08 University and College Museums
Some of the country’s most impressive, yet overlooked, art and history collections reside on college campuses. Universities build these museums primarily to educate their students, which means they operate with different financial pressures than commercial museums.
Consequently, a vast majority of university museums offer completely free admission to the general public year-round.
Institutions like the Harvard Art Museums in Massachusetts recently eliminated their admission fees entirely. The Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas at Austin and the Hammer Museum at UCLA also provide excellent, free cultural experiences.
These museums feature incredible accessibility, fewer crowds, and highly knowledgeable student docents eager to discuss the exhibits.