USA TODAY 10Best
Hidden gems: 10 best small town museums across the US
Best Small Town Museum (2024)
Museums that focus on a small town or region can offer a unique perspective on the history, culture, and identity of a place, and they're often some of the most interesting spots to check out when you're traveling. These 10 small town museums — selected by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the country — showcase the local stories, traditions, and achievements of an area, providing fascinating community insight to visitors.
- National Apple Museum - Biglerville, Pennsylvania
- Douglas Mansion - Jerome, Arizona
- Lost City Museum - Overton, Nevada
- Sedona Heritage Museum - Sedona, Arizona
- Shriver House Museum - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
- Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center - St. Augustine, Florida
- Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum - Sterling, Virginia
- Dahlonega Gold Museum - Dahlonega, Georgia
- Allegany Museum - Cumberland, Maryland
- Museum of the Big Bend - Alpine, Texas
Photo courtesy of Fudio / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 10:
You’ll find the National Apple Museum aptly housed in a big, red barn in Pennsylvania. Operated by the Biglerville Historical and Preservation Society, it (not surprisingly) features all things apples, including exhibits about growing and farming the fruit, a collection of processing equipment, and a look at how the apple and tree fruit industry has contributed to the development of Adams County.
Photo courtesy of tracielouise / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 9:
In line with Jerome’s reputation as an Old West town, the Douglas Mansion (the former home of James S. Douglas, owner of a local mine) is where visitors will find insight on the history of the Jerome area and the Douglas family. Located within Jerome State Historic Park, exhibits at this museum include photos, artifacts, a 3D model of the town, and much more.
Photo courtesy of Hakase_ / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 8:
Who wouldn’t want to find something that’s "lost?" This Nevada museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features exhibits and artifacts recovered from local prehistoric archaeological sites (thus the name), most of which were lost due to flooding when the Colorado River was dammed to create Lake Mead.
Photo courtesy of Sedona Heritage Museum
No. 7:
Today, Sedona is a popular destination for spiritual retreats, but this museum spotlights a fuller picture of the history of the area. Exhibits at this space located on the Jordan family farmstead focus on early settlers and the local ranching and orchard industries, as well as movies made in the region.
Photo courtesy of Jeremy Hess
No. 6:
Although history is everywhere in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the Shriver House Museum allows visitors to explore a restored family home — with a guide in period attire — and learn about the civilian experience during the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg.
Photo courtesy of Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center
No. 5:
Highlighting over 450 years of history, Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center in St. Augustine, Florida, honors the city’s Black history, from the Spanish colonial period to the Civil Rights era. Exhibits focus on illustrating what it was like to live in the Lincolnville neighborhood in the early 20th century, as well as how the lives of West African peoples were forever changed during the quest for enslaved workers.
Photo courtesy of Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum
No. 4:
This Northern Virginia museum is an homage to farming life. Visitors can be a farmer for a day, milk a cow, and participate in programs and classes. Exhibits focus on the history of the area, from the Native Americans who first inhabited the land to the 10 generations of Loudon County residents who helped build up the area.
Photo courtesy of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
No. 3:
While the search for gold is often associated with the California Gold Rush, many prospectors actually headed south to Georgia a few decades prior to search for these valuable nuggets. On display at this museum, housed in a courthouse that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, are gold coins, nuggets, and the equipment used to find it.
Photo courtesy of PeopleImages / E+ Getty Images
No. 2:
The Allegany Museum in Cumberland, Maryland, highlights the heritage of the region with 50,000 items that trace the history of Allegany County, from Native Americans to early European settlers. It’s housed in a former courthouse and post office building erected in 1932.
Photo courtesy of Rebekah Antrosio
No. 1:
Located on the campus of Sul Ross State University, Museum of the Big Bend strives to preserve and share the history and culture of the Big Bend region of Texas and Mexico through exhibits and artifacts. It’s nestled in the mountains in the high desert in Alpine, Texas.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los... Read More
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jessica James
Jessica James is an award-winning novelist and... Read More
Jessica James is an award-winning novelist and freelance writer who shares her passion for history and travel by writing about historical destinations and off-the-beaten path sites across the United States. Her blog Past Lane Travels has been named the #1 history and travel blog in the USA, and features many regional destinations that are often overlooked. You can find out more about her books at www.jessicajamesbooks.com.
Jessica James
Jessica James is an award-winning novelist and freelance writer who shares her passion for history and travel by writing about historical destinations and off-the-beaten path sites across the United States. Her blog Past Lane Travels has been named the #1 history and travel blog in the USA, and features many regional destinations that are often overlooked. You can find out more about her books at www.jessicajamesbooks.com.
Joanne and Tony DiBona
Travel memories may fade over time, but... Read More
Travel memories may fade over time, but photographs recall those magical moments.
Joanne and Tony DiBona
Travel memories may fade over time, but photographs recall those magical moments.
Karen Dawkins
An avid traveler with an eye on getting the best... Read More
An avid traveler with an eye on getting the best bang for the buck, Karen Dawkins shares destination guides, activity reviews and travel tips at Family Travels on a Budget and in many other publications. Writing since 2012, her family travel blog has evolved in recent years to include popular articles on travel with teens and adults only getaways in the United States and beyond.
Karen Dawkins
An avid traveler with an eye on getting the best bang for the buck, Karen Dawkins shares destination guides, activity reviews and travel tips at Family Travels on a Budget and in many other publications. Writing since 2012, her family travel blog has evolved in recent years to include popular articles on travel with teens and adults only getaways in the United States and beyond.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of... Read More
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
