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Highest-rated museums in New York by visitors

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Jon Rehg // Shutterstock
Jon Rehg // Shutterstock
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Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.

Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The world's first museum dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums started in 1471. America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history, opened in 1773.

Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can reduce depression and increase people's sense of belonging. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits can reduce stress. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.

No wonder they attract nearly 900 million visits a year.

With over 30,000 museums in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in New York on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.

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#29. George Eastman Museum

Tripadvisor

2 / 30

#29. George Eastman Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,106 reviews)
- City: Rochester Finger Lakes New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Glenn H. Curtiss Museum

Tripadvisor

3 / 30

#28. Glenn H. Curtiss Museum

- Rating: 4.8/5 (704 reviews)
- City: Hammondsport Finger Lakes New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Star Trek Original Series Set Tour

Tripadvisor

4 / 30

#27. Star Trek Original Series Set Tour

- Rating: 4.9/5 (342 reviews)
- City: Ticonderoga New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. New York Transit Museum

Tripadvisor

7 / 30

#24. New York Transit Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,034 reviews)
- City: Brooklyn New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park

Tripadvisor

9 / 30

#22. Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,031 reviews)
- City: Buffalo Erie County New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Tripadvisor

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#18. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,604 reviews)
- City: Hyde Park New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Boldt Castle and the Boldt Yacht House

Tripadvisor

14 / 30

#17. Boldt Castle and the Boldt Yacht House

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,035 reviews)
- City: Alexandria Bay New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Tripadvisor

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#15. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,815 reviews)
- City: Cooperstown Otsego Otsego County New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. The Strong National Museum of Play

Tripadvisor

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#13. The Strong National Museum of Play

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,244 reviews)
- City: Rochester Finger Lakes New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Corning Museum of Glass

Tripadvisor

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#9. Corning Museum of Glass

- Rating: 4.8/5 (4,058 reviews)
- City: Corning Finger Lakes New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. American Museum of Natural History

Tripadvisor

27 / 30

#4. American Museum of Natural History

- Rating: 4.3/5 (26,503 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tripadvisor

29 / 30

#2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

- Rating: 4.8/5 (55,443 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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