309 Best Sights in USA

This cool, contemporary museum at Artis–Naples displays provocative, innovative pieces, including renowned miniatures, antique walking sticks, works by modern and contemporary American and Mexican masters, and traveling exhibits. Dazzling pieces by glass artist Dale Chihuly include a fiery, cascading chandelier and an illuminated ceiling layered with many-hued glass bubbles, glass corkscrews, and other shapes that suggest the sea. This installation alone warrants a visit, but with three floors and 15 galleries, your cultural curiosity is sure to pique elsewhere, perhaps in the glass-domed conservatory. Reward your visual arts adventure with lunch at the on-site café.

This combined art museum, repertory movie theater, and film archive, known for its extensive collection of over 25,000 works of art and 18,000 films and videos, is also home to the world's largest collection of African American quilts. Artworks spans several centuries and include modernist notables Mark Rothko, David Smith, and Hans Hofmann. The Pacific Film Archive specializes in international films, offering regular screenings and performances. The architecture's contrast of art deco and a curvy stainless steel roof alone is worth a photo stop.

One man's collection and now a Parkway treasure, the Barnes Foundation displays some of the most fabled paintings of impressionist, postimpressionist, and modern art—181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos, 7 van Goghs, 6 Seurats, and plenty more—in a handsome, modern limestone-and-glass museum. Highlights include Cézanne's The Card Players, Georges Seurat's Models, van Gogh's The Postman (Joseph-Etienne Roulin), Monet's Studio Boat, Matisse's La Danse II triptych mural, Renoir's The Artist's Family, and Picasso's Acrobat and Young Harlequin. The collection was amassed after 1912 in Merion, Pennsylvania, by Dr. Albert C. Barnes (1872–1951), who made his fortune as co-inventor of an antiseptic; he conceived the foundation as an educational institution.

Barnes wanted to help people "see as an artist saw," and to do this he created each gallery wall as an "ensemble" that reflected visual relationships: a Picasso could hang side by side with an African sculpture, and below an Old Master sketch and an iron door hinge.  Works have no labels, but a free mobile guide, accessed via smartphone, provides information. Barnes's will decreed that nothing in the displays could be changed, so when the collection moved to the Parkway in 2012, the galleries were re-created within a structure that also has rooms for special exhibitions and a high-ceilinged court with a café. The pretty, pricier Garden Restaurant, with indoor and outdoor (in season) seating, serves delicious modern American fare.

Special exhibitions join a diverse collection of international contemporary art at this museum whose original 1930s art deco building was designed by Russell Pancoast and constructed entirely of Florida keystone (material with a coral base). A years-long, $12 million expansion by noted architects Arata Isozaki and David Gauld, completed in 2017, increased internal space nearly 50% and added four new galleries. Most of the exhibitions are temporary, but works on permanent display include Chess Tables, a sculpture by Jim Drain, and Miami Mountain, a sculpture by Ugo Rondinone. Visit for free the third Thursday and last Sunday of every month.

The rich collections here feature military artifacts, early tools, dolls, and the Bennington Flag, one of the oldest of the Stars and Stripes in existence. Other areas of interest include early Bennington pottery, the Gilded Age in Vermont, and mid-20th-century modernist painters who worked in or near Bennington. The highlight for many visitors, though, is the largest public collection of works by Grandma Moses (1860–1961), the popular self-taught folk artist who lived and painted in the area.

Home to the city's largest and most important collections of art, the Blanton underwent major renovations in 2023 that expanded the 200,000-square-foot institution into a more fully developed museum campus. Visitors arrive through a new check-in building and cross to the main gallery via a stunning outdoor pavilion, shaded by three-story, flower petal-like structures, with an adjacent “sound gallery” park space and chapel installation by Ellsworth Kelly. Monthly Second Saturdays ($20) are a great time to enjoy live music and themed pop-up entertainment, in addition to after-hours tours of the collections. The museum café is closed temporarily, but the local Justine's Brasserie team is set to reopen a casual French concept on-site in spring 2025. Museum admission is free every Tuesday. There is garage parking, but the museum doesn't validate, so regular rates apply.

This small museum housed in a stately building on Bowdoin's main quad features one of the oldest permanent collections of art in the United States. The more than 20,000 objects include paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and works on paper. They range from ancient, European, Asian, and Indigenous works to modern and contemporary art. The museum often mounts well-curated, rotating exhibitions and has programs for getting children excited about art.

In a beautifully converted Civil War–era gristmill, the museum presents the art of Chadds Ford native Andrew Wyeth (1917–2009), a major American realist painter, as well as works by his father, N. C. Wyeth, illustrator of many children's classics; and Jamie Wyeth, Andrew's son. The collection also emphasizes still lifes, landscape paintings, and American illustration, with works by such artists as Howard Pyle and Horace Pippin. A glass-wall lobby on each of the three floors overlooks the river and countryside that inspired artists. Seasonal guided tours (advance reservations suggested) of three other buildings enhance the museum experience; children under age seven are not permitted on these. The N. C. Wyeth House and Studio, set on a hill, holds props N. C. used in creating his illustrations. His daughter, Carolyn Wyeth, lived and painted here until 1994. Andrew Wyeth's Studio, where the artist produced many notable works, is on view, too. You can also tour the Kuerner Farm, which Andrew painted in many of his best-known paintings. A shuttle takes you from the museum to the buildings for an hour-long guided tour. Several trails on (or that pass through) the property, a gift shop, and the Millstone Café, all acessible without paying admission, round out the offerings.

The talk of Los Angeles's art world when it opened in 2015, this museum in an intriguing, honeycomb-looking building was created by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad (rhymes with "road") to showcase their stunning private collection of contemporary art, amassed over five decades and still growing. With upward of 2,000 pieces by more than 200 artists, the collection has in-depth representations of the work of such prominent names as Jean Michel Basquiat, Jeff Koons, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman, Cy Twombly, Kara Walker, and Christopher Wool. The "veil and vault" design of the main building integrates gallery space and storage space (visitors can glimpse the latter through a window in the stairwell): the veil refers to the fiberglass, concrete, and steel exterior; the vault is the concrete base. Temporary exhibits and works from the permanent collection are arranged in the small first-floor rooms and in the more expansive third floor of the museum, so you can explore everything in a few hours. Next door to the Broad is a small plaza with olive trees and seating, as well as the museum restaurant, Otium. Admission to the museum is free, but book timed tickets in advance to guarantee entry.

New York’s second-largest museum (after Manhattan’s Metropolitan Museum of Art) is also one of the largest in America, with 560,000 square feet of exhibition space. The colossal Beaux-Arts structure houses a world-class collection of Egyptian art, as well as impressive collections of African, pre-Columbian, Native American, pan-Asian, and feminist art. In addition, you'll find works by Georgia O'Keeffe, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, George Bellows, Thomas Eakins, and Milton Avery. The museum is also well-known for its contemporary, cutting-edge special exhibits. The monthly First Saturday (except September and November through January) is a free-entry night that's a neighborhood party of art, music, and dancing, with food vendors and several cash bars.

This 76,000-square-foot complex houses the largest collection of original art and personal objects of legendary cowboy artist Charlie Russell (1864–1926). Russell's more than 4,000 works of art—sculptures, watercolors, oil paintings—primarily portray the vanishing era of the Old West. His log studio and home, built at the turn of the 20th century, are adjacent to the main galleries. A highlight is the bison exhibit: more than 1,000 objects are used to tell the epic story of this Western icon, and you feel the floor tremble as you experience the sensation of being in the middle of a stampede. Also here are collections of paintings by other 19th-century and modern Western artists, interactive exhibits, and a research library.

An ambitious exhibition schedule of historical and contemporary significance, plus a plethora of public educational programs and a clay studio, keep this museum on the cusp of capacity and engagement. The museum's permanent collection, contained in a sleek 40,000-square-foot facility, includes originals by Mary Cassatt and a collection of Seagrove pottery. On the 10-acre grounds are a sculpture park, picnic tables, and restored Confederate defense mounds built during a battle in the waning days of the Civil War.  The museum's CAM Cafe is a local secret for lunch and weekend brunch, with reasonably priced Benedicts, quiches, and sandwiches, plus a dinner menu on Thursdays when they host live jazz. 

This multiple-gallery museum on the grounds of the Cape Playhouse has a permanent collection of more than 850 works by important Cape-associated artists such as Hans Hoffman, William Paxton, and Charles Hawthorne; Hawthorne was the founder of America's first artists' colony in 1899 in Provincetown. Rich in cultural programming, changing exhibits, special events, workshops, and classes are held throughout the year.

The impressive Center for Maine Contemporary Art sprang from a 50-year legacy that originated in makeshift exhibitions in barns and a potato-barrel storage loft before settling into a small, antique fire house in Rockport. Since 2016, this striking, light-filled building designed by Toshiko Mori has allowed the museum to showcase modern works by accomplished artists with a Maine connection in a space that befits the quality of the art. Expect envelope-pushing, changing exhibitions and public programs. Visitors are invited to drop into the museum's ArtLab to gain greater insight into current exhibitions by trying their own hand at making art inspired by the works on display.

The world's most comprehensive and important collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany—including immense stained-glass windows, lamps, watercolors, jewelry, and desk sets—is in this museum, which also contains American decorative art and paintings from the mid-19th to the early 20th century. Among the draws is the 1,082-square-foot Tiffany Chapel, originally built for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. It took craftsmen 2½ years to painstakingly reassemble the chapel here.

Many of the works were rescued from Tiffany's Long Island estate, Laurelton Hall, after a 1957 fire destroyed much of the property. The 12,000-square-foot Laurelton Hall wing allows for much more of the estate's collection to be displayed at one time, including architectural and decorative elements from the dining room, living room, and Fountain Court reception hall. There's also a re-creation of the striking Daffodil Terrace, so named for the glass daffodils that festoon the capitals of the terrace's marble columns. Admission is free on Friday after 4 pm from November through April.

Fans of Snoopy and Charlie Brown will love this museum dedicated to the late Charles M. Schulz, who lived his last three decades in Santa Rosa. Permanent installations include a re-creation of the cartoonist's studio, and temporary exhibits often focus on a particular theme in his work. Children and adults can take a stab at creating cartoons in the Education Room.

An electrifying 10,000-square-foot, Albert Alfonso–designed building is home to world-renowned glass sculptor Dale Chihuly's work. Here, impossibly vibrant, larger-than-life pieces such as Float Boat and Ruby Red Icicle sit next to some of the famed sculptor's smaller and more under-the-radar works. You can tour the museum independently or with one of its volunteer docents (no added cost; tours are given hourly on the half hour during the week).

Each display is perfectly lighted against a shade of gray paint handpicked by Chihuly himself, which adds to the drama of the designs. Check out the gift shop at the end if you'd like to take some of the magic home with you. Your admission includes access to the Morean Arts Center's glassblowing studio, where you can watch resident artists create a unique glass piece before your eyes.

With one of the largest permanent installations of contemporary art in the world, the Chinati Foundation displays works by American minimalist Donald Judd and others in buildings spread over 340 acres of the former Ft. D. A. Russell. The Judd collection includes 15 concrete works outdoors, plus 100 aluminum pieces housed in two converted artillery sheds. You'll also see 25 sculptures by John Chamberlain and an installation by Dan Flavin that occupies six former army barracks. The museum's comprehensive guided tours require a significant commitment of time—six hours, including a two-hour break for lunch—and energy to walk up to 1½ miles over uneven terrain. While self-guided tours are always an option, space on the guided tours is limited.

This city-owned, admission-free art gallery, with handsome contemporary architecture and a delightful location within Joe Riley Waterfront Park, rotates paintings, photography, and sculpture exhibits, showcasing predominately Charleston and South Carolina artists. Young and emerging talents exhibit, and residents and visitors alike love the many opening receptions and artist lectures. The second floor offers a privileged riverfront view.

One of the nation's notable small art museums, the Clark has won numerous architectural awards for its 2014 redesign by Reed Hilderbrand and for the new Clark Center by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Tadao Ando. The polished concrete of the latter visually connects it to the landscape through glass windows and open spaces. The museum has a large collection of Impressionist works, in particular many significant Renoir paintings. Other strengths include English silver, European and American photography 1840–1920, and 17th- and 18th-century Flemish and Dutch masterworks.

This attractive, expansive gallery contains art from the Kress Foundation collection of Renaissance and baroque treasures, sculpture, and decorative arts. There are prominent paintings by European and American masters, including a Monet and a Botticelli, as well as temporary exhibitions that have featured works by artists like Salvador Dalí and M. C. Escher.  CMA hosts several periodic music series, including the More Than Rhythm Black Music Series and Jazz at the CMA.

Originally known as the Austin Museum of Art, the Contemporary Austin's Jones Center is a striking downtown presence featuring a diverse roster of contemporary artists and exhibits. It also hosts various special events open to the public, including "rooftop sessions" with outdoor film screenings and live musical and artistic performances. While advanced reservations are recommended, walk-ups are welcome, and admission is always free on Thursdays. Your ticket also includes free admission to the Contemporary's must-see sister site, Laguna Gloria, in nearby west Austin.

Set on a lush peninsula jutting into Lake Austin, these grounds are home to the 1916 Mediterranean-style villa that was once home to Clara Driscoll, the famed Texas philanthropist who led the fight to save the Alamo from demolition in the early 20th century. The stunning villa is surrounded by gorgeously landscaped gardens and lakeside walking trails that lead visitors throughout an impressive collection of outdoor sculptures and large-scale art installations by world-renowned artists. A popular art school operates on-site, and a lovely gift shop and café, Spread & Co., serving tasty cheese boards and other gourmet picnic fare, help elongate a leisurely afternoon visit at this scenic spot. Admission is free on Thursday.

The Cooper Hewitt has taken an ornate, century-old mansion—once the residence of industrialist Andrew Carnegie—and outfitted it with the latest technologies and amenities to create a slick, highly interactive, 21st-century experience, so you don’t just look at design; you engage with it. Download the free app to guide you through some of the wide-ranging collection's more than 215,000 objects from over 30 centuries, including 3-D printed objects, handcrafted furniture, vintage wallpaper, cultural and period textiles, art and design books, and examples of robotics and animation. Rotating exhibits may focus on a particular designer, design era or theme.

The focus on design and discovery extends to the SHOP, where limited-edition objects are for sale. There is a café, and an outdoor garden is free and open to the public. The museum offers guided tours aligned to exhibition topics at 1:30 daily. Admission tickets can be reserved online.

Established in 1885, Sacramento's premier fine-arts museum specializes in California art, European master drawings, and international ceramics. A highlight is the magnificent Great Canyon of the Sierra, Yosemite (1871) by Thomas Hill. Some works are displayed in two architecturally significant 19th-century structures: the original Italianate Crocker residence and a villa-like gallery. A contemporary, 125,000-square-foot space hosts outstanding traveling exhibitions.

The Wark Collection of early-18th-century Meissen porcelain is just one reason to visit this former St. Johns River estate, which includes 13 permanent galleries with more than 5,500 items spanning more than 4,000 years, as well as 3 acres of riverfront gardens that showcase northeast Florida's seasonal blooms and indigenous fauna. The Thomas H. Jacobsen Gallery of American Art focuses on works by artists such as Max Weber, N. C. Wyeth, and Paul Manship. Free brochures at the front desk help you navigate the galleries, as do podcasts. The on-site Cummer Cafe offers food and beverages to enjoy on the museum's patio and in its gardens.

The Currier maintains an astounding permanent collection of works by European and American masters, among them Claude Monet, Edward Hopper, Winslow Homer, John Marin, Andrew Wyeth, and Childe Hassam, and it presents changing exhibits of contemporary art. The museum also arranges guided tours of the nearby Zimmerman House, completed in 1950, and the nearby Kalil House, built five years later. These are New England's only Frank Lloyd Wright–designed residences open to the public. Wright called these sparse, utterly functional living spaces "Usonian," a term he used to describe several dozen similar homes based on his vision of distinctly American architecture.

Inside and out, the building housing the waterfront Dalí Museum, which opened on 1/11/11 (Dalí is said to have been into numerology), is almost as remarkable as the Spanish surrealist's work. The state-of-the-art structure incorporates a surreal geodesic glass structure called the Enigma, as well as an outdoor labyrinth and a DNA-inspired spiral staircase leading up to the exhibition of artworks. And all this even before you've seen the collection, which is one of the most comprehensive of its kind—courtesy of Ohio magnate A. Reynolds Morse, a friend of Dalí's.

Here you can scope out his early impressionistic works and see how the painter evolved into the visionary he's now seen to be. The mind-expanding paintings in this Downtown headliner include Eggs on the Plate without the Plate, The Hallucinogenic Toreador, and more than 90 other oils. Another 2,000 additional works include watercolors, drawings, sculptures, photographs, and objets d'art. The museum also hosts temporary collections from the likes of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. Free hour-long tours are led by well-informed docents.

This stunning architectural site and museum, tucked just off Rainey Street overlooking Lady Bird Lake, was closed for two years for a multimillion-dollar renovation that expanded its physical space and scope of programming. Dedicated to celebrating Latino artists and empowering a new generation of Mexican-Americans, the museum boasts a phenomenal education department and offers popular youth and family programs. Live performances and community events are available throughout the year, ranging from flamenco recitals and hillside music concerts to Día de los Muertos celebrations.

If you have kids in tow—or if you just love children's book illustrations—"the Carle" is a must-see. This light-filled museum celebrates and preserves not only the works of renowned children's book author Eric Carle, who penned The Very Hungry Caterpillar, but also original picture-book art by Maurice Sendak, William Steig, Chris Van Allsburg, and many others. Puppet shows and storytelling events are among the museum's ongoing programs. Children are invited to create their own works of art in the studio or read classics or discover new authors in the library.