New York State Museums

Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY
photo courtesy of 1000 Islands International Tourism Council

Often times when you think about museums, you think of the well-known museums in large cities. New York City is home to many of these popular museums featuring everything from Art to Science to History, and more. But, New York State is home to hundreds of smaller museums located in other cities and small towns.

Bigger is Not Necessarily Better

We recently posted on the CONY Facebook page that three New York State museums made it into Fodor’s Travel listing of the 15 best small-town museums in the U.S. including the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, Long Island; The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown; and Dia Beacon, an art museum in Beacon (Hudson Valley region).

These museums and hundreds of others offering exhibits on practically everything from U.S. history and Native American history, to science, art, sports, and even play, are only a short trip away. These many museums are great for visiting while on your way to your final destination or while you’re visiting a particular region. The I Love NY website has a comprehensive listing of museums in New York State beyond just the larger, well-known ones.

Museums Are Just the Beginning

Many smaller museums have exhibits that are based on the history of the local area. So, in many cases, you have the opportunity to go and visit the locations featured in the museum armed with a greater knowledge of the area and the event(s) that took place. Plan on staying a day or two to experience everything the museum and the local area have to offer.