USA TODAY 10Best
From mascots to 'Star Wars': 10 best pop culture museums in the US
Best Pop Culture Museum (2024)
America has long been a hotbed of pop culture, and these 10 museums — selected by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the nation — celebrate the very best of it, from movies and sports to beloved characters and iconography.
- Museum of Broadway - New York City, New York
- The Neon Museum - Las Vegas, Nevada
- Rancho Obi-Wan - Petaluma, California
- Doo Wop Experience Museum - Wildwood, New Jersey
- OZ Museum - Wamego, Kansas
- American Sign Museum - Cincinnati, Ohio
- Charles M. Schulz Museum - Santa Rosa, California
- The Strong National Museum of Play - Rochester, New York
- Comic-Con Museum - San Diego, California
- Mascot Hall of Fame - Whiting, Indiana
Photo courtesy of Darren Cox/The Museum of Broadway
No. 10:
Fans of show tunes, rejoice! The Museum of Broadway is sure to be your next favorite attraction in Manhattan. Whether you’re a "Cabaret" fanatic, a lover of "Moulin Rouge," or can quote "Hamilton" in your sleep, the Museum of Broadway has plenty of props, costumes, and photo ops to keep you entertained before your next big show.
Photo courtesy of The Neon Museum Las Vegas
No. 9:
The modernization of Las Vegas has led to the decommissioning of many an iconic neon sign. The Neon Museum was founded in 1996 to collect and preserve these cultural relics. Visitors can choose from a selection of tours to see the Neon Boneyard — filled with more than 200 historic signs — and enjoy other museum experiences.
Photo courtesy of Rancho Obi-Wan, Inc
No. 8:
Rancho Obi-Wan houses the world’s largest collection of Star Wars memorabilia, certified by Guinness World Records. Visits (with advance purchase of tour tickets) give fans an opportunity to see a huge assortment of action figures and props, as well as vintage pinball and arcade games.
No. 7:
The Doo Wop Experience and Neon Sign Garden brings the joy of doo-wop — and nostalgia of the '50s and '60s — back to Wildwood via the architecturally iconic former Surfside restaurant. Inside the museum, visitors can enjoy viewing artifacts and learning about doo-wop. Outside the museum, they can check out the Neon Sign Garden or listen to live music at the bandshell. The museum is open seasonally.
Photo courtesy of Reflections Photography
No. 6:
The wonderful world of the "Wizard of Oz" comes to life at the OZ Museum, where visitors can see more than 2,000 artifacts from the film, like hand-jeweled ruby slippers, a reproduction of the haunted forest sign, and original movie production notes.
Photo courtesy of American Sign Museum
No. 5:
Signs — they’re all around us, and they’re emblematic of American free enterprise, tourism, and advertising. This museum in Cincinnati about commercial signs and sign-making covers 20,000 square feet of indoor space and over a century of American history. Kids are wide-eyed in fascination with colors and shapes all around them, and adults will reminisce about signs from their own childhoods. Whether it’s a lawyer’s bronze door sign, advertising brochures, antique sign painter’s kits, or a 1944 Dodge crane truck for installing signs, they’ve got it.
Photo courtesy of Brennan Spark Photography / Schulz Museum
No. 4:
Can’t get enough of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the gang? Look no further than the Charles M. Schulz Museum, dedicated to the life and work of the creator of "Peanuts." Filled with exhibitions that celebrate Schulz’s delightful animated characters, you'll love tracing a path in the Snoopy labyrinth, exploring a recreation of Schulz’s own studio, and even seeing an artistic version of Snoopy’s house.
Photo courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York
No. 3:
The Strong National Museum of Play, a highly interactive museum in Rochester, houses the world’s largest collection of artifacts related to play. It's a collection that can be explored in the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the National Toy Hall of Fame, and the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Visitor favorites include the Pinball Playfields, Hasbro Game Park, Reading Adventureland, and Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden.
Photo courtesy of A. Afshar (c) 2022 SDCC
No. 2:
No need to wait for Comic-Con; you can enjoy the fun of this annual event at the Comic-Con Museum all year long. Visitors can enjoy rotating exhibits, interactive experiences, and a collection that highlights video games, TV shows, books, anime, and more.
Photo courtesy of Cary Jones
No. 1:
Who doesn’t love a good sports mascot? At this charming museum just a half-hour outside of Chicago, you’ll get to explore interactive exhibits and memorabilia honoring some of the most popular mascots of all time across numerous sports. That includes the Oriole Bird, Phillie Phanatic, Mr. Met, Rocky the Mountain Lion, and even the Chicago Blackhawk’s own Tommy Hawk.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los... Read More
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Joanne and Tony DiBona
Joanne and Tony DiBona know a thing or two about... Read More
Joanne and Tony DiBona know a thing or two about creating photo galleries to share their personal travel experiences around the world with their readers. Their articles have been featured on 10Best for the past decade, as well as in national and international print and online media. Their awards for photography and journalism fill up an entire wall in their office, the most recent being a top national award for their US and international galleries published on 10Best. Follow their travel adventures on their scenic photography website and travel blog. Have a question about travel? Contact them on their Instagram and Facebook pages.
Joanne and Tony DiBona
Joanne and Tony DiBona know a thing or two about creating photo galleries to share their personal travel experiences around the world with their readers. Their articles have been featured on 10Best for the past decade, as well as in national and international print and online media. Their awards for photography and journalism fill up an entire wall in their office, the most recent being a top national award for their US and international galleries published on 10Best. Follow their travel adventures on their scenic photography website and travel blog. Have a question about travel? Contact them on their Instagram and Facebook pages.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of... Read More
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards... Read More
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
