50 States of Quirky and Cool Museums

Holiday guides

Take the Philippines’ most sparsely populated region, add natural wonders such as remote tropical islands, exquisite beaches, subterranean rivers, and lush jungle, and this 434-kilometre-long archipelago’s fame among paradise-seekers makes perfect sense.
This charming town, with brick-lined streets and structures that date back centuries, was founded in the mid-1600s. Set on the Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis went on to become a pivotal port for Civil War munitions, then was a fishing city (though, nowadays most of the trawlers have now been replaced by pleasure boats). Today, it's home to the U.S. Naval Academy, and visitors are able to take tours of the vast, Beaux Arts campus, after which a visit to O'Learys Seafood Restaurant for crab cakes is essential.
Slide 1 of 51: 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.
Slide 2 of 51: At this museum, you'll find the largest collection of helicopters at any museum in the world.
Slide 3 of 51: The Alaska Native Heritage Center tells you all about Alaska's history and the people who live there.
Slide 4 of 51: This unique museum is the largest musical instruments museum in the world.
Slide 5 of 51: This museum is Arkansas's original State House and is the oldest surviving state capitol west of the Mississippi River.
Slide 6 of 51: While everything LACMA holds inside its walls is breathtaking, the most notable feature of this place is the lights outside.
Slide 7 of 51: Get your dinosaur fix at this top-notch Denver museum.
Slide 8 of 51: You'll find this museum inside airplane hangars at the Bradley International Airport.
Slide 9 of 51: This impressive museum is known for its collection of seashells, birds, and bird eggs.
Slide 10 of 51: The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is a great spot to learn more about Seminole people and their history.
Slide 11 of 51: Learn about the history of Coca-Cola as well as its evolution around the world at this cool spot.
Slide 12 of 51: The Bishop Museum in Honolulu is the largest facility dedicated to Hawaiian history.
Slide 13 of 51: The Boise Art Museum has a lot of amazing exhibitions, including one currently that features a whole lot of Legos.
Slide 14 of 51: This Grant Park museum is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the US.
Slide 15 of 51: This museum has a little bit of everything, including an IMAX theater.
Slide 16 of 51: Go back in time and see the history of these iconic green and yellow tractors.
Slide 17 of 51: You can find the Eisenhower library, the museum, and his boyhood home in the former US president's hometown of Abilene.
Slide 18 of 51: 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.
Slide 19 of 51: This creepy museum was once an actual apothecary, but now just holds ancient medicines and history.
Slide 20 of 51: This museum gives you a glimpse at Maine's role in US maritime history.
Slide 21 of 51: This neat little museum has the last operational mother of pearl button factory machinery in the United States.
Slide 22 of 51: Check out the Cape Cod Museum of Art on Thursday evenings for free!
Slide 23 of 51: More than just the history of Ford, the Henry Ford Museum gives you the history of innovation.
Slide 24 of 51: Because it's important to know about other countries, too, you can find everything you need to know about Sweden at this museum.
Slide 25 of 51: Sink into the history of blues music at the state's oldest music museum.
Slide 26 of 51: Learn about Mark Twain's history and his works at the museum dedicated to him and his boyhood home.
Slide 27 of 51: This museum, part of the Smithsonian Institution, is known for its large collection of paleontological artifacts.
Slide 28 of 51: This beautiful building hosts tours and events as well as keeps the history of Omaha alive.
Slide 29 of 51: The Las Vegas staple has three floors dedicated to organized crime and law enforcement.
Slide 30 of 51: The Andres Institute of Art is the largest sculpture park in New England.
Slide 31 of 51: This incredible museum tells the stories of how people came to America through Ellis Island years ago.
Slide 32 of 51: Learn everything you ever wanted to know about this talented artist.
Slide 33 of 51: After seeing all the art the Whitney has to offer, check out the rooftop views.
Slide 34 of 51: This educational outpost celebrates Orville and Wilbur Wright's successful flight.
Slide 35 of 51: You can honor this baseball legend at a museum dedicated to his life.
Slide 36 of 51: This museum is dedicated to, you guessed it, all things signage in America.
Slide 37 of 51: You'll be blown away by the sheer number of banjos on display here.
Slide 38 of 51: This ultracool spot is perfect for kids, families, and school groups.
Slide 39 of 51: See the place where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were debated and adopted.
Slide 40 of 51: You will not only learn about the history of tennis here, but you can also play on one of the many courts.
Slide 41 of 51: There is so much to learn about the evolution of the kazoo, and this is the place for it.
Slide 42 of 51: This air and space museum can be found right outside Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Slide 43 of 51: There's no better place to learn about the story of country music than here in Nashville.
Slide 44 of 51: Space-lovers will be excited to learn about all things space at this nonprofit gateway to NASA Johnson Space Center.
Slide 45 of 51: At this cool spot you can learn about Earth - and what lies beyond.
Slide 46 of 51: The Shelburne Museum is all about art, design, and Americana.
Slide 47 of 51: This revamped apothecary offers tours that will teach you about its old potions.
Slide 48 of 51: Hear all about Bill and Melinda Gates's foundation at this learning center.
Slide 49 of 51: Check out some of the historical displays at this national park and cultural center.
Slide 50 of 51: This place has more than 5,000 mustards on display - and a bunch for sale!
Slide 51 of 51: 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.

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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