The Best Kid-Friendly Art Museums in the U.S.

Earlier this week we had the opportunity to interview Vincent and Casey Fremont. Growing up as the son of two artists, Vincent developed a love and passion for the art world. His love of art led him to serve as the right-hand man to Andy Warhol for decades. Vincent passed on his love and appreciation of art to his daughter Casey, who now serves as the executive director of the Art Production Fund.

When speaking with Casey she shared how grateful she was for the constant exposure to art during her childhood. Now that she has three children of her own, Casey is making it a priority to make sure they are able to experience art as she did.

Below, we rounded up a few of our favorite art museums in the United States for you to share with your families. Each of these museums offers a myriad of activities for children of all ages. Whether it is a guided story-time, touchable art, crafting classes, or virtual tours - each one has something for everyone.

Dan Flavian Art Institute | Bridgehampton

Casey Fremont expressed that this is one of her favorite museums to bring her children to each summer. She describes it as “the perfect small scale museum and the kids love being fully immersed in color from the light installations. It’s a good opportunity for kids to understand that art is much more than just classical painting and sculpture.”

Dallas Museum of Art | Dallas

The Dallas Museum of art is a must-visit. The museum hosts a variety of family-oriented activities and tours. One of their notable programs, “passport around the world,” is offered during select weekends throughout the year. This program encourages children to travel throughout the museum’s permanent collection and collect stamps as they learn about different works.

Eric Carle Museum | Amherst

The Eric Carle Museum is a unique museum in itself. The Carle preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world. The museum offers daily art classes to help encourage children to create with materials that are around them. You can take the pieces of art you make home, or add them to an ongoing-growing installment in the museum.

Frist Art Museum | Nashville

Experience art in the heart of Nashville. The Frist has no permanent collections so every visit will feature a unique array of exhibitions. Make sure to stop by Martin ArtQuest to experience various interactive activities and create a masterpiece of your own.

Getty | Los Angeles

Located in LA the Getty offers a wide variety of mediums - paintings, sculpture, architecture, gardens etc. It has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on the detective cards - solve a mystery while you travel around and explore the galleries.

Heard Museum | Phoenix

The Heard Museum celebrates American Indian cultures and art. The museum provides opportunities to learn about diverse cultures and develop cross-cultural understanding.

LACMA | Los Angeles

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is a great museum for everyone. We love the interactive exhibits within the Boone Children's Gallery that provide hands-on activities based on notable art pieces. LACMA is currently closed due to COVID-19, but make sure to make a note for the next time you're in LA.

National Gallery of Art | Washington D.C.

The National Gallery is situated right on the Mall in D.C., conveniently located next to the Natural History Museum and The Capital. While the galleries are full of incredible pieces, we love to say that no trip to the National Gallery is complete without a trip to the sculpture garden.

The Met | New York

The Metropolitan Museum of art is one of our absolute favorites. Located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan right on the border of Central Park, The Met offers a wide variety of family-friendly activities for children of all ages. You can listen to storytime, sketch masterpieces, go on a treasure hunt or follow a themed guided tour. Through #Metkids you can explore the Met and all of its exhibits digitally.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts | Richmond

This free museum is a must-add to any list. It offers various art classes and children’s programming. The museum is constantly displaying new exhibits, so there are always new things to see.

Whitney Downtown | New York

The Whitney is another one of our go-to’s in New York. They offer family-oriented guided tours of each exhibit, as well as hands-on art activities. One of the other great assets to the Whitney is that it is located right on the high-line, making it the perfect day out in New York.