Best Art Museums in the US

The art scene in the United States does not get as much credit as it should. We have a range of art museums, art galleries, and a host of other street galleries all over the country, which speaks volumes about how much the people of the United States appreciate art. Whether you’re on the east coast, west coast, the midlands, or even in the southern region, you’re sure to find a few good galleries worth checking out for anyone who appreciates different media of art from various times during history. Without further ado, here are some of the best art museums in the United States.

1.      The Art Institute of Chicago 

Located in the heart of Downtown Chicago, this is arguably one of the most highly rated art museums in the country. Featuring the greatest Impressionist collection outside Paris, which includes some amazing pieces such as Georges Seurat’s 1884 A Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte, Renoir’s 1879 Acrobats at the Cirque Fernando, and numerous paintings by Claude Monet, as well as contemporary masterpieces in the spectacular Modern Wing, this museum provides you with an experience you are likely to recall for the rest of your life. On top of that, the museum exhibits various art forms in different media, which include painting, prints, photography, sculpture, decorative arts, textiles, architectural drawings, and more. With close to 105 million visitors every year, it is quite easy to see why this museum is so popular.

2.      Detroit Institute of Art

Widely considered to have the best art collections in the United States, the Detroit Institute of Art is an art lover’s dream. Located in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, a few miles off Woodward Avenue, this wonderful museum houses about 100 galleries over a 658,000 square feet space. One of the galleries worth checking out while at the Detroit institute of art is the Center for African American Art which showcases 400 pieces, in various media, by African American artists. The museum is open to everyone, but general admission is only free for residents of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.

3.      National Gallery of Art

Located in the heart of the country’s capital, the National Gallery of Art is another one of the United States’ most rated art museums. The museum hosts a diverse collection featuring European and American paintings, sculptures, works on paper, photographs, and decorative arts. On top of that, it is free and open to the public, meaning one can check them out at any time of their discretion. Inside the museum, the collections are well displayed such that once you start from a particular point, your intrigue and hunger for more will guide you, and you’re sure to have one of the best experiences in an art museum. The staff there is also very polite and helpful to all guests visiting the museum.

4.      Museum of Modern Art

Popularly referred to as MoMA, this is another fascinating art museum located in midtown Manhattan, in the heart of New York City. Just as the name suggests, this museum primarily displays art from the modern era and is widely regarded as the most influential modern art museum in the world. That title alone makes the museum one that you have to visit just so that you can experience it in its glory. MoMA’s collection provides guests with an overview of modern and contemporary art in its fullness. This includes works of architecture and design, painting, drawing, sculpture, prints, photography, illustrated books and artist’s books, film, and electronic media. While the museum normally charges guests for admission, it is worth pointing out that they offer free admission every Friday night from 5:30 pm – 9 pm. Your free ticket gives you access to all the museum galleries and special exhibitions without exception.

5.      Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Another local and international favorite, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, was founded back in 1870 and stands on the historic homelands of the Massachusetts people. It is undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world, with a collection that encompasses nearly 500,000 works of art, including ancient Egyptian, contemporary art, and even special exhibitions. The museum receives over a million guests each year from all over the world, which just goes to show how popular it is not only with the locals but also on the international scene.

These are five of the most rated and loved museums in the United States. Regardless of what you enjoy, you’re guaranteed a wonderful and eye-opening experience at each one of them.