Some of the nation’s most captivating, enriching and enlightening museums have one great thing in common – admission is free. To find the best, 10Best teamed up with a panel of experts to select the nominees, then readers voted for their favorites. These are the 10 best free museums in the United States for 2023.
Photo courtesy of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
No. 10: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art - Bentonville, Arkansas
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 Andrew van Leeuwen / Frye Art Museum
No. 9: Frye Art Museum - Seattle, Washington
Visitors to Seattle can tour the excellent collection of 19th- and 20th-century pastoral paintings at the Frye Art Museum free of charge. The largely European permanent collection is complemented by regular special exhibitions (also free) covering an eclectic range of topics.
Photo courtesy of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
No. 8: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - Washington, D.C.
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 iStock / LUNAMARINA
No. 7: National Museum of American History - Washington, D.C.
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 1.8 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 Kevin Keim
No. 6: The Menil Collection - Houston, Texas
Making great art accessible to all, the Menil Collection exhibits a captivating array of ancient and modern art that's free for public viewing. The museum's unique white steel exterior is a stunning work of art in itself, but inside, guests tour diverse galleries filled with everything from Byzantine-era pieces to creations by renowned modern artists such as Max Ernst and Andy Warhol.
Photo courtesy of Mitro Hood
No. 5: Baltimore Museum of Art - Baltimore, Maryland
The Baltimore Museum of Art is home to the Cone Collection, the largest Matisse collection in the world. In addition to the works within the walls that span centuries of prints and paintings, the grounds offer a sculpture garden with fountains and 33 sculptures.
Photo courtesy of RapidEye // Getty Images
No. 4: The Blue Ridge Music Center - Galax, Virginia
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. 3: Wagner Free Institute of Science - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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 Saint Louis Science Center
No. 2: Saint Louis Science Center - St. Louis
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 N/A
No. 1: National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center - Columbus, Georgia
Immersive exhibits at the National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center in Columbus 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.
