Specialty Museums in the US

[meierlde]

Let me add lakeshore museums in Chicago, starting with the Museum of Science and Industry
https://www.msichicago.org/


Then the Field Museum of Natural History further north along the lakeshore:
https://www.fieldmuseum.org/


And in the same area (within walking distance) the Shedd Aquarium
https://www.sheddaquarium.org/


And the Adler Planetarium:
https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/#6Y0wZjGBKrvCehUg.97


My dad (a science teacher) used to take students there from both Decatur In, and Plymouth Mi. It was a weekend trip.



There are other attractions near by I have not been to like the art institute etc.

[travelover]

The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI is amazing. It has the car JFK was shot in on display along with hundreds of other cars and period stuff that Ford collected. From the museum you can take a shuttle to see the nearby Ford F150 plant and take a tour.

The blimp museum in Tillamook, OR is well worth a visit, as well.

[Mr._Graybeard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by meierlde Let me add lakeshore museums in Chicago, starting with the Museum of Science and Industry https://www.msichicago.org/ Then the Field Museum of Natural History further north along the lakeshore: https://www.fieldmuseum.org/ And in the same area (within walking distance) the Shedd Aquarium https://www.sheddaquarium.org/ And the Adler Planetarium: https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/#6Y0wZjGBKrvCehUg.97 My dad (a science teacher) used to take students there from both Decatur In, and Plymouth Mi. It was a weekend trip. There are other attractions near by I have not been to like the art institute etc.

Ah, the Art Institute -- Grant Wood's "American Gothic," Hopper's "Nighthawks," Van Gogh's "Bedroom," among others. I recall seeing a Rembrandt there, "Young Woman at an Open Half Door." I believe Rembrandt's self-portrait is there too.

Lots of Goya works, Picassos -- it is a landmark art museum.

Edit: for those who visit the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, there's a lesser-known museum nearby on the University of Chicago campus called the Oriental Institute. If you're interested in artifacts from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia, it's a great place to visit.

[Cessna152]

Experimental Breeder Reactor-I (EBR-I) Atomic Museum in Idaho (https://visitidaho.org/things-to-do/...atomic-museum/).

Years ago we were driving along US-26 and saw a sign for it, had the time, and we both thought what the heck. Out in the middle of the proverbial nowhere (deliberately of course) and we both thought it fascinating.

Another power generating museum we visited and enjoyed that may be of interest: Fort Peck Dam and Power Plant Museum in Montana.
https://www.visitmt.com/listings/gen...nt-museum.html

[njhowie]

The Neon Museum - Las Vegas

[DrRoy]

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The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, in Huntsville, Alabama. https://www.rocketcenter.com/

I am a space nerd and loved this one. For two hours I talked to a guy that worked directly for Wernher Von Braun.

(Neil) Armstrong Museum in Wapakoneta, OH.

There are also museums of glass in Corning, NY and Toledo, OH.

[Ronstar]

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum - Whitefish Point, Mi

International Spy Museum - Washington DC

Maritime Museum - Astoria, Oregon

Route 66 Museum - Kingman, Arizona

Illinois Railway Museum - Union, Illinois

Pima Air & Space Museum - Tucson, Arizona

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Museum - Durango, Colorado

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center / Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum - Dulles Airport

The Sixth floor Museum at Dealey Plaza - Dallas, Texas

[Ronstar]

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Originally Posted by Gumby 10. Newport Mansions in Newport, RI.

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Originally Posted by Midpack +1000. Wonderful, if you only have time for two, The Breakers and Marble House are stunning..... https://www.biltmore.com/.

+1001. I'm still amazed by the separate hot and cold fresh water , and sea salt water faucets in The Breakers

[Midpack]

Not my cup of tea, but a must see for many fans https://www.nascarhall.com/

[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr._Graybeard Ah, the Art Institute -- Grant Wood's "American Gothic," Hopper's "Nighthawks," Van Gogh's "Bedroom," among others. I recall seeing a Rembrandt there, "Young Woman at an Open Half Door." I believe Rembrandt's self-portrait is there too. Lots of Goya works, Picassos -- it is a landmark art museum.

I’m sure the OP has been there, but to the above I’d add Seurat’s “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte“ and the whole Hokusai collection as must sees for Art Institute Chicago visitors.

[steelyman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr._Graybeard Ah, the Art Institute -- Grant Wood's "American Gothic," Hopper's "Nighthawks," Van Gogh's "Bedroom," among others. I recall seeing a Rembrandt there, "Young Woman at an Open Half Door." I believe Rembrandt's self-portrait is there too. Lots of Goya works, Picassos -- it is a landmark art museum.

The Art Institute is incredible. And wouldn’t you know? There’s an app for that.

There is/was one for the Louvre too but I don’t know if it’s maintained.

[Midpack]

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Originally Posted by Ronstar +1001. I'm still amazed by the separate hot and cold fresh water , and sea salt water faucets in The Breakers

And they were just “cottages” used for 6 weeks a year!

[Lewis Clark]

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Originally Posted by FlaGator And 2 in north Scottsdale: Musical Instrument Museum For music freaks. Includes regional displays (which my teen musicians found fascinating) and enough American modern displays to keep me interested. https://mim.org/

+ 1

Great museum! Can easily take up a full day. Many displays have videos showing people playing the various instruments.

[Lewis Clark]

National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia.
https://nationalinfantrymuseum.org/

Titan Missile Museum, a little bit south of Tucson, Arizona. This is the last remaining Titan missile silo. Tours are available taking visitors to various locations within the silo. A missile is still there, also.

https://titanmissilemuseum.org/

[ggbutcher]

To add to the Denver area list: Colorado Railroad Museum https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/

And, takes a bit to get to it, but well-worth the effort, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad https://cumbrestoltec.com/ 2020 opening day will be of particular interest, as they're going to have a number of older (late 1800s) locomotives, both native and visiting, under steam.

[audreyh1]

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Originally Posted by CardsFan In the St. Louis area there are a few: 1. The Arch: yeah, a tourist trap, but the movie on building it is well worth the visit. No need to go up top. 2. National Museum of Transport: Not worth a big change of plans, but if you are in the area, worth a visit. 3. City Museum: Caveat, I have not been there, but I her it is great for kids.

I like outdoor “museums” and the St Louis botanical garden is outstanding.

[14thMed]

How about The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee Wi.

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Crypto Museum near Ft Meade, MD. A little hard to find. Had Nash papers and Enigma machines among others.

If you find yourself in Scranton, PA checkout the Anthracite Museum. They do a really good job.

[Mr._Graybeard]

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Originally Posted by audreyh1 I like outdoor “museums” and the St Louis botanical garden is outstanding.

I haven't been, but I hear Cahokia is an interesting restored Native American city (archaeologists estimate a peak population over 10,000) of the Middle Mississippian culture. We have a smaller satellite village site in Wisconsin that has been restored as a state park. It's called Aztalan because the white immigrants assumed the flat-topped pyramidal mounds were built by Aztecs.

The village up here was distinct from the local woodland tribes -- it seems to have been a commercial outpost for trading.

[geeky_grrl]

B reactor in Richland, Wa. https://manhattanprojectbreactor.hanford.gov/

When I toured about 15 years ago I was lucky enough to have a tour guide who actually worked there during the Manhattan Project. I doubt there are very many of them left now though.