176 Best Sights in USA

The Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame traces the development of skiing and snowboarding throughout the world, with an emphasis on Colorado's contributions. Six galleries include old skis and tows, Olympic displays, ski and snowboard history, and an exhibit on the 10th Mountain Division, an army division that trained nearby during World War II.

Looking for something other than colonial history? This museum was created to tell the herstory of Black girls through personal objects used and cherished in everyday life. Established in 2015, the unique museum embraces the value of intimate spaces and the experiences of Black girls and their home life, with the aim to also be a research facility, exhibition space, gathering place, and think tank. The space hosts special exhibitions, and currently only Saturday tours are available via online reservation.

The newest museum addition to Balboa Park celebrates San Diego's popular Comic-Con convention and all things related. Rotating exhibits explore topics such as the history of animation, cosplay design and the evolution of Pac-Man, as well as tracing the growth of Comic-Con itself from a small gathering of enthusiasts 50 years ago to the international showcase it is today. Interactive exhibits offer visitors chances to tinker, animate, and game, while daily scavenger hunts offer prizes. The gift shop is worth a browse with its interesting selection of collectibles and books.

A must-visit for fans of the early '80s TV sitcom The Dukes of Hazzard, Cooter's offers a plethora of collectibles and Duke Boys ephemera. After seven seasons portraying the amiable mechanic Cooter on the show, Ben Jones served four years as a U.S. congressman representing Georgia's 4th District. After retiring from public service, Jones opened this museum and gift shop filled with memorabilia, props, and autographed items from the show. Some are for sale and others are too rare for Jones to part with, but they all tell the story of the fictional Hazzard County. Visitors can even get a photo in the General Lee for an added cost.

Located in the center of the town square, this museum has coins, tools, and several large nuggets on display. Built in 1836, this former courthouse is one of the oldest public buildings in the state. If you look closely at the bricks that form the building's foundation, you'll notice a sprinkling of gold dust in their formation. Along with two floors of exhibits, the museum features a high-definition film titled America's First Gold Rush. Arrive an hour before closing to be sure and catch the film.

Denver's first firehouse was built in 1909 and now serves as a museum where original items of the trade are on view, including uniforms, nets, fire carts and trucks, bells, and switchboards. Artifacts and photos document the progression of firefighting machinery from horses and carriages in the early 1900s to the flashy red-and-white trucks of today.

This outdoor museum adjacent to the California Center for the Arts in Grape Day Park consists of several historic buildings moved here to illustrate local development from the late 1800s, when grape growing and gold mining supported the economy. Exhibits include the 1888 Santa Fe Depot, Escondido's first library, the Bandy Blacksmith shop, a furnished 1890 Victorian house, and other 19th-century buildings.

Howard Hughes's Spruce Goose, the largest plane ever built and constructed entirely of wood, is on permanent display, but if you can take your eyes off the giant you will also see more than 45 historic planes and replicas from the early years of flight and World War II, as well as the postwar and modern eras. Across the parking lot from the aviation museum is the space museum with artifacts that include a German V-2 rocket and a Titan missile, complete with silo and launch control room.

Housed inside the historic Lacey Street Theatre, this museum screens hourly films about ice carving and the tools of the trade. The Ice Showcase, a walkthrough display of intricate sculptures, is kept a consistent 20°F and includes something to dazzle just about everyone, including an ice slide, ice bar, and occasional live demonstrations. 

Inside a converted warehouse are an 1898 Renault coupe, Amelia Earhart's immaculately maintained "Goldbug," and a Big Boy steam locomotive, among other historic vehicles. Other exhibits in this eccentric museum consist of antique bicycles, cable cars, and even experimental car-planes. This trivia-laden showcase is outside of the downtown loop: Go north on Brighton Boulevard; the museum is adjacent to the Denver Coliseum on the south side of I–70.

Hand-built in 1933 by stonemason Hough LeStourgeon from stones gathered in the region and decorated with geological artifacts found nearby, this popular museum, created by J. Marvin Hunter, founder of the Frontier Times magazine, teems with oddities and relics—take, for instance, the two-headed goat or the mummified cow fetus. The collection here is truly eclectic.

The young republic began to take shape through conversations and choices being made in these hospitality spaces, a circa-1785 tavern and the 1792 City Hotel, that comprise today's museum. Named for the Englishman John Gadsby who operated them from 1796 to 1808, the tavern businesses were central to Alexandria’s port-based economy, offering places to dine, entertain, and spend the night. A large enslaved labor force made Gadsby’s renowned hospitality possible. Notable patrons included George and Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the marquis de Lafayette. The taproom, dining room, assembly room, ballroom, and communal bedrooms have been restored to their original appearances. Opt for a self-guided tour to dig deeper into early America. A variety of public programs are held throughout the year.

Guitars are a dime a dozen in Nashville, but the axes on display at the Gallery of Iconic Guitars on Belmont University's campus are truly one-of-a-kind. From vintage instruments to guitars owned by legendary musicians, the guitars in Belmont's collection live up to their "iconic" name. The gallery sits within the heart of Belmont University, internationally renowned for its various music programs. Check the GIG's website before visiting, as University closures or holidays may affect hours.

Designed to celebrate the creative achievements of people in the capital city and around the world, this 46,000-square-foot LEED Gold–certified museum facility is on the campus of George Washington University. Rotating exhibits highlight global textiles and cultural traditions—from handmade rugs and historical costumes to contemporary art and fashion—as well as displays on local D.C. history. The museum offers a dynamic range of free screenings, talks, and other public programs throughout the week in person and online. It's also home to a research library and two study centers, and you can find digital resources on textile creation and care on the website, along with highlights of the museum's collections.

During a 31-year period (1937–68), Germaine Cazenave Wells, daughter of Arnaud's restaurant founder Arnaud Cazenave, was queen of Carnival balls a record 22 times for 17 different krewes (organizations). Many of her ball gowns—in addition to costumes worn by other family members, photographs, krewe invitations, and jewelry—are on display in this dim, quirky museum above Arnaud's restaurant.

Well-imagined and interactive displays at this worthwhile stop provide the basics about sequoias, of which there are 2,161 with diameters exceeding 10 feet in the approximately 2,000-acre Giant Forest.

The GRAMMY Museum brings the music industry to life. Throughout four floors and 30,000 square feet of space, the museum showcases rare footage of GRAMMY performances, plus rotating and interactive exhibits on award-winning musicians and the history of music. A 200-seat theater is great for live events that include screenings, lectures, interviews, and intimate music performances.

Retired firefighters lead tours through nearly 100 restored fire engines and tell harrowing tales of the "world's most dangerous profession." The museum has the world's largest collection of firefighting equipment, and children can climb on a 1916 engine, operate alarm systems, and learn fire safety from the pros. Helmets, badges, and other firefighting-related articles from as far back as 1725 are on display.

The owner started his impressive collection of 1,800 hammers decades ago and founded the museum—the world's first—in 2001. Noteworthy specimens include a Roman battle hammer and 6-foot-long posting hammers used to secure advertisements to exterior walls.

A diverting stop across from Healdsburg Plaza, this small storefront museum displays antiques fans from around the world. The collection includes 19th-century floral-theme specimens from Japan, France, and Austria that show exquisite craft, with commercial 20th-century ones from the United States promoting products, politicians, and ideas. Some fans are for sale.

You'll learn that more grapefruit is shipped from the Indian River area than anywhere else in the world at this museum in downtown Vero Beach. The memorabilia harks back to when families washed and wrapped the luscious fruit to sell at roadside stands and cattle hauled citrus-filled crates with distinctive Indian River labels to the rail station.

This maritime museum, devoted to the sport of yachting, honors the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, maker of yachts for five consecutive America's Cup defenses. The museum's several dozen boats range from an 8½-foot dinghy to the Defiant, a 75-foot America's Cup winner. Halsey Herreshoff, a four-time cup defender and the grandson of yacht designer and company co-founder Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, established the Hall of Fame in 1992 as an arm of the museum, which hosts talks on yacht design and restoration and operates a sailing school for both kids and adults. Visitors can come by land or sea for a summer music series on the museum's lawn.

This multimedia experience features the life and work of Milton S. Hershey, who founded the town bearing his name—and just about everything in it. On display is a working Hershey Kiss wrapping machine plus other memorabilia from the company's long history. A highlight is the Chocolate Lab, which offers hands-on workshops (for a fee). The Pantry Cafe sells tasting flights of hot chocolates from around the world as well as light fare.

Originally the tearoom for the Hollywood Bowl, this unassuming, two-story museum not only recounts the history of one of L.A.’s most renowned landmarks, but also commemorates some of the major and unforgettable performances that have taken place here. While the second floor mostly touts temporary exhibits, the first floor boasts permanent displays, a few of which are interactive. A quick visit to this museum is a definite must whether you’re a musicophile or you’re coming to see a performance at the Hollywood Bowl.

This is not really a house but a cluster of red tile–roof stucco cottages representing 34 different countries and cultures. The word "pacific" refers to the goal of maintaining peace. The cottages, decorated with crafts and pictures, are open weekend afternoons between 11 am and 5 pm, when you can chat with transplanted people and try out different ethnic foods. Folk-song and dance performances are presented on the outdoor stage around 2 pm most Sundays from March through October—check the schedule at the park visitor center. Across the road from the cottages, but not affiliated with them, is the Spanish colonial–style United Nations Building. Inside, the United Nations Association's International Gift Shop has reasonably priced crafts, cards, and books.

Dedicated to the 19 Pueblo tribes in New Mexico, the multilevel semicircular layout of this museum was inspired by Pueblo Bonito, an astounding prehistoric ruin in Chaco Canyon, in northwestern New Mexico. Start by visiting their permanent exhibit space We Are of This Place: The Pueblo Story, which interprets the Pueblo people's legacy through carried-down traditions and remarkable pieces from their renowned holdings of fine Native American pottery, textiles, baskets, and other masterworks. Changing exhibits may feature close-ups of a particular artist, such as the colorful and gorgeously composed copper-plate prints of Santa Clara Pueblo painter Helen Hardin. Mural tours celebrating 20 large-scale painted works by Pueblo artists on display here are offered on Wednesday and Friday at 11 am and 1 pm. Ceremonial dances are performed year-round on weekends; artisans (with their handcrafted wares available for purchase) are on site Tuesday through Sunday, and there are often arts-and-crafts demonstrations as well. The museum gift shop provides a fine overview of current Pueblo arts. The menu at its Indian Pueblo Kitchen restaurant, an appealing spot (complete with a shaded patio) for breakfast or lunch, is tastily influenced by Indigenous food traditions. Note that the museum lies a bit northeast of Old Town—a five-minute drive away in the Los Duranes neighborhood.

Just up Main Street from Huntington Pier, in an iconic art deco building, the International Surfing Museum pays tribute to the sport's greats with an impressive collection of surfboards and related memorabilia. Exhibits are designed to encourage families to learn about the history of surfing. Highlights include Duke Kahanamoku's surfboard and the "World's Largest Surfboard" measuring 42 feet long, 11 feet wide, 16 inches thick, and weighing 1,300 pounds.