Best Open-Air Museum (2025) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Situated on the site of the original du Pont family gunpowder works, the Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware, showcases the early industrial history of America, focusing on the development of the du Pont company and its impact on industry and innovation. Preserving and interpreting the remnants of the early industrial complex, the museum includes the original powder yards, mills, workers' communities, and historic buildings.
Photo courtesy of Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation No. 9: Jamestown Settlement - Williamsburg, Virginia
Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg, Virginia, commemorates the founding of the first permanent English settlement in North America, as well as the convergence of European, Indigenous, and West Central African cultures in the 17th century. This museum features replicas of three ships that brought settlers to Virginia in 1607, a full-scale reconstructed fort and Native American town, and immersive, living history exhibits about the daily lives of those who inhabited 17th-century Virginia.
Photo courtesy of Brian Newson, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation No. 8: Colonial Williamsburg - Williamsburg, Virginia
Billed as the largest U.S. history museum in the world, Colonial Williamsburg meticulously preserves and recreates the 18th-century colonial capital of Virginia, offering an immersive experience of life during that era. The architecture, landscapes, and building interiors reflect historical accuracy, and interpreters and historical actors portray tradespeople, artisans, politicians, and enslaved individuals, bringing history to life through interactive demonstrations, performances, and storytelling.
Photo courtesy of David J. Murray/ClearEyePhoto.com No. 7: Strawbery Banke Museum - Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Showcasing the evolution of a New England community from the late 17th to the mid-20th century, Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, preserves a neighborhood that spans nearly four centuries of American history. Featuring dozens of meticulously restored historic buildings, visitors can explore homes, shops, gardens, and taverns, and engage with costumed interpreters to gain a glimpse into the lives of past residents.
Photo courtesy of Conner Prairie No. 6: Conner Prairie - Fishers, Indiana
Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana, is a unique, open-air museum that features an 1816 Lenape Indian camp, a recreated 1836 prairie town, and one of Indiana's oldest brick homes, the William Conner house. Skilled interpreters bring these settings to life by engaging with visitors about the lifestyles, traditions, and challenges faced by this area's occupants over time.
Photo courtesy of The National Museum of Transportation Archives No. 5: National Museum of Transportation - St. Louis, Missouri
Boasting an extensive collection of transportation-related artifacts, including historic automobiles, locomotives, aircraft, trolleys, and buses, the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri, showcases the evolution of transportation in the United States. Visitors can explore the artifacts and engage in interactive exhibits that highlight milestones, innovations, and technological advancements in the realm of transportation across different eras.
Photo courtesy of helivideo / iStock Via Getty Images Plus No. 4: Bodie State Historic Park - Bridgeport, California
Not just an open-air museum, Bodie State Historic Park is also one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the country. Visitors are transported to what was once a booming mining town during the California Gold Rush. The town has been intentionally left in a state of 'arrested decay' with some buildings' interiors still stocked with goods.
Photo courtesy of Cherokee Historical Association / The Creative Raven No. 3: Oconaluftee Indian Village - Cherokee, North Carolina
With a focus on accuracy and respect, the Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee, North Carolina, offers an authentic representation of Cherokee life in the 18th century. Showcasing traditional Cherokee dwellings and tools, visitors can experience a living history tour guided by Cherokee cultural interpreters who demonstrate traditional crafts while sharing stories and insights into Cherokee history and traditions.
Photo courtesy of Mystic Seaport Museum No. 2: Mystic Seaport Museum - Mystic, Connecticut
Featuring a unique collection of historic ships, including tall ships, schooners, and a whaling ship, the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut, preserves and celebrates America's maritime heritage. Visitors can explore the vessels as well as the museum's recreated 19th-century coastal village while interacting with historical interpreters and enjoying demonstrations of shipbuilding, rope making, sailmaking, and blacksmithing.
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