It's Museum Day! Find Out The Best Free-Entry Museums In Every State Across The U.S.
Get into your favorite museums for free this year!
Joshua Earle on Unsplash Museums are a great way to enrich our knowledge of subjects including art, history and science. With International Museum Day rapidly approaching, it's a fantastic time to check out these amazing deals and opportunities to get a free entry into a popular museum in your state!
There are numerous museums around the country that specialize in different topics, and you can take a trip to discover the most interesting museum on the list!
From the world-famous Smithsonian to local museums showcasing the history of a particular town, you can find great museums no matter where you live that can teach you about a range of topics.
Some even specialize in more obscure topics, such as the Museum of Ice Cream or the Spy Museum, so check those out if you want to experience something truly unique.
Museums are geared toward people of all ages and can make for an ideal day trip for families who want to get out and do something special together. However, there are also museums dedicated specifically to children. These museums often have numerous activities young kids and families can participate in together.
The Smithsonian's 15th annual Museum Day is this Saturday, September 21, and it’s the perfect excuse to schedule an upcoming trip to a nearby museum that you’ve been curious about visiting. Because the United States is home to 50 individual states that all offer many different museums, you have plenty of museums to choose from.
However, museum prices can start to add up quickly, especially if you are paying for a large family outing. The great thing about many museums is that they also acknowledge how important learning is regardless of the cost of admission, which is why many of them offer special free-entry deals on a regular basis.
Also, a majority of these museums provide free year-round admission to paying members and entry specials for children, military personnel and students. If you don’t fall into any of these groups though, they also make it a point to offer free admission opportunities for the general public.
Having access to museums is a huge plus, and the magic that they can give is something that unites both kids and adults.
For this Museum Day, find a free museum deal in your state and enjoy a complimentary day of learning and discovery without breaking your budget.
1. Alabama — Birmingham Museum of Art
Photo Credit: Birmingham Museum of Art
General admission is free!
2. Alaska — Anchorage Museum
Photo Credit: Anchorage Museum
Free general admission on select Sundays throughout the year.
3. Arizona — Children's Museum of Phoenix
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Free entry on the first Friday of most months from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
4. Arkansas — Arkansas Arts Center
Photo Credit: Arkansas Arts Center
General admission is free with the exception of special exhibitions requiring additional tickets.
5. California — The Getty Center
Photo Credit: The Getty Center
Free admission!
6. Colorado — Museum of Natural History
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Free admission, but donations are encouraged.
7. Connecticut — New England Civil War Museum and Research Center
Photo Credit: The Clio
Free admission, but donations are appreciated.
8. Delaware — Delaware Art Museum
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Admission is free on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
9. Florida — Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami
Photo Credit: Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami
Free admission!
10. Georgia — Museum of History and Holocaust Education
Photo Credit: Museum of History and Holocaust Education
Free admission!
11. Hawaii — Honolulu Museum of Art
Photo Credit: Honolulu Museum of Art
Free entry the third Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the first Wednesday of every month and on July 31 for Hawaii residents with ID.
12. Idaho — Boise Art Museum
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Free admission on the first Thursday of each month.
13. Illinois — The Art Institute of Chicago
Photo Credit: The Art Institute of Chicago
General admission is free to Illinois residents every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Additional free admission deals for teens, educators and active-duty military servicemembers listed on website.
14. Indiana — Evansville Museum
Photo Credit: Evansville Museum
Free admission on the first Friday of every month.
15. Iowa — Iowa Gold Star Military Museum
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16. Kansas — American Jazz Museum
Photo Credit: American Jazz Museum
Free admission for museum members and children younger than 4 years old.
17. Kentucky — Speed Art Museum
Photo Credit: Speed Art Museum
Free admission every Sunday through March 2021.
18. Louisiana — Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum
Photo Credit: Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum
Admission is always free!
19. Maine — Portland Museum of Art
Photo Credit: Portland Museum of Art
Free admission on Friday evenings from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
20. Maryland — Maryland Historical Society
Photo Credit: Maryland Historical Society
Free museum admission on the first Thursday of every month.
21. Massachusetts — Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Photo Credit: Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Free admission on Wednesday evenings after 4 p.m. and during various Open House days throughout the year.
22. Michigan — Michigan History Museum
Photo Credit: Michigan History Museum
Free admission on Sundays.
23. Minnesota — Minneapolis Institute of Art
Photo Credit: Minneapolis Institute of Art
Free admission!
24. Mississippi — Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
Photo Credit: Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
Free admission on the third Saturday of every month.
25. Missouri — Hollywood Wax Museum Branson
Photo Credit: Hollywood Wax Museum Branson
Free admission on your birthday for residents with ID from designated counties.
26. Montana — Montana Historical Society
Photo Credit: Montana Historical Society
Free admission from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every second Saturday of the month.
27. Nebraska — Joslyn Art Museum
Photo Credit: Joslyn Art Museum
Free general admission!
28. Nevada — Nevada State Museum
Photo Credit: Nevada State Museum
Free for museum members and children 17 years old and younger.
29. New Hampshire — Currier Museum of Art
Photo Credit: Currier Museum of Art
Free admission for New Hampshire residents every second Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon.
30. New Jersey — Montclair Art Museum
Photo Credit: Montclair Art Museum
Free admission the first Thursday of every month from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the months of October through June.
31. New Mexico — New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Photo Credit: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Free admission for New Mexico residents with ID on the first Sunday of every month and for senior New Mexico residents ages 60 and older every Wednesday.
32. New York — Museum of Modern Art
Photo Credit: Museum of Modern Art
Free entry every Friday night from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
33. North Carolina — The Schiele Museum of Natural History
Photo Credit: The Schiele Museum of Natural History
Free general admission on the second Tuesday of every month from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
34. North Dakota — North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum
Photo Credit: North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum
Free admission!
35. Ohio — Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Photo Credit: Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Free admission deals for staff, museum cardholders, students, military servicemembers, veterans, educators, emergency response personnel and police officers.
36. Oklahoma — Oklahoma History Center
Photo Credit: Oklahoma History Center
Free for members and children ages 5 and younger.
37. Oregon — Portland Art Museum
Photo Credit: Portland Art Museum
Free admission on the first Thursday of every month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on special dates throughout the year.
38. Pennsylvania — Barnes Foundation
Photo Credit: Barnes Foundation
Free admission deals for active-duty military servicemembers, Philadelphia teachers, card holders, children and members.
39. Rhode Island — RISD Museum
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Free admission every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on the third Thursday of each month from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
40. South Carolina — Columbia Museum of Art
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Free admission on the second Sunday of every month.
41. South Dakota — South Dakota Art Museum
Photo Credit: South Dakota Art Museum
Free admission, but donations are appreciated.
42. Tennessee — Tennessee State Museum
Photo Credit: Tennessee State Museum
Free admission!
43. Texas — Asia Society Texas Center
Photo Credit: Asia Society Texas Center
Free admission to the main building and Grand Hall exhibition!
44. Utah — Natural History Museum of Utah
Photo Credit: Natural History Museum of Utah
Special free admission on certain days throughout the year.
45. Vermont — Fleming Museum
Photo Credit: Fleming Museum
Free to members, faculty, staff, students and kids ages 6 and younger.
46. Virginia — Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Photo Credit: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Free general admission!
47. Washington — Museum of Flight
Photo Credit: Museum of Flight
Free admission on the first Thursday of every month from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
48. West Virginia — The West Virginia State Museum at the Culture Center
Photo Credit: The West Virginia State Museum at the Culture Center
Free admission!
49. Wisconsin — Milwaukee Public Museum
Photo Credit: Milwaukee Public Museum
Free admission on the first Thursday of every month.
50. Wyoming — Wyoming State Museum
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Jill Zwarensteyn is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture, entertainment news and relationship topics.