A pair of Cincinnati Museum Center museums and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center are vying for top honors in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
CMC’s Cincinnati History Museum, which secured a top five finish in 2023 and ranked in the top three in 2024, is once again competing for the title of Best History Museum. To win, they’ll have to beat out a group of 19 other history museums from across the country, including the Freedom Center, last year’s runner up.
The Children’s Museum, which finished in the top ten in 2023 and the top five in 2024, is a contender for Best Children’s Museum.
Voters will have a chance to select the winners over the course of the next four weeks. Polls are open online through Feb. 10.
“Our nation has hundreds of incredible museums that are places for the constantly curious. It’s an honor to be recognized among them,” said Elizabeth Pierce, president and CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center, which merged with the Freedom Center in 2012.
“That collaborative spirit doesn’t mean we’re not competitive,” she continued. “Cincinnati, it’s time to show the country that our city not only has some of the best museums; we have the best museums.”
About the nominees
The Cincinnati History Museum traces its roots to the Cincinnati Historical Society, founded in 1831, and is one of the nation’s premier regional history museums. Its exhibits offer immersive experiences, including a scale model of historic Cincinnati, a 19th-century riverfront and exhibits focused on the city’s industrial past.
The Children’s Museum is a much newer addition to the museum scene, having opened in 1998. Still, in its relatively short history, the institution has become a beloved destination for children and families because of its hands-on, interactive exhibits designed to inspire curiosity in children. Popular exhibits like “The Woods” and “Water Works” allow kids to learn through play while exploring science, nature, and cause-and-effect relationships.
“As they play, they are learning about physics, biology, hygiene and engineering and, importantly, the value of being curious and trying new things,” Pierce said.
This years marks the fifth consecutive year the Freedom Center has received a nomination, having earned second-place finishes in 2024 and 2021, and a third-place finish in 2022. It took home the title of Best History Museum in 2023.
The downtown Cincinnati museum is on the banks of the Ohio River where many enslaved people sought freedom through the Underground Railroad. Today, the multistory facility shares those stories while also addressing contemporary issues such as systemic racism and modern-day slavery.
“We are again humbled to find ourselves among such a distinguished list of history museums across the country,” Woodrow Keown Jr., president and COO of the Freedom Center. “Pursuing that top spot is not about pride but a commitment to elevate these stories of freedom within our walls; stories that remain relevant and critical to our continued journey to equity today.”
A panel of experts and USA TODAY editors selects the finalists in each category, with the winners decided by a public vote. Each voter can cast one vote per day, per category, and per device.
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