Introduction
The United States has a long and rich history of art, and many of the country’s most famous artists are interwoven into that story. From the early days of European settlers bringing their own traditions with them to modern times when artists are innovating new forms, these museums represent some of the best collections in America. If you’re an art lover, this list is for you!
National Gallery of Art–Washington, DC
The National Gallery of Art is located in Washington, DC. It’s open daily from 10am to 5pm (closed on Mondays). Admission is free, but you must pay if you want to enter the special exhibits or visit the museum cafe.
The phone number for the museum is 202-842-6799. The website URL is https://www.nga.gov/visit/location
Yale University Art Gallery–New Haven, CT
The Yale University Art Gallery is one of the largest university art museums in the country and has a significant collection of European art. The museum is located in downtown New Haven, CT and features over 30 galleries that showcase works from artists like Picasso, Monet, Pollock and Warhol.
The Yale University Art Gallery was established as a teaching collection in 1832 by Thomas Cole (an American landscape painter), who bequeathed his own works along with funds to build the first gallery building on campus. Since then it has grown into one of America’s premier institutions for modern art research; however its mission remains focused on teaching through exhibitions designed for both students and adults alike
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art–Kansas City, MO
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is located in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday and admission costs $10 per person (free for children under 12).
The museum houses an impressive collection of art that spans millennia and continents–from Egyptian antiquities to European paintings to Native American artifacts and more–but if there’s one thing you absolutely must see when visiting this museum it’s their Japanese garden! The garden is composed of eight distinct areas: two ponds connected by a stream; an island with bamboo groves; three types of shrubs arranged in rows; a mossy mound with paths leading around its perimeter; stones arranged into patterns representing nature; boulders placed randomly throughout the garden; large rocks piled together as if they had been washed ashore after being tossed overboard during an ocean voyage…the list goes on! In short: this place is amazing!
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art–Bentonville, AR
The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. It was founded by Alice Walton, heiress to the Walmart fortune, who wanted to build a world-class art museum in her hometown. It’s located on a 200-acre campus that includes over 40 acres of sculpture gardens and natural areas along the Arkansas River. The museum houses more than 40 permanent collections featuring work from artists like Norman Rockwell and Andy Warhol alongside contemporary masters like Jasper Johns and Georgia O’Keeffe.
The best way to explore this hidden gem? Walk through its beautiful grounds on foot (or bike), then spend hours exploring inside one of America’s most underrated museums!
Arizona State University Art Museum–Tempe, AZ
Arizona State University Art Museum is a gem. It’s located at the university’s Tempe campus, which makes it easy to visit if you’re in town for a conference or other event at ASU. The museum has a permanent collection of more than 2,000 objects and hosts special exhibitions every year.
It’s also home to one of my favorite pieces: “The Bigger Picture,” an enormous mural by Ellen Gallagher that spans two floors of the building’s interior walls (pictured above). This work was commissioned by former president Barack Obama before he left office; it depicts African Americans from various backgrounds working together toward common goals like education reform or healthcare access–a fitting tribute from our 44th president!
Indianapolis Museum of Art–Indianapolis, IN
The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) is a must-see for art lovers. The museum houses more than 50,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years and includes paintings, sculptures and photographs from around the world. It’s also known for its collection of contemporary works by artists like Andy Warhol and Alexander Calder.
The IMA is located on a beautiful campus in downtown Indianapolis that features gardens along with paths for walking or biking through the grounds. If you’re visiting during warmer months, take advantage of their outdoor sculpture garden where you can find some amazing sculptures tucked into corners throughout the grounds!
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am – 5pm; Sunday 12pm – 5pm
Admission Prices: Adults $15; Children 4-17 $7; Seniors 65+ $10 (with valid ID); College Students with ID FREE
Other Activities Nearby: Indianapolis Zoo & White River Gardens–2 miles away Broad Ripple Village–3 miles away Carmel Arts & Design District–10 miles away Downtown Indy – Shopping Restaurants Bars Nightlife Sports Venues
Detroit Institute of Arts–Detroit, MI
Detroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the premier art museums in the country. The museum has been open since 1885 and houses more than 100,000 pieces of artwork, making it one of the largest collections in America. It’s also home to some amazing exhibits that highlight different periods in art history. You can see everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary paintings by local artists at this museum. The building itself was designed by famous architect Albert Kahn, who also designed factories for Ford Motor Company during its heyday as well as several other buildings around Detroit (including ones featured later on this list).
The DIA has galleries on five floors: European Art; American Art; Ancient Egypt; African Art; Prints & Drawings; Asian Art etc… There’s something for everyone here! The best part? Admission is free every day except Thursdays from 5-9 pm when there are special events happening at night–so make sure you check their calendar before planning your visit!
Newark Museum–Newark, NJ
The Newark Museum is the largest art museum in the state of New Jersey and has a collection of over 30,000 objects. It was founded in 1909 by John Cotton Dana, who also served as its first Director until his death in 1955. The museum’s Egyptian collection is one of its most popular attractions; it includes many artifacts from ancient Egypt that were excavated by David Linton, an early benefactor and trustee of the museum who traveled throughout Egypt during World War I with other archaeologists searching for tombs containing ancient treasures. The Newark Museum is also accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), which means it meets stringent standards regarding its collection care practices, conservation techniques used on artifacts within its walls, education programs offered through partnerships with local schools or universities’ professors/students working alongside curators/librarians…
These are some of the best art museums you can find in the US.
These are some of the best art museums you can find in the US. They’re all located in one country and on one continent, so you won’t have to travel far to see them all!
Conclusion
So, if you’re a lover of art and looking for something fun to do on your next trip to the US, we hope this list helps. There are so many great museums to visit across the country, but these five stand out as being among the best. They each offer something unique and special that will make any visitor feel like they’ve discovered something new about themselves through their experience at each one!
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