There are more than 35,000 museums in the United States, according to a figure released by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. That means there’s twice as many museums in our country as there are Starbucks – a staggering figure. So, we want to narrow down the field to the best museums in Canada and the U.S. across eight categories.
You can vote once per category, per day until voting ends on Monday, February 17 at noon ET. The winners will be announced on Friday, February 28. Click on each category below to vote:
Best Art Museum
Which art museum houses your favorite collection? — Photo courtesy of iStock / syolacan
North America is home to some of the world’s most impressive art museums, showcasing dazzlingly comprehensive collections and legendary works. Whether you’re interested in the masters or the best of contemporary American art, you’ll find it at one of these museums from coast to coast.
Best Children’s Museum
These museums win big with families — Photo courtesy of iStock / monkeybusinessimages
Keeping the kids entertained while traveling can be a challenge, especially on days when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Luckily these 20 museums, chosen as the best for families in North America, offer engaging, interactive experiences for kids and adults alike.
Vote: Best Children’s Museum »
Best Free Museum
Some of the nation’s best museums are free — Photo courtesy of iStock / monkeybusinessimages
Some of the nation’s most captivating, enriching and enlightening museums have something in common — admission is free.
Best History Museum
Dig into history at these 20 museums — Photo courtesy of iStock / monkeybusinessimages
Whether you’re interested in millennia of human history or centuries of American history, you can learn a lot about the past with a visit to one of these excellent history museums. Some have broad, encyclopedic collections, while others narrow in on a certain chapter or facet of history.
Best Music Museum
These top museums celebrate music and the people who make it — Photo courtesy of iStock / michelangeloop
The United States has been the birthplace of numerous musical genres, and some of the world’s most famous singers, songwriters and performing artists start here. These museums celebrate American musical history, through the lens of a specific artist or genre, or with a big picture approach.
Best New Museum
These museums opened in the past two years — Photo courtesy of Iwan Baan / Institute for Contemporary Art
Each year brings a slew of new collections (or new facilities for old collections) for museum lovers. These museums, ranging from avant-garde art galleries to colorful children’s museums, represent the best openings of the past two years.
Best Religious Museum
You don’t have to be spiritual to enjoy these museums with a religious theme — Photo courtesy of iStock / Rike_
You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the stories and collections at these museums, each dedicated to sharing the history, culture, art or traditions of some of the world’s diverse religious groups and faith communities. These include the country’s best Jewish museums, religious art collections, heritage centers and more.
Best Science Museum
Celebrate all things STEM at these 20 science museums — Photo courtesy of iStock / LG-Photography
From dinosaurs to nanotechnology, science and natural history come alive at these museums across the continent.
Remember, you can vote once per day in each category. The 10 nominees with the most votes in each category will be announced on 10Best.com on Friday, February 28.