Americans are fortunate to have access to many hundreds of art museums, and many are quite impressive in their own ways. It’s difficult to choose the best out of such a large number of unique collections and exhibits, but of course there are always those that stand out above the crowd. If you have a love of art and want to visit the top art museums in the country, your list would not be complete without a stop at each of the following five.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art. No discussion of important art museums would be complete without mention of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The museum holds millions of pieces of art from all over the world, covering time periods that stretch back thousands of years. Right now, two of the special exhibits are one featuring Matisse and the other concentrating on African art.
- The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Known as one of the largest museums in the country, this museum’s 1876 opening date also establishes it as one of the oldest US museums. The museum is home to collections and exhibits that draw around a million visitors a year, but it’s probably even more well-known for its appearance in the movie Rocky. Visitors reenact the scene showing Rocky’s ascent up the staircase on a daily basis.
- The Art Institute of Chicago. The sheer size of the Art Institute of Chicago would make it worth mentioning on any top museums list, it’s the second largest museum in the country. It has more than 250,000 displays in an area that covers more than one million square feet. It also contains one of the most complete Monet collections in the country. The Art Institute is also home to the fascinating Touch Gallery, an exhibit that allows the blind and visually impaired to explore works of art through their sense of touch.
- The Smithsonian American Art Museum. The Smithsonian American Art Museum displays more than 300 years worth of American art, featuring over 7,000 artists of renown. An interesting feature of the museum is the Lunder Conservation Center where visitors can watch through glass windows as the Conservation staff examines and treats incoming work. Also fascinating is the National Portrait Gallery, which houses portraits of important players in American history.
- The de Young Museum. The de Young Museum is located in San Francisco, and really dates back to 1895, when it was originally established. However, the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 caused it to close, and it was finally demolished and rebuilt in 2005. The museum is well known for its American contemporary art displays. The outside of the building is notable for the 140 tower that can be seen from locations all over the city.
Although there are wonderful art museums all over the country, these five are can’t-miss destinations for anyone determined to see all the best museums that the USA has to offer.
