Highest-rated museums in Virginia by visitors

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 Virginia 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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#30. American Civil War Museum- Historic Tredegar

- Rating: 4.2/5 (464 reviews)
- City: Richmond
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#29. George Washington Masonic National Memorial

- Rating: 4.3/5 (700 reviews)
- City: Alexandria
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#28. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (684 reviews)
- City: Williamsburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#27. Tall Ship Providence

- Rating: 4.8/5 (282 reviews)
- City: Alexandria
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#26. Virginia Holocaust Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (419 reviews)
- City: Richmond
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#25. Walton's Mountain Museum

- Rating: 4.2/5 (265 reviews)
- City: Schuyler
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#24. Virginia Museum of History & Culture

- Rating: 4.6/5 (277 reviews)
- City: Richmond
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#23. Science Museum of Virginia

- Rating: 4.3/5 (461 reviews)
- City: Richmond
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#22. Bedford Boys Tribute Center

- Rating: 5.0/5 (529 reviews)
- City: Bedford
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#21. Virginia Museum of Transportation

- Rating: 4.5/5 (726 reviews)
- City: Roanoke
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#20. Torpedo Factory Art Center

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,232 reviews)
- City: Alexandria
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#19. Virginia Living Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (770 reviews)
- City: Newport News
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#18. Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest

- Rating: 4.5/5 (410 reviews)
- City: Lynchburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#17. Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

- Rating: 4.6/5 (557 reviews)
- City: Winchester
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#16. Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters

- Rating: 4.8/5 (358 reviews)
- City: Winchester
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#15. Edgar Allan Poe Museum

- Rating: 4.2/5 (566 reviews)
- City: Richmond
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#14. American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,424 reviews)
- City: Yorktown
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#13. The Mariners' Museum and Park

- Rating: 4.8/5 (976 reviews)
- City: Newport News
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#12. Frontier Culture Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (753 reviews)
- City: Staunton
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#11. National Museum of the Marine Corps

- Rating: 4.9/5 (1,185 reviews)
- City: Triangle Prince William County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#10. Nauticus

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,129 reviews)
- City: Norfolk
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#9. White House Of The Confederacy

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,292 reviews)
- City: Richmond
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#8. Chrysler Museum of Art

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,039 reviews)
- City: Norfolk
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#7. Military Aviation Museum

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,495 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#6. Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

- Rating: 4.3/5 (3,646 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#5. George Washington's Mount Vernon

- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,905 reviews)
- City: Mount Vernon Fairfax County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#4. Virginia Museum Of Fine Arts

- Rating: 4.8/5 (3,162 reviews)
- City: Richmond
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#3. Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center

- Rating: 4.8/5 (4,564 reviews)
- City: Chantilly Fairfax County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#2. Historic Jamestowne

- Rating: 4.7/5 (5,589 reviews)
- City: Williamsburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#1. Colonial Williamsburg

- Rating: 4.5/5 (12,943 reviews)
- City: Williamsburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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