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5 World-Class Museums at National Parks

Visitors can see fascinating exhibits at parks across the country

spinner image people walking around the ellis island national museum of immigration
The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is one of the noteworthy museums managed by the National Park System.​
National Park Service

Everyone knows national parks for their grand landscapes and inspiring historic sites. But most people are surprised to learn that the National Park System — a collection of more than 400 sites across the nation — also manages one of the world’s largest museum systems. The system houses more than 100 million objects, artifacts and archives that help tell the story of America’s natural and cultural history. And these collections are largely found in the locations where these objects were made, used, found and collected, enhancing their authenticity.

Here are five noteworthy museums to get you started.

1. Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, New York

spinner image ellis island national museum of immigration
The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is housed inside the restored Main Building of the former immigration complex. Visitors must purchase ferry tickets to get to Ellis Island.
Alamy

Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York Harbor, Ellis Island is known as the “Island of Hope,” the place where 12 million immigrants were processed on their daring journeys to the American dream. The main building of the historic complex has been restored and visitors can see the Great Hall, baggage room and dormitories. Here you’ll find interactive displays, curated collections of photographs and heirlooms, and historic records where you can trace your ancestors’ experience here. Admission is free, but you have to purchase ferry tickets (starting at $25) to get to Ellis Island. You can purchase tickets in advance online, which is recommended, or at the Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park. A stop at Liberty Park is also part of the experience.

2. Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, Pennsylvania 

spinner image cyclorama painting of pickett’s charge
The 360-degree Cyclorama painting of Pickett’s Charge draws people to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center in Pennsylvania. 
Tim Sloan/Getty Images

This large building complex is an integral part of Gettysburg National Military Park, site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War and inspiration for President Lincoln’s famous address. The 22,000-square-foot museum features artifacts from one of the largest collections of Civil War relics and the stories of many of those who served. The building also includes the visitor center, a theater and the 42-foot-high Cyclorama painting of Pickett’s Charge. Admission to the museum is $14.75; the film, Cyclorama and museum is $20.75 for adults, $19.75 for 65-plus; battlefield car tours for one to six people are $82 for two hours and $117 for three hours, while battlefield bus tours are $40 for adults.

3. Yavapai Geology Museum, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona 

spinner image panoramic views of the grand canyon national park
Geology buffs can enjoy panoramic views of the Grand Canyon National Park inside the Yavapai Geology Museum.
National Park Service

Sited on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, the museum’s dramatic location was chosen by a team of geologists for its encompassing canyon views to help visitors understand the park’s nearly 2 billion years of geologic history. Displays at the base of the building’s panoramic windows that look into the canyon teach visitors the names of the park’s distinctive rock layers, and the large topographic relief map is especially popular. The museum is free; admission to the park ranges from $20 to $35 per car or free with a senior annual or lifetime pass.

4. Quarry Exhibit Hall, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah

spinner image dinosaur bones
Dinosaur bones are on display at the Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah.
Getty Images

Dinosaur National Monument features an extensive collection of 150-million-year-old fossils of dinosaurs from the late Jurassic period. The central feature of the Quarry Exhibit Hall is a stunning collection of approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones in situ on a quarry wall; you can also touch some of the fossils. Ranger-led tours and talks are available. The exhibit hall is free, but entry to the park ranges from $15 to $25 per car or free with a senior annual or lifetime pass.

5. Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado 

spinner image sculptures and other artwork
Visitors can see original sculptures and other artwork at the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center in Colorado.
Alamy

Mesa Verde protects the rich cultural heritage of the Native American people who occupied this region of Colorado for 700 years, building an elaborate system of dramatic cliff dwellings. The park’s visitor and research center introduce visitors to the park and houses its collection of 3 million objects and artifacts. Viewing portals allow visitors to watch park staff process items from the collection. The smaller historic Mesa Verde Museum, farther in the park, displays additional items such as ceramics and jewelry. The facilities are free, but entry to the park ranges from $15 to $30 per car or free with a senior annual or lifetime pass.

Bonus: Virtual Museums

Some national parks offer online galleries of their collections so you can enjoy the exhibits from home. Search the database for a wide range of images including early park ranger service badges from the 1900s and landscape art from Yosemite National Park. 

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