EagleThe Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH) has been listed in the top rankings in USA Today’s 2026 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards—ranking fourth in the list of the Top 10Best New Museums in the United States.

The national recognition follows the December 2024 completion of CMNH’s decade-long, $150 million revisioning. The transformation places Cleveland among the country’s most innovative and impactful new cultural destinations.

LucyReaders’ Choice winners were determined through a combination of expert panel nominations and public voting—highlighting institutions that are redefining the museum experience through design, sustainability, and community engagement.

“Earning a top five national ranking is an extraordinary honor for the museum,” said Sonia Winner, CMNH President & CEO in a statement. “Our transformation was guided by a

commitment to science, sustainability, and community impact, and we’re proud to see that reflected on a national stage.”

USA Today’s 10Best New Museums category recognizes recently opened museums and major

transformations around the country—spanning art, science, history, and cultural institutions. The

Cleveland Museum of Natural History was selected by a panel of editors and museum experts as one of the nation’s most compelling new museum experiences.

Since its grand opening in December 2024, CMNH has become known as an international model for forward-thinking museum design and environmental stewardship. The expanded campus features immersive, story-driven galleries and sustainability-forward infrastructure, which earned the museum LEED Platinum certification, the highest level of Green building achievement.

“Northeast Ohio Parent” readers named CMNH The USA Today recognition adds to a growing list of honors earned in the past year, including

international distinction on Prix Versailles’ 2025 World’s Most Beautiful Museums list. CMNH was also named Overall Winner of the 2024 Ohio 2030 District’s Green Building Challenge,

reflecting its commitment to environmental stewardship and energy efficiency.

CMNH’s excellence earned it the distinction of 2025 Institution of the Year by the Ohio Museums Association, while families across the region voted it Best Museum to Visit With Your Family in “Northeast Ohio Parent” magazine.

The achievements have positioned CMNH as a model for how institutions across the globe can foster environmental awareness, scientific literacy, and community engagement.

“This top five finish is not just a national win—it’s a win for Cleveland,” Winner declares. “It underscores the museum’s role as a cultural anchor, scientific leader, and place where curiosity about our world comes to life.”