From Gettysburg To Key West: The Cities With The Most Museums Per Capita

According to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, there are over 23,000 museums in the United States. While the most famous, high traffic museums are in major metropolitan areas like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, there are dozens of surprising pockets of culture scattered across the country.

While nationwide there are 7.0 museums per 100,000 Americans, in some cities there are more than 15 times that. Many of the cities with the most museums per capita — like Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Salem, Massachusetts — are home to museums that showcase the area's unique cultural history. Other cities on the list — like Santa Fe, New Mexico, State College, Pennsylvania, and Amherst, Massachusetts — have managed to cultivate diverse museum collections showcasing topics ranging from fine art to children's books to outer space to the Wild West. A closer look at the data reveals the cities with the most museums per capita.

To determine cities with the most museums per capita, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2024 data from the institute Institute of Museum and Library Services. Cities were ranked based on the number of museums in the boundaries per 100,000 residents. Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau and is for 2023. Only cities with at least 10 museums were considered.

40. Salem, MA

Museums per capita: 33.9 per 100,000 residents (15 total)
Median household income: $85,137
Total population: 44,241
Popular museums: Peabody Essex Museum, House Of The Seven Gables, Salem Athenaeum

39. Harrisburg, PA

Museums per capita: 33.9 per 100,000 residents (17 total)
Median household income: $47,783
Total population: 50,092
Popular museums: National Civil War Museum, Preservation Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation, Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society, Historical Society Of Dauphin County, Susquehanna Art Museum, Art Association Of Harrisburg, Historic Harrisburg Association, Commonwealth Court Historical Society, Camp Curtin Historical Society

38. Nacogdoches, TX

Museums per capita: 34.3 per 100,000 residents (11 total)
Median household income: $38,855
Total population: 32,104
Popular museums: Texas Forest Trail Region, Millards Crossing Historic Village, East Texas Historical Association, Pineywoods Architectural Preservation, Historic Nacogdoches, Space Shuttle Columbia National, Nine Flags Museum

37. Pullman, WA

Museums per capita: 34.4 per 100,000 residents (11 total)
Median household income: $45,097
Total population: 31,939
Popular museums: Palouse Discovery Science Center, Whitman County Genealogical Society

36. Santa Fe, NM

Museums per capita: 35.1 per 100,000 residents (31 total)
Median household income: $70,110
Total population: 88,224
Popular museums: Georgia Okeeffe Museum, Museum Of New Mexico, Site Santa Fe, Wheelwright Museum Of The American Indian, Santa Fe Botanical Garden, Santa Fe Children's Museum, Creative Eye, Museum Of Spanish Colonial Arts, Cornerstones Community Partnerships, Dragonfly Nature And Science Center

35. Galveston, TX

Museums per capita: 35.6 per 100,000 residents (19 total)
Median household income: $57,216
Total population: 53,348
Popular museums: 1859 Ashton Villa, Texas Seaport Museum, Grand 1894 Opera House, Museum Division – Rosenberg Library, Center For Transportation & Commerce, Galveston Arts Center, Cavalla Historical Foundation, Old Central Cultural Center, Central Cultural Center, East End Historical District Association

34. Princeton, NJ

Museums per capita: 36.1 per 100,000 residents (11 total)
Median household income: $184,113
Total population: 30,451
Popular museums: Historic Morven, Historical Society Of Princeton New Jersey, Princeton Battlefield Area Preservation Society, Paul Robeson House, Mercer Hill Historic District Association

33. Salisbury, MD

Museums per capita: 36.3 per 100,000 residents (12 total)
Median household income: $56,402
Total population: 33,080
Popular museums: Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Committee, Wicomico Historical Society, Wicomico County Historical Properties

32. Morgantown, WV

Museums per capita: 36.3 per 100,000 residents (11 total)
Median household income: $42,245
Total population: 30,273
Popular museums: Monongalia Historical Society, Mon Valley Railroad Historical Society, Morgantown History Museum

31. Barnstable Town, MA

Museums per capita: 36.6 per 100,000 residents (18 total)
Median household income: $97,348
Total population: 49,232
Popular museums: William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives, John F Kennedy Hyannis Museum Foundation, Cahoon Museum Of American Art, Cape Cod Maritime Museum, Osterville Historical Society, Centerville Historical Society, Historical Society Of Santuit & Contuit, Zion Union Heritage Museum, Barnstable, Trayser Museum Directors

30. Elmira, NY

Museums per capita: 38.0 per 100,000 residents (10 total)
Median household income: $43,089
Total population: 26,349
Popular museums: Chemung County Historical Society, Arnot Art Museum, Regional Science And Discovery Center, Historic Elmira, John W Jones Museum, Chemung Valley Living History Center, Dunn Field, Elmira Railway Historical Society, Historic 1897 Firehouse

29. Annapolis, MD

Museums per capita: 39.3 per 100,000 residents (16 total)
Median household income: $104,257
Total population: 40,744
Popular museums: Historic Annapolis, Annapolis Maritime Museum, National Sailing Hall Of Fame Museum, Hammond-Harwood House, Four Rivers Heritage Area, Anne Arundel County Trust For Preservation, Chesapeake Children's Museum, Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society, Charles Carroll House Of Annapolis, Historic Downtown Residents Association

28. State College, PA

Museums per capita: 39.3 per 100,000 residents (16 total)
Median household income: $47,132
Total population: 40,669
Popular museums: Discovery Space Of Central Pennsylvania, Centre County Genealogy Society, American Society For The History Of Rhetoric, Junior Museum Of Central Pennsylvania

27. Juneau, AK

Museums per capita: 40.7 per 100,000 residents (13 total)
Median household income: $100,513
Total population: 31,969
Popular museums: Sealaska Heritage Institute, Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, Whale Project, Alaska State Museum, Alaska Lighthouse Association, Gastineau Channel Historical Society, Treadwell Historic Preservation & Restoration Society, Claudia Kelsey Doll Museum, Storis Museum, Juneau Douglas City Museum

26. Saratoga Springs, NY

Museums per capita: 42.0 per 100,000 residents (12 total)
Median household income: $100,485
Total population: 28,542
Popular museums: Yaddo, National Museum Of Racing, National Museum Of Dance, Katherine Dunham Archives & Museum, Saratoga Automobile Museum, Children's Museum At Saratoga, Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, Saratoga Springs Universal Preservation Hall, Historical Society Of Saratoga Springs, New York State Military Museum And Research Center

25. Amherst Town, MA

Museums per capita: 42.3 per 100,000 residents (15 total)
Median household income: $65,938
Total population: 35,472
Popular museums: Eric Carle Museum Of Picture Book Art, Amherst Historical Society, Amherst History Museum At The Strong House, Thomas Paine Friends, Valley Womens History Collaborative

24. Rock Island, IL

Museums per capita: 43.5 per 100,000 residents (16 total)
Median household income: $57,292
Total population: 36,758
Popular museums: Quad City Botanical Center, Colonel Davenport Historical Fnd, Chippiannock Cemetery Heritage Foundation, Broadway Historic Area Association, Rock Island Preservation Society, Mobile Aviation Historical Exhibits, Quad Cities African American Museum

23. Paducah, KY

Museums per capita: 44.6 per 100,000 residents (12 total)
Median household income: $51,243
Total population: 26,894
Popular museums: Museum Of The American Quilters Society, National Quilt Museum, River Heritage Center, Yeiser Art Center, Market House Museum, William Clark Market House Museum, Upper Town Heritage Foundation

22. Winchester, VA

Museums per capita: 46.5 per 100,000 residents (13 total)
Median household income: $64,648
Total population: 27,981
Popular museums: Museum Of The Shenandoah Valley, Glass-Glen Burnie Museum, Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum, Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, Shenandoah Valley Steam & Gas Engine Association, Kernstown Battlefield Association, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Preservation Of Historic Winchester, Celebrating Patsy Cline, Digital Conversion

21. Monterey, CA

Museums per capita: 47.0 per 100,000 residents (14 total)
Median household income: $104,110
Total population: 29,772
Popular museums: Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Museum Of Art, Monterey County Youth Museum, Deetjens, Monterey State Historic Park Association

20. Portland, ME

Museums per capita: 49.6 per 100,000 residents (34 total)
Median household income: $76,174
Total population: 68,505
Popular museums: Portland Museum Of Art, Maine Historical Society, Children's Museum & Theatre Of Maine, Victoria Mansion, Victoria Society Of Maine, Space Gallery, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, Maine Jewish Museum, U Of Southern Maine Library, Greater Portland Landmarks

19. Morristown, NJ

Museums per capita: 54.3 per 100,000 residents (11 total)
Median household income: $115,409
Total population: 20,256
Popular museums: Morris County Historical Society, Washington Association Of New Jersey, Canal Society Of New Jersey, Morris Area Genealogy Society, Morris County Trust For Historic Preservation

18. Natchitoches, LA

Museums per capita: 56.6 per 100,000 residents (10 total)
Median household income: $38,731
Total population: 17,682
Popular museums: Cane River National Heritage Area, Louisiana Sports Hall Of Fame Foundation, Association Of Natchitoches Women For The Preservation, Natchitoches Parish Old Courthouse Museum, Natchitoches Genealogical & Historical Association

17. Golden, CO

Museums per capita: 58.6 per 100,000 residents (12 total)
Median household income: $95,913
Total population: 20,467
Popular museums: Colorado Railroad Museum, Art Foothills Center, Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Golden History Museums, Golden Landmarks Association, Lariat Loop Heritage Alliance, Clear Creek History Park, Shady Ladies Of The Central City Motherlode

16. Hannibal, MO

Museums per capita: 59.4 per 100,000 residents (10 total)
Median household income: $54,071
Total population: 16,825
Popular museums: Ilasco Area Historical Preservation Society, Historic Hannibal Marketing Council

15. Fredericksburg, VA

Museums per capita: 63.4 per 100,000 residents (18 total)
Median household income: $85,368
Total population: 28,383
Popular museums: Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, Fredericksburg Area Museum And Cultural Center, Fredericksburg Area Museum, Washington Heritage Museums, Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Center For African American Genealogical Research, Fredericksburg Regional Preservation Trust, Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society, Central Rappahannock Heritage Center, Fredericksburg Area Battlefields

14. Arcata, CA

Museums per capita: 64.6 per 100,000 residents (12 total)
Median household income: $48,731
Total population: 18,578
Popular museums: Historical Sites Society Of Arcata, Hertha Elisabeth Solmitz, Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center

13. Bangor, ME

Museums per capita: 66.3 per 100,000 residents (21 total)
Median household income: $58,096
Total population: 31,663
Popular museums: Hose 5 Fire Museum, Maine Aviation Historical Society, Bangor Museum And Center For History

12. Williamsburg, VA

Museums per capita: 70.7 per 100,000 residents (11 total)
Median household income: $70,206
Total population: 15,564
Popular museums: Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, Muscarelle Museum Of Art, Williamsburg Art Center At Paper Mill Creek, Honor Flight Historic Triangle Virginia, Man And The Sea Project

11. Crawfordsville, IN

Museums per capita: 73.1 per 100,000 residents (12 total)
Median household income: $49,327
Total population: 16,408
Popular museums: Lew Wallace Study Preservation Society, Lew Wallace Study And Museum, Ropkey Armor Museum, Montgomery County Historical Society, Crawfordsville Main Street Program, Carnegie Cultural Museum, Elston Memorial Foundation, Basketball Heritage Project

10. Vermillion, SD

Museums per capita: 84.7 per 100,000 residents (10 total)
Median household income: $52,815
Total population: 11,800
Popular museums: W.H. Over Museum, Historical Society Inc Clay County

9. Portsmouth, NH

Museums per capita: 85.1 per 100,000 residents (19 total)
Median household income: $105,756
Total population: 22,332
Popular museums: 3S Contemporary Arts Space, Portsmouth Historical Society, Discover Portsmouth Center, Portsmouth Athenaeum, Gundalow Company, Warner House Association, Piscataqua Maritime Commission, Seacoast African American, New Museum Of Portsmouth, Market Square Steeple Fund

8. Cody, WY

Museums per capita: 98.8 per 100,000 residents (10 total)
Median household income: $68,676
Total population: 10,121
Popular museums: Buffalo Bill Center Of The West, Museum Of The Old West, Buffalo Bill Dam Visitors Center, Cody Heritage Museum, Park County History

7. Newport, RI

Museums per capita: 99.9 per 100,000 residents (25 total)
Median household income: $83,562
Total population: 25,029
Popular museums: Preservation Society Of Newport County, Tennis Hall Of Fame, International Yacht Restoration School, Redwood Library And Athenaeum, Newport Historical Society, Newport Art Museum And Art Association, Fort Adams, Artillery Company Of Newport, Preserve Historic Saint Marys, Museum Of Newport Irish History

6. College, AK

Museums per capita: 102.3 per 100,000 residents (12 total)
Median household income: $76,831
Total population: 11,730
Popular museums: Western History Association, Alaska Mining Hall Of Fame Foundation, Historic Hall

5. Key West, FL

Museums per capita: 104.6 per 100,000 residents (27 total)
Median household income: $78,532
Total population: 25,824
Popular museums: Key West Art & Historical Society, Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society Museum, Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum, Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, Historic Florida Keys Foundation, Key West Botanical Garden Society, Schooner Western Union Preservation Society, Miami-Dade Historical Maritime Museum, Key West Art Center, Little White House

4. Decorah, IA

Museums per capita: 131.6 per 100,000 residents (10 total)
Median household income: $62,177
Total population: 7,597
Popular museums: Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum, Porter House Museum, Oneota Historic Future Alliance

3. St. Augustine, FL

Museums per capita: 133.5 per 100,000 residents (20 total)
Median household income: $80,473
Total population: 14,979
Popular museums: Saint Augustine Lighthouse And Museum, Saint Augustine Historical Society, Tag! Children's Museum Of St. Augustine, Womans Exchange Of St Augustine, Excelsior, Historic Florida Militia, Colonial St Augustine Preservation Foundation

2. Taos, NM

Museums per capita: 170.1 per 100,000 residents (11 total)
Median household income: $46,579
Total population: 6,468
Popular museums: Taos Historic Museums, Kit Carson Home & Museum, Taos County Historical Society, Po Pay Society, Museum Association Of Taos

1. Gettysburg, PA

Museums per capita: 214.4 per 100,000 residents (17 total)
Median household income: $52,656
Total population: 7,929
Popular museums: Adams County Historical Society, Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association, Historic Church Walking Tours, Cumberland Township Historical Society, Thaddeus Stevens Society, Lutheran Historical Society Gettysburg, Historic Gettysburg Adams County, International Museum Of Spiritual Investigations