Some American museums receive millions of visitors through their doors each year. The National Archives is, of course, popular for housing some of America’s founding documents. The American Museum of Natural History in New York is one of the largest collections of its kind, covering millions of years of prehistoric and historic discoveries. The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, is home to earth-changing technological advancements like the Apollo Lunar Module, which helped us get to the moon.

While these institutions are undoubtedly great, there are so many others that are well worth the trip. Though they may not have attendance figures in the millions, they hold within their walls the same fantastic discoveries and artifacts that drive our curiosity.

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | Cleveland, OH
  rockhall.com America has a very special relationship with rock-and-roll music, and this museum pays tribute to all of those who helped shape the industry as a whole. Walk through decades’ worth of innovation, from Hendrix’s electric guitar to the Notorious B.I.G.’s custom jersey, and discover where some of your favorites got their start.

• Newseum | Washington, DC
  newseum.org Extra! Extra! This museum covers all things news: radio, print, television, and online. Dozens of rotating exhibitions take visitors on a journey through America’s past to illustrate how reporting has shaped our views on historic events, including an exhibition on the fall of the Berlin Wall, a look back at some of our past presidents’ favorite pets, and even a glimpse into an interactive newsroom.

• Exploratorium | San Francisco, CA
  exploratorium.edu Don’t let the quirkiness of this museum fool you—it’s just as much fun for adults as it is for children! Located in the Bay Area’s Pier 15, the Exploratorium has six different galleries that focus on topics like “Human Phenomena” and “Tinkering.” The museum also holds presentations from guest lecturers and frequently exhibits the work of professional artists.

• National WWII Museum | New Orleans, LA
  nationalww2museum.org There are plenty of museums dedicated to battle and even a few reserved exclusively for World War II, but the National WWII Museum in Louisiana taps into the emotional side of war, with exhibits that highlight the experiences of all Americans during the fight—at home and abroad.

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