Something significant is happening across Utah in July. Nearly 300 museums open their doors with renewed energy for Utah Museum Month, an annual celebration of the cultural and historical institutions that make this state genuinely remarkable. Whether you're anchored in downtown Salt Lake City or ready to venture further afield, here are ten destinations worthy of a dedicated visit.

In Salt Lake City

Museum of Utah

Utah's first dedicated state history museum opened on June 27 at the Capitol Hill complex, and its scope has already earned it a nickname: the Smithsonian of Utah. Four thematic galleries guide visitors through a collection of nearly 30,000 artifacts, with rotating displays ensuring each visit reveals something new. Admission is free.

Natural History Museum of Utah

Perched in the Wasatch foothills inside the architecturally striking Rio Tinto Center, the Past Worlds gallery is a centerpiece: an elevated ramp winding past dozens of reconstructed dinosaur skeletons, including the world's largest collection of horned dinosaur skulls.

Utah Museum of Fine Arts

On the University of Utah campus, the UMFA presents a thoughtfully curated collection spanning ancient to contemporary works. Elegant and unhurried, it rewards visitors who take their time moving through its galleries.

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA)

Located downtown and within walking distance of The Grand America, UMOCA features rotating exhibitions by local, national, and international artists, making it a natural first stop for those exploring the city on foot.

Clark Planetarium

Located at The Gateway, Clark Planetarium features more than 10,000 square feet of free, hands-on exhibit space, as well as full-dome and IMAX theater experiences. The programming appeals to all ages, and the exhibit floor is free.

Worth the Drive

Alf Engen Ski Museum, Park City

About 45 minutes from downtown, Utah Olympic Park is home to the Alf Engen Ski Museum, a free institution dedicated to honoring and preserving Utah's rich ski history, with immersive exhibits on the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The paid guided tours are what set this experience apart: guides take visitors to the top of the K-120 ski jump and to the starting site of the bobsled, luge, and skeleton track, with spectacular panoramic views of the valley below. The museum is also actively growing its collection in preparation for the 2034 Salt Lake Winter Games, giving this visit particular resonance for anyone following Utah's Olympic story.

USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum, Price

About two hours southeast on US-6, this museum houses one of the most compelling dinosaur collections in the region and consistently earns recognition as one of Utah's great under-visited gems, worth pairing with a scenic drive through Price Canyon.

Springville Museum of Art, Springville

Founded in 1937 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Springville Museum of Art is the oldest art museum in Utah. Just an hour south of Salt Lake City, its collection spans Utah artists, Soviet-era works, and American paintings that together surprise nearly every visitor who discovers them. Admission is free.

Topaz Museum, Delta

The Topaz Museum in Delta is dedicated to preserving the history of the Topaz incarceration site, where more than 11,000 people of Japanese descent were unjustly confined during World War II. Hundreds of artifacts, photographs, oral histories, and 150 pieces of original artwork make this history vivid and not easily forgotten. It is one of the most important museum experiences in the state.

Moab Museum, Moab

A renovation completed in 2020 brought renewed energy to this cultural and natural history museum, which traces the stories of the Moab area from its earliest inhabitants through geology and the uranium era. It provides essential context for anyone heading into the canyon country surrounding Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Salt Lake City as Your Starting Point

Few cities in the American West are better positioned for a summer of cultural exploration. From the Capitol Hill address of the Museum of Utah to the foothills campus of the Natural History Museum, from downtown galleries within easy walking distance to the open highway leading toward Price, Springville, and Moab, Salt Lake City sits at the center of it all. The Grand America Hotel places guests at the heart of downtown, ready for wherever the season leads.