Whether you’re drawn to Renaissance masterpieces, modern installations, or contemporary American art, there’s no doubt that the United States has some of the world’s most prestigious art museums. These institutions are home to gorgeous and groundbreaking pieces, from European paintings and Indigenous art to iconic works by contemporary artists. From coast to coast, these are the eight best art museums in the U.S.
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art: New York City, New York
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Edgar Degas’ “Little Dancer” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
One of the world’s largest and most visited museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art spans 5,000 years of human creativity across nearly 2 million square feet of floor space. The museum is split into two: there’s the main building on Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters in northern Manhattan. Some highlights include the Egyptian Temple of Dendur and the American Wing’s period rooms. The European painting galleries hold masterworks by Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Vincent Van Gogh, while the modern and contemporary galleries showcase pieces by modern giants like Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol.
02 of 10
The Getty Center: Los Angeles, California
Discover Los Angeles
A view of Los Angeles from The Getty Center.
Perched in the scenic hills above Los Angeles, The Getty Center focuses on European art from the Middle Ages through the early 20th century, and is packed with Italian Renaissance paintings, Dutch Golden Age art, and Impressionist pieces. The collections include works by Rembrandt, J. M. W. Turner, Claude Monet, and Van Gogh. The museum is also known for its architecture and gardens, especially Robert Irwin’s Central Garden, a living sculpture that changes with the seasons. The museum’s hilltop location also gives visitors an unparalleled panoramic view of Los Angeles, and the beautiful architecture of the Getty itself is worth a visit.
03 of 10
National Gallery of Art: Washington, D.C.
National Gallery of Art
A gallery in the West Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the National Gallery of Art has free admission and spans two buildings. The neoclassical West Building is filled with European and American art through the early 20th century, and the modernist East Building is dedicated to modern and contemporary works. There is also a sculpture garden with outdoor installations and an ice-skating rink in the winter. Don’t miss Leo Villareal’s “Multiverse” installation in the underground concourse that connects the two buildings, where over 41,000 LED nodes create mesmerizing light patterns as you walk between galleries.
04 of 10
The Museum of Modern Art: New York City, New York
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Inside New York City’s Museum of Modern Art.
As one of the most influential modern art museums in the world, The Museum of Modern Art (affectionately known as “MoMA”) houses an unparalleled collection of modern and contemporary art. The museum’s collection spans from the 1880s to today, with six floors dedicated to works that have changed art history, such as Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night,” Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” Monet’s “Water Lilies,” and Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans.”
05 of 10
Art Institute of Chicago: Chicago, Illinois
Courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago
A pair of bronze lions by artist Edward Kemeys greets visitors to the Art Institute of Chicago. , installed in 1898, greet
With one of the most expansive Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections outside of France, the Art Institute of Chicago has nearly 300,000 works of art. The museum is known for works such as Georges Seurat’s “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte” and Grant Wood’s “American Gothic.” Plus, its collection extends into ancient Greek and Roman art, Asian art spanning thousands of years, and pieces by master artists such as Picasso, Matisse, and Salvador Dalí. The Modern Wing is also illuminated in stunning natural light that brilliantly showcases its contemporary works.
06 of 10
Philadelphia Art Museum: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Steve Hall/Hall+Merrick/Philadelphia Art Museum
The north entrance of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
Famous for its role in the “Rocky” films, the Philadelphia Art Museum is another top contender thanks to its massive collection. After you run up the iconic front steps, you can explore more than 240,000 works of art that span 2,000 years of human history. The Impressionist collection has pieces by Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Van Gogh, and Paul Cézanne. Don’t miss the museum’s architectural treasures, which include a fully reconstructed Japanese teahouse and a medieval cloister.
07 of 10
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Boston, Massachusetts
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Hamilton Palace Room in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.
Founded in 1870, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts is one of the oldest and most distinguished art museums in the United States. It has nearly 500,000 works of art with an emphasis on American paintings, ancient Egyptian artifacts, and Asian pieces. Some highlights include Impressionist works by Monet, Renoir, and Degas, alongside American masters like Gilbert Stuart, Archibald Motley, and Georgia O’Keeffe. The ancient Egyptian collection includes mummies, sculptures, and everyday objects spanning thousands of years.
08 of 10
The Barnes: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Barnes Foundation
Visitors at the Barnes Foundation.
The Barnes has one of the world’s most extraordinary private collections with 180 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, and 46 Picassos—that’s more Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterworks than most major museums. But what makes the Barnes truly unique is its presentation. Founder Albert Barnes arranged paintings alongside African sculptures, metalwork, and Pennsylvania German furniture in carefully composed “ensembles” that have remained unchanged since he passed in 1951. Rather than chronological or geographical groupings, Barnes emphasized formal relationships of light, line, and color across cultures and time periods.
09 of 10
Detroit Institute of the Arts: Detroit, Michigan
Detroit Institute of Arts
Murals by artist Diego Rivera at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
One of the most comprehensive art museums in the United States, the Detroit Institute of the Arts has more than 65,000 works spanning cultures and centuries. The museum’s standout piece is Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals, which wrap around the central courtyard and focus on the city’s industrial workers and manufacturing processes. The collection also includes incredible works from European masters such as Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Rembrandt, and American art.
10 of 10
The Menil Collection: Houston, Texas
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A hallway gallery at Houston’s Menil Collection with works by Andy Warhol and Niki de Saint Phalle.
For Texans in the know, it’s no secret that Houston is the Lone Star State’s premier art city. One of the best art museums in H-Town is the Menil Collection, which has no less than 25,000 works of art that span the prehistoric era to the present day. Here, you’ll be able to view works by Matisse, Pollock, and Picasso, as well as pieces by the Surrealists Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp. A visit to the Menil would be remiss if you didn’t also stop by the Dan Flavin Installation at Richmond Hall and its very own Rothko Chapel.
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