10 American museums you might not have heard about

There’s a lot to see

10 American museums you might not have heard about

America has no shortage of museums to visit. Big names such as The Met, the Smithsonian, or the MoMA—to name a few—are well-known to everyone. However, the American museum scene is larger and more diverse than many would imagine, as museums dedicated to all sorts of topics can be found all across the country. Here are 10 museums that might warrant a visit!

Museum of Flight (Seattle)

Image: Ashim D’Silva

Considered one of the most significant air and space museums in the world, the Museum of Flight is located at King County International Airport and houses more than 160 historic aircraft. In addition to the historical displays, it also offers the chance to try out a flight simulator!

The Circus Museum (Sarasota)

Image: Ingo Ellerbusch

The circus is not just a mere topic here. This museum in Florida has an exact scale replica of a circus, complete with wagons, tents, and even 7,000 miniature folding chairs. Housed within the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the circus museum also offers several permanent circus exhibits.

The Mammoth Site (Hot Springs)

Image: April Pethybridge

If you are planning a trip to South Dakota, consider adding Ice Age fossils to your itinerary. This museum is an active excavation site and one of the largest research facilities of its kind in North America. In addition to tours and educational experiences, this museum also hosts summer programs.

Dali Museum (St. Petersburg)

Image: Lennart Schneider

The location of this museum is not accidental. St. Petersburg, Florida, was chosen due to its similarities with Cadaques, Salvador Dali’s hometown in Spain. In addition to the more than 2,400 works by Dali kept here, the museum building is an architectural masterpiece in itself and has been named one of the most interesting museums in the world.

National Constitution Center (Philadelphia)

Image: Anthony Garand

It only makes sense that a museum focused on the Constitution would be based in the place where it was written and signed, but did you know this institution was established by the U.S. Congress? Its main purpose is to provide non-partisan information about the Constitution to all Americans. It features historical documents, interactive exhibits, and more.

International Spy Museum (Washington, D.C.)

Image: Sergiu Nista

You can find this museum just a walk away from the White House. It houses one of the largest collections of international espionage artifacts available to the general public, and offers information about espionage history, interactive displays, and the chance to live the spy experience for one day.

The Mob Museum (Las Vegas)

Image: Rock Staar

While this is not the only mob-centered museum, it is certainly unlike any other. It’s officially named the ‘National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement’, and here, you can not only learn about organized crime, but also see artifacts and common objects that were part of famous mob events.

Henry Morrison Flagler Museum (Palm Beach)

Image: Tessa Edmiston

One of John D. Rockefeller’s business partners, Henry Morrison Flagler, played a huge part in developing Florida, building hotels, funding a railroad throughout the state's east coast, and helping develop the tourism industry. This museum is what once was Whitehall, his Gilded Age manor in Palm Beach. Besides touring the magnificent building, you can also visit Flagler’s personal railcar.

Anchorage Museum (Anchorage)

Image: Josh McCausland

If you want to know more about Alaska, this is the place to go. You can learn about Alaskan history and what life was like in the Last Frontier through displays that include hundreds of native pieces, paintings, photographs, and interactive exhibits.

Musical Instrument Museum (Phoenix)

Image: Hal Gatewood

Located in the Arizona desert, this museum is home to an incredible collection: more than 8,000 musical instruments from around the world are on display, and you can hear their sound through headphones offered by the museum. Besides the exhibits and the interactive experiences, this museum also houses instruments that belonged to famous musicians, such as Johnny Cash!