50 States of Quirky and Cool Museums
Sure, it’s easy to find an art museum or a history museum or even a space museum anywhere in this country, but did you know there’s a museum entirely dedicated to mustard? Or to the evolution of the kazoo? Yeah, those are real museums, and you can learn more about them ahead. We pulled together a museum recommendation for each of the 50 states that you can check out on your next getaway. Keep reading to see them all.
Alabama – United States Army Aviation Museum
At this museum, you’ll find the largest collection of helicopters at any museum in the world.
Alaska – Alaska Native Heritage Museum
The Alaska Native Heritage Center tells you all about Alaska’s history and the people who live there.
Arizona – Musical Instruments Museum
This unique museum is the largest musical instruments museum in the world.
Arkansas – Old State House Museum
This museum is Arkansas’s original State House and is the oldest surviving state capitol west of the Mississippi River.
California – Los Angeles County Museum of Art
While everything LACMA holds inside its walls is breathtaking, the most notable feature of this place is the lights outside.
Colorado – Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Get your dinosaur fix at this top-notch Denver museum.
Connecticut – New England Air Museum
You’ll find this museum inside airplane hangars at the Bradley International Airport.
Delaware – Delaware Museum of Natural History
This impressive museum is known for its collection of seashells, birds, and bird eggs.
Florida – Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is a great spot to learn more about Seminole people and their history.
Georgia – World of Coca-Cola
Learn about the history of Coca-Cola as well as its evolution around the world at this cool spot.
Hawaii – Bishop Museum
The Bishop Museum in Honolulu is the largest facility dedicated to Hawaiian history.
Idaho – Boise Art Museum
The Boise Art Museum has a lot of amazing exhibitions, including one currently that features a whole lot of Legos.
Illinois – Art Institute of Chicago
This Grant Park museum is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the US.
Indiana – Indiana State Museum
This museum has a little bit of everything, including an IMAX theater.
Iowa – John Deere Museum
Go back in time and see the history of these iconic green and yellow tractors.
Kansas – Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
You can find the Eisenhower library, the museum, and his boyhood home in the former US president’s hometown of Abilene.
Kentucky – Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
Not just for sports fans, this baseball museum has a lot of history, but also an incredible huge replica bat of Babe Ruth’s bat.
Louisiana – New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
This creepy museum was once an actual apothecary, but now just holds ancient medicines and history.
Maine – Maine Maritime Museum
This museum gives you a glimpse at Maine’s role in US maritime history.
Maryland – Vienna Heritage Museum
This neat little museum has the last operational mother of pearl button factory machinery in the United States.
Massachusetts – Cape Cod Museum of Art
Check out the Cape Cod Museum of Art on Thursday evenings for free!
Michigan – Henry Ford Museum
More than just the history of Ford, the Henry Ford Museum gives you the history of innovation.
Minnesota – American Swedish Institute
Because it’s important to know about other countries, too, you can find everything you need to know about Sweden at this museum.
Mississippi – Delta Blues Museum
Sink into the history of blues music at the state’s oldest music museum.
Missouri – Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum
Learn about Mark Twain’s history and his works at the museum dedicated to him and his boyhood home.
Montana – Museum of the Rockies
This museum, part of the Smithsonian Institution, is known for its large collection of paleontological artifacts.
Nebraska – Joslyn Castle
This beautiful building hosts tours and events as well as keeps the history of Omaha alive.
Nevada – Mob Museum
The Las Vegas staple has three floors dedicated to organized crime and law enforcement.
New Hampshire – Andres Institute of Art
The Andres Institute of Art is the largest sculpture park in New England.
New Jersey – Ellis Island Immigration Museum
This incredible museum tells the stories of how people came to America through Ellis Island years ago.
New Mexico – Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about this talented artist.
New York – Whitney Museum of American Art
After seeing all the art the Whitney has to offer, check out the rooftop views.
North Carolina – Wright Brothers National Memorial
This educational outpost celebrates Orville and Wilbur Wright’s successful flight.
North Dakota – Roger Maris Museum
You can honor this baseball legend at a museum dedicated to his life.
Ohio – American Sign Museum
This museum is dedicated to, you guessed it, all things signage in America.
Oklahoma – American Banjo Museum
You’ll be blown away by the sheer number of banjos on display here.
Oregon – Science Factory Children’s Museum & Planetarium
This ultracool spot is perfect for kids, families, and school groups.
Pennsylvania – Independence Hall
See the place where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were debated and adopted.
Rhode Island – International Tennis Hall of Fame
You will not only learn about the history of tennis here, but you can also play on one of the many courts.
South Carolina – Kazoo Museum
There is so much to learn about the evolution of the kazoo, and this is the place for it.
South Dakota – South Dakota Air and Space Museum
This air and space museum can be found right outside Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Tennessee – Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
There’s no better place to learn about the story of country music than here in Nashville.
Texas – Space Center Houston
Space-lovers will be excited to learn about all things space at this nonprofit gateway to NASA Johnson Space Center.
Utah – Clark Planetarium
At this cool spot you can learn about Earth – and what lies beyond.
Vermont – Shelburne Museum
The Shelburne Museum is all about art, design, and Americana.
Virginia – Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
This revamped apothecary offers tours that will teach you about its old potions.
Washington – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center
Hear all about Bill and Melinda Gates’s foundation at this learning center.
West Virginia – Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Check out some of the historical displays at this national park and cultural center.
Wisconsin – National Mustard Museum
This place has more than 5,000 mustards on display – and a bunch for sale!
Wyoming – Wyoming State Capitol
While the Capitol building is currently closed for renovations, you can check out some of its history at the Wyoming State Museum in the meantime.
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