These U.S. Museums Are the Height of Architectural Genius

February 4, 2017 5:00 am
Modern architecture museum building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Getty Images)
Modern architecture museum building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Getty Images)
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of African American History and Culture Architectural Photrography (Alan Karchmer/NMAAHC)
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of African American History and Culture (Alan Karchmer/NMAAHC)
Photography by Alan Karchmer for

 

If you’ve ever been to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, you’ll know that, aside from the incredible permanent collection and interactive exhibits within its walls, the building itself is a piece of art. Curbed recently included it (and 15 others) on a list of the most architecturally outstanding museum buildings in America.

Take a look at a photo gallery of Curbed‘s choices below. If you’re interested in scheduling a visit, click on the museum’s name for more information.

The Broad

Los Angeles, California

The Broad Museum of Los Angeles. (Getty Images)
The Broad Museum in Los Angeles, California (Getty Images)
Getty Images/Lonely Planet Image

 

 

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Washington, D.C.

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of African American History and Culture Architectural Photrography (Alan Karchmer/NMAAHC)
The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. (Alan Karchmer/NMAAHC)
Photography by Alan Karchmer for

 

 

Denver Art Museum

Denver, Colorado

Denver Art Museum, Colorado, USA (Getty Images)
Denver Art Museum in Denver, Colorado (Getty Images)
Getty Images/AWL Images RM

 

 

de Young Museum

San Francisco, California

San Francisco, de Young Museum im Golden Gate Park (Getty Images)
de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California (Getty Images)
Getty Images/Westend61 RM

 

 

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Kansas City, Missouri

UNITED STATES - JUNE 07: Bloch Building, Nelson-Atkins Art Museum, Kansas City, Missouri (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)
Nelson-Atkins Art Museum in Kansas City, Missouri (Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)
Getty Images

 

 

National WWII Museum

New Orleans, Louisiana

National World War II Museum - New Orleans, Louisiana (Connie Ma/Flickr)
National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana (Connie Ma/Flickr)

 

 

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago - Chicago, Illinois (Shutterstock)
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago in Chicago, Illinois (Shutterstock)
Shutterstock / Kevin Kipper

 

Institute for Contemporary Art

Boston, Massachusetts

Ying Yang - Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art set against the lights of the city. (Shutterstock)
Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, Massachusetts (Shutterstock)

 

 

The Guggenheim

New York, New York

An exterior view along Fifth Avenue May 14, 2009 of the Guggenheim Museum in New York as the museum marks its 50th anniversary with an exhibition "Frank Lloyd Wright: From Within Outward". The building itself was designed by Wright. AFP PHOTO/Stan Honda (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
The Guggenheim Museum in New York City (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

 

 

Milwaukee Art Museum

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Modern architecture museum building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Getty Images)
Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Getty Images)

 

 

The Modern Art Museum

Fort Worth, Texas

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. About 2010. (Photo by Imagno/Getty Images) .
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Fort Worth, Texas (Imagno/Getty Images)
Getty Images

 

 

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

San Francisco, California

Shown is an exterior view of the newly expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Thursday, April 28, 2016, in San Francisco. Designed in partnership with architecture firm Snøhetta, the expansion will more than double the museum's exhibition space. The museum opens on May 14. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
AP

 

 

Salvador Dalí Museum

St. Petersburg, Florida

Then Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg Florida FL ( Getty Images)
The Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida ( Getty Images)
Getty Images

 

 

Aspen Art Museum

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen Art Museum in Aspen, Colorado (FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Aspen Art Museum in Aspen, Colorado (FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
GC Images

 

The Walker Art Center – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, North America (Getty Images)
The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Getty Images)
Getty Images/Lonely Planet Image

 

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum – Boston, Massachusetts

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Getty Images)
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts (Getty Images)
Getty Images

 

Check out Curbed‘s list here.

—RealClearLife Staff

MEET US AT YOUR INBOX. FIRST ROUND'S ON US.

Join America's Fastest Growing Spirits Newsletter THE SPILL. Unlock all the reviews, recipes and revelry — and get 15% off award-winning La Tierra de Acre Mezcal.