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Highest-rated museums in Pennsylvania by visitors

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BearFotos // 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 Pennsylvania 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. Gettysburg Museum of History

Tripadvisor

2 / 30

#29. Gettysburg Museum of History

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,351 reviews)
- City: Gettysburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. National Constitution Center

Tripadvisor

3 / 30

#28. National Constitution Center

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,646 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

Tripadvisor

6 / 30

#25. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,154 reviews)
- City: Strasburg Lancaster County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Carnegie Science Center

Tripadvisor

8 / 30

#23. Carnegie Science Center

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,326 reviews)
- City: Pittsburgh
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. The Andy Warhol Museum

Tripadvisor

11 / 30

#20. The Andy Warhol Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,697 reviews)
- City: Pittsburgh
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Asa Packer Mansion

Tripadvisor

12 / 30

#19. Asa Packer Mansion

- Rating: 4.7/5 (673 reviews)
- City: Jim Thorpe Pocono Mountains Region
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. National Civil War Museum

Tripadvisor

14 / 30

#17. National Civil War Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,170 reviews)
- City: Harrisburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Museum of the American Revolution

Tripadvisor

19 / 30

#12. Museum of the American Revolution

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,495 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Senator John Heinz History Center

Tripadvisor

21 / 30

#10. Senator John Heinz History Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,535 reviews)
- City: Pittsburgh
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Flight 93 National Memorial

Tripadvisor

22 / 30

#9. Flight 93 National Memorial

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,119 reviews)
- City: Stoystown
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. The Amish Village

Tripadvisor

23 / 30

#8. The Amish Village

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,175 reviews)
- City: Ronks Lancaster County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Carnegie Museum Of Natural History

Tripadvisor

24 / 30

#7. Carnegie Museum Of Natural History

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,716 reviews)
- City: Pittsburgh
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Tripadvisor

26 / 30

#5. Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,173 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center

Tripadvisor

27 / 30

#4. Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.8/5 (5,873 reviews)
- City: Gettysburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Philadelphia Museum of Art

Tripadvisor

29 / 30

#2. Philadelphia Museum of Art

- Rating: 4.7/5 (7,500 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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