TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Visiting the best history museums in the US offers a chance to explore the nation’s rich past. From African American history and the Civil Rights movement to Amelia Earhart’s aviation legacy, these museums showcase the stories that shaped America into what it is today.
Citing Travel + Leisure and 10Best USA Today, here are the 10 best history museums in US to visit.
List of the Best History Museums in US
1. National Museum of African American History and Culture
Established in 2003, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is widely regarded as one of the best history museums in US. The remarkable space devotedly unveils the documentation of African American life, history, and culture through an extensive collection of 40,000 artifacts.
As visitors step inside, they gain a deeper understanding of how African Americans helped shape the fabric of the nation, from Emancipation and the Jim Crow era to the Civil Rights movement.
2. Museum of the American Revolution
Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum of the American Revolution offers a more multilayered perspective of the nation’s founding in liberty, equality, and self-government.
Despite its relatively modest size, the museum is supported by an impressive collection, immersive galleries, a powerful theater experience, and engaging interactive programs.
3. The National WWII Museum
The National WWII Museum is undoubtedly one of the best history museums in US that unfolds the past on an impressive scale. Offering vivid glimpses into World War II and its aftermath, the museum brings the global conflict to life through first-person oral histories, artifacts, and immersive exhibits.
After wandering through the museum, visitors come away with a deeper appreciation for how the world-changing war shaped the true price of freedom today.
4. National Civil Rights Museum
The National Civil Rights Museum speaks powerfully for the past, as it stands at the former Lorraine Motel, where the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.
For more than 30 years, the museum has served as a gateway for a deeper understanding of the Civil Rights Movement, tracing its roots from slavery to modern-day struggles for justice.
Through original documents, personal artifacts, oral histories, and immersive multimedia installations, visitors are guided through a pivotal period of change in American history.
5. Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation explores how creativity and innovation have shaped American life. From the car in which President John F. Kennedy was assassinated to historic automobiles and groundbreaking technologies, the museum showcases an unmatched collection of artifacts spanning 300 years of the nation’s history that transformed industries and everyday living.
Each year, more than 1.7 million visitors experience its immersive exhibits, gaining a dynamic look at the innovations behind the nation’s progress.
6. Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum
Opened in 2003, the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum features 14 exhibits dedicated to the aviator’s legacy. At its center stands the “Muriel” Lockheed Electra 10-E, the world’s last remaining aircraft of its kind and the very plane Earhart flew on her final journey.
Visitors can explore Earhart’s adventurous life in an immersive way, such as from a full-scale replica of her cockpit to experiences that let them hear the roar of the aircraft’s engine and more.
7. Smithsonian National Museum of American History
As a world-class institution, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History stands at the forefront of preserving artifacts that define the nation’s complex past.
Home to more than 1.7 million objects and 22,000 linear feet of archival documents, the museum allows visitors to explore a wide range of American themes, from democracy and the presidency to food culture and everyday life. Best of all, admission is free.
8. Autry Museum of the American West
The Autry Museum of the American West presents a nuanced look at the history and culture of the American West. Through more than 600,000 pieces of art and cultural objects on Indigenous peoples, frontier life, and popular culture, the museum challenges myths while highlighting diverse voices.
9. Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is a living-history museum that transports visitors back to 18th-century America. With restored buildings, costumed interpreters, and hands-on demonstrations, the site brings colonial life vividly to the present time. It provides an immersive way to understand the social, political, and economic foundations of early America.
10. Cincinnati Museum Center
Housed in the iconic Union Terminal, the Cincinnati Museum Center combines history, science, and culture under one roof. Its history exhibits explore regional and national stories through engaging displays and preserved architecture across its three distinct museums: Cincinnati History Museum, the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History & Science, and the Duke Energy Children's Museum, as well as Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center.
From pivotal moments of civil rights and revolution to innovation, aviation, and cultural identity, the best history museums in US provide meaningful journeys into the stories that shaped the nation.
Whether you’re a lifelong history enthusiast or simply a curious visitor, these museums invite you to connect with the past and the present in the most authentic way. For a broader perspective, let’s take a look at the most visited museums in the world.
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