Anonymous wrote:Favorite art museums: Philadelphia Museum of Art, MFA Boston, Cleveland Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of Art. All museums that are less overwhelming than the Met by a long shot, very well run/excellent visitor experience. MIA in particular is probably not on one's radar, but it's absolutely worth a visit. Its setting right in the city will give you a sense of the attractions of Minneapolis-St. Paul if you're considering Macalester or UMN.

Oh, and the AGO Toronto. When I lived in Toronto 25 years ago it wasn't much to write home about, but a major remodel and bequest of additional collections has bumped it into my favorites category. Right near Kensington Market, so lots of fun places to eat and explore nearby. (Skip the ROM.)

Also in Toronto: the Bata Shoe Museum! Really!

Also in Philly: I dislike the Barnes collection, but I love their new building. And I completely adore the Rodin Museum next door: one artist, one beautiful building, a rest for the eyes after the Barnes. And the National Museum of American Jewish History is very good. I unexpectedly ended up spending most of a day there engrossed in exhibits.

Near Swarthmore: the Brandywine River Museum, in a beautiful old mill building on Brandywine Creek, and not far from there the Delaware Art Museum in a suburban neighborhood in Wilmington. Both strong on the history of American illustration (the Wyeths, Howard Pyle) and Pre-Raphaelites. Both small enough to spend an hour or so and have lunch or coffee between other appointments. And Winterthur is about halfway between the two. All very close together.

New York, besides the obvious biggies: the Tenement Museum! Book a tour early if you know you're going to be in the city.

If you're going to see Oberlin, the Allen Art Museum right on the main square in town is definitely worth a visit, and if you can get a ticket to see the Usonian house by Frank Lloyd Wright, grab the chance.

If you're driving up to Ithaca, plan to see the Corning Museum of Glass on the way.

The Civil Rights Museum in Memphis is an experience that has stayed with me. It incorporates the Lorraine Motel where MLK was shot, so it effectively combines a museum of the Civil Rights movement with a memorial site. Everybody should go at some point.

Anonymous wrote:Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck NS Canada. Best museum I’ve been to and I typically don’t like museums.

I know this isn’t what you were looking for. 😉

Anonymous wrote:Don't believe the previous hater - the Barnes collection was worth it.

Anonymous wrote:Nothing specific to recommend off hand, but I think some colleges have museums on campus so you might google the school name and museum and see what comes up. You might find a few gems that way!