Best New Museums to Visit in America (Updated May 2018)

If you're like us, the time you're most likely going to visit a museum is during a vacation. But if you're visiting a city for a second or third time, you may have already stopped at the big institutions, and are wondering: What's new?

Well, we can tell you. Here are seven new museums and exhibits across America that you should add to your travel plans for 2018.

American Writers Museum | Chicago, IL

Get admission here (up to 33% off)

What it is: Named one of the world's best new museums by Fodor's, the American Writers Museum pays tributes to dozens of American authors and delves into their writing process.

While you're in town: If the weather cooperates, take an architecture boat tour on the Chicago River. You'll pass by a number of fascinating skyscrapers, including the Willis Tower, Marinas Towers, and the Wrigley Building.

Get admission here (up to 36% off)

What it is: Could you play in the NFL? Get an interactive taste of what it's like at this football-centric exhibit. State-of-the-art technology lets you dive into each stadium, virtually suit up in a uniform, and play quarterback to some of the league's best wide recievers.

While you're in town: Head to the 102nd floor of One World Trade Center, home to the One World Observatory, for breathtaking views of Manhattan and beyond.

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Frost Museum of Science | Miami

What it is: A planetarium, an aquarium, and a science center rolled into one, the Frost Museum of Science has been called "one very cool spot" by the Boston Globe. Moved from its Coconut Grove location, the Frost Museum's brand-new multi-million-dollar building in downtown Miami boasts six floors plus an aviary.

While you're in town: You're only a short drive from the Everglades, and the most-unforgettable way to see that National Park is via airboat. Browse the many airboat tours available to find one that's best for you.

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Dreamland Wax Museum | Boston

Get admission here (up to 41% off)

What it is: The recreations of more than 100 celebrities, from Amy Winehouse to Clint Eastwood to the Dalai Lama, live inside this whimsical museum. Why is it in Boston? The owners couldn't resist the property—it's located where Paul Revere's silversmith shop once was.

While you're in town: Check out another unique exhibit, The Mapparium. It's a gigantic stained-glass globe depicted the world as it was in 1935, the year of its creation.

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Museum of Failure | Los Angeles

Get admission here (up to 45% off)

What it is: "Museum of Failure" sounds bleak, but this Hollywood exhibit is more a testament to human perservance. Displaying the stories and prototypes of more than 100 failed products from otherwise-successful companies, the museum is a fascinating look at what could have been.

While you're in town: If you've already seen the Hollywood Walk of Fame, set sail for the ocean and take a local whale-watching tour. You could see humpbacks, gray whales, and even dolphins.

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National Blues Museum | St. Louis

Get admission here (up to 46% off)

What it is: A new shrine to one of America's quintessential music genres, the National Blues Museum has support from music royalty like Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, and Jack White, plus actors/blues-lovers Morgan Freeman and John Goodman.

While you're in town: Take a walking tour past the city's architectural gems. You might see the Peabody Opera House, the Soldiers Memorial...oh, and the city's famous Arch.

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Museum of the American Revolution | Philadelphia

What it is: When exploring the City of Brotherly Love, start at this brand-new museum, which details every step of the story of America in the 1760s and 1770s, and provides important context to attractions you'll see in Philly's outstanding Independence National Historical Park.

While you're in town: Check out the colorful creatures at the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion.

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