, and Still Life: Vase with Pink roses by Vincent Van Gogh. Don’t miss out on the awesome sculpture garden featuring over 2 dozen unique masterpieces of modern art.
Explore highlights from the art collection
10. University of Michigan Museum of Art
Location: Ann Arbor
While living in Cleveland, Mike and I took the opportunity to take as many Midwest roadtrips as we could. We figured we might as well explore while we were within convenient driving distance. Flights are so pricey today that I actually prefer driving.
We planned a weekend roadtrip to Ann Arbor to check out the renowned University of Michigan museums. One of these fabulous places is the Museum of Art, which at 94,000 square feet, is one of the largest in the US. There is a large section dedicated to European and Asian art, an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art, as well as special exhibits throughout the year.
Our visit happened to fall on a negative 15 below with wind chill day (I am from Chicago and this is the coldest I’ve ever been) so we were happy to take advantage of all the free indoor museums!
Honorable mentions – More fabulous freebies
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology – I am so fascinated by Egyptian history (especially the afterlife) so I was so impressed by this museum. The collection includes a massive 100,000 artifacts from the Mediterranean and the Near East. Most museums I’ve visited devote a small section to ancient Egypt, so it was nice exploring such a big collection. I could have spent hours exploring but we were limited on time. One of the highlights here if you are short on time is a Villa of the Mysteries replica.
Greenville Museum of Art – This small art museum in beautiful Upstate South Carolina (in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains) is home to one of the largest collections of watercolors by artist Andrew Wyeth. Admission is free and the museum is located just minutes away from one of the hottest Main Streets in the South. This up and coming city is one of my favorite places I’ve lived thus far. It’s worthy of a vacation for the beautiful Main Street district alone.
Bunker Hill museum – Along The Freedom Trail, you can learn more about the Battle of Bunker Hill and the 221 foot obelisk monument. Also be sure to challenge yourself up the 294 step climb (so worth it!) to the top of the monument for one of the most amazing viewpoints of the city.
USS Constitution – You can take a self guided tour of the ship anytime of the year for free. “Old Ironsides,” the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, is one of many interesting sites on Boston’s iconic Freedom Trail. If you do intend on visiting this amazing city, put walking the 2.5 mile historic trail #1 on your list! I’ve walked this route so many times (winter is the best for avoiding tourists!) and it never gets old.
Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum – This is a small, yet informative museum for baseball fans. You will learn more about Shoeless Joe Jackson (born in Greenville, SC) and the infamous Chicago Black Sox scandal at this Upstate South Carolina gem. I am not a huge fan of baseball but I do love Field of Dreams so this was a fun experience. On a side note, I recently visited the actual field used for filming (it’s a wonderful roadside attraction if you are traveling near Dubuque, Iowa).
National Museum of the American Indian – You can learn more about the history and culture of Native people from their own viewpoint at another interesting Smithsonian in D.C. On an interesting side note, this was the first museum dedicated to Native Americans.
National Postage Museum – An under appreciated Smithsonian gem in D.C. where you can explore the history of the postal industry in the US. The William H. Gross Stamp Gallery is the world’s largest.
Bank of America Museums on US
Bank of America cardholders receive free admission into many of the countries top museums on the first full weekend of each month. Check the Museums on US program to see participating locations. Here are a few of my favorite places I’ve visited in recent years.
- Tucson Museum of Art – Features a fantastic collection of Colonial Latin American Art. Tip: Enjoy brunch at the fabulous Café à La C’Art before strolling around (it’s one of the best restaurants).
- Florida Aquarium – One of the country’s most renowned aquariums. This is one of my must-do’s in downtown Tampa. Note: There is so much more to Tampa Bay than just the beach!
- Center for Civil and Human Rights – Comprehensive overview of the civil rights movement. This is one of my top recommended activities in downtown Atlanta.
- Art Institute of Chicago – Features a world-class 300,000 piece international collection. As a Chicago native, I grew up visiting this museum. You’ll see a lot of famous works here including: A Sunday on La Grande Jatte and Nighthawks.
- Museum of Science and Industry – It’s the largest science center in the US. Also, don’t miss out on the annual Christmas Around the World exhibit.
- Philadelphia Museum of Art – 200,000+ renowned collection at the country’s oldest art institution. I really love this place. We visited fairly regularly while living in Philly. I also love the Rocky statue!
- Museum of the American Revolution – Features detailed exhibits on the American Revolution. A must-see for any history buffs visiting Old City.
- Andy Warhol museum – Details the life and career of the pop art icon. I love his colorful artwork, so this is another one we visited frequently during our time living in Pittsburgh.
Next up on my B of A bucket List: The Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson and The Heard Museum in Phoenix. Check back for updates!
