Whether they focus on one particular subject or a broader range of culture, museums are an ideal way to gain a deep appreciation of history, civilization and creativity. More than mere displays of artifacts behind glass, Southern museums lead visitors on participatory journeys that highlight everything from artistic innovation to scientific achievements and pivotal moments in our nation’s timeline.
Whether your groups are dedicated museum enthusiasts or just excited to explore new places, the Southeast’s unique institutions offer accessible, engaging experiences that will leave a lasting impression and enrich their understanding of the world around them. No matter what kind of experience your travelers are looking for, these six museums should be at the top of your list.
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Visitors can meet the fleet and immerse themselves in the nation’s military history at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions. Every year, more than 300,000 guests cross the bridge from downtown Charleston to visit the museum, where the USS Yorktown is proudly anchored in the harbor. Known as World War II’s famous “Fighting Lady,” the ship is an Essex-class carrier that was instrumental in the Pacific theater and also recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and capsule in 1968. Decommissioned in 1970, the ship became the centerpiece of Patriots Point when it was established in 1976.
“In addition to the Yorktown, we have a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships,” said Samantha Elkin, the museum’s director of marketing and communications. “The USS Laffey (DD-724) is the most decorated World War II-era destroyer still in existence, and we also have the only Vietnam Experience Exhibit in the U.S. It has more than a dozen different components, and parts of it somewhat simulate life during the war.”
For groups, Elkin recommends the Wings and Things tour as well as the newly launched VIP tour.
“With Wings and Things, it takes you through the flight deck and the hangar deck,” she said. “People can touch the planes, and there are some that you can climb inside. Our guides really are walking encyclopedias and storytellers, and they do an incredible job.”
For smaller groups that are comfortable with climbing up and down some ladders, Elkin says the VIP tour is a must.
“It’s an exceptional tour,” she said. “We do it early morning before anyone’s here at the museum, and they take you through different aspects of the ship that were previously not open to the public at all.”
Patriots Point will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, with a year-long campaign of unique exhibits.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Richmond, Virginia
The first state-sponsored museum in the nation, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond houses a permanent collection of more than 50,000 works of art from around the world.
“We have one of the top collections of American art in the nation,” said Kathy Parrish, the museum’s adult and college group visit coordinator. “It runs from pre-Colonial all the way through the 21st century. And we also have the largest collection of Fabergé eggs outside of Russia and one of the only statues of Caligula in existence.”
The museum is currently undergoing an expansion, and some galleries may be closed. In fall of 2026, the VMFA will be hosting The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse, with masterpieces from Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Berthe Morisot and more.
American Prohibition Museum
Savannah, Georgia
Prohibition profoundly changed the American landscape, and its effects can still be felt today.
“This thing that lasted almost 14 years, and even longer across the country — it applied to the entire country,” said Travis Spangenburg, creative and production manager for the American Prohibition Museum in Savannah, Georgia. “We know the things it’s connected to culturally, like jazz, and we all know about gangsters and flappers. But we don’t maybe know its connection to modern liquor laws or NASCAR.
“It was this huge cultural moment in the United States, and we tell the story of it in a really fascinating way that includes high-tech interactive exhibits as well as writings and exhibits for people who are into a more traditional museum experience.”
Groups can take self-guided and guided tours, all of which end in the speakeasy, where they can enjoy a Prohibition-era cocktail. In the evenings, the museum hosts cocktail classes and spirit tastings.
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Huntsville, Alabama
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, “is really a showcase of American space exploration, and one of the most extraordinary places you can put on your travel list,” said Pat Ammons, the center’s senior director of communications. “We have a world-class collection of space hardware, from a full shuttle stack to a Saturn V dynamic test vehicle, the real deal, the kind of vehicle that took America to the moon.”
Groups can challenge themselves and train like an astronaut at the G-Force Accelerator, where they’ll experience three times the force of gravity, or try out flight simulators like the HyperShip and Max Flight. The Intuitive Planetarium is a 67-foot, 8K digital dome facility with live interactive programs that will immerse visitors in the cosmos.
“We also have opportunities to add tours with a docent, which is one of our highlights,” Ammons said. “These are individuals who worked or, in some cases, are still working in the program, either as engineers or scientists, who can give an inside perspective on what it’s like and can really explain rocket science to you.”
U.S. Marshals Museum
Fort Smith, Arkansas
The U.S. Marshals consider Fort Smith, Arkansas, to be sacred ground. The city and surrounding area are the site of some of the bloodiest confrontations in the long history of the nation’s oldest law enforcement agency.
“Though we have the honor and privilege of sharing their stories, we are not actually affiliated with the U.S. Marshals Service themselves,” said Satori Haest, director of sales and community engagement for the museum. “But they chose Fort Smith as the site. The land was donated, and we’re privately funded. What we do here is to serve as a national center of heritage and legacy. We’re all about promoting the knowledge and inspiring appreciation for the accomplishments of the U.S. Marshals Service. Visitors are able to experience a one-of-a-kind experience that brings the story of the first federal law enforcement agency to life through interactive galleries, exhibits and just learning and listening to the inspiring stories of the justice, integrity and service of the marshals.”
The museum opened in 2023 after more than 16 years of fundraising, design and construction. The collection boasts more than 2,000 artifacts, including historic journals and memorabilia from the Western frontier, the Civil Rights era and the Oklahoma City bombing, as well as badges and guns used by the Marshals Service throughout the years.
“I’m biased, but I think all of our exhibits are wow factors,” Haest said. “I will say some of the fan favorites have been the campfire, which is essentially an exhibit featuring four figures of U.S. marshals sitting around a campfire and telling stories of the different times during that service era.”
St. Joseph Museums
St. Joseph, Missouri
Located on the scenic bluffs of the Missouri River, St. Joseph is rich in history. Visited by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their historic westward expedition, St. Joe soon became a thriving frontier outpost in Missouri and the starting point of the famed Pony Express, as well as the town where legendary outlaw Jesse James met his end at the hands of Robert Ford.
Much of this history is brought to life at the St. Joseph Museums complex. With six separate offerings, the unique museum campus will inspire the history buff in every visitor. The complex on Frederick Avenue houses the Glore Psychiatric Museum, the Black Archives Museum, the Doll Museum, and the Archaeology & Native American Galleries.
“St. Joseph has so much to offer visitors,” said Kami Jones, communications and group tours manager for St. Joseph Museums. “While people often first arrive as a stop on a mystery tour, they quickly realize there’s more than enough here to fill an entire itinerary.” Jones added that the museum complex offers discounts and special tours for groups.
Chronicling the 140-plus-year history of what was once known as “State Lunatic Asylum No. 2,” the Glore Psychiatric Museum uses full-size replicas, interactive displays, artifacts and documents to illustrate how mental illness was treated in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The exhibits are graphic and can be emotionally challenging, illustrating the stark realities of institutional life.
There are more than 4,000 Indigenous artifacts preserved in the Native American Galleries, while the accomplishments of St. Joseph’s African American community are honored at the Black Archives Museum.
After exploring the museum complex, groups can visit the 1879 Wyeth-Tootle Mansion. The three-story, 40-room home is one of many ornate mansions in St. Joseph that illustrates the prosperity of the city’s residents in the late 19th century, and the historic manor has been restored to its opulent Victorian splendor.
