Arlington has long been known for the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, and its ever-growing entertainment scene, but a new crown jewel has quietly risen just off AT&T Way. Less than a year after opening its doors, the National Medal of Honor Museum has been named the Best New Museum in America by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Spanning 31,000 square feet and built at a cost of $200 million, the NMHM is as ambitious in scope as it is in purpose. It combines striking architecture with deeply personal stories, creating an environment where visitors can connect with the lives of the country’s most decorated service members. The museum’s galleries guide guests through history, presenting the bravery and sacrifice behind each Medal of Honor without turning it into a spectacle, and offering quiet moments to reflect on the human side of heroism.
“Through personal artifacts and heart-stopping simulations, this shrine to valor drops you into the split-second decisions that defined extraordinary courage,” USA TODAY wrote. “Rather than glorifying war, the National Medal of Honor Museum focuses on the human capacity for sacrifice, with quiet spaces for reflection between galleries that chronicle acts of heroism from the Battle of New Market Heights (1864) to the Medal of Honor Ceremony that symbolically marked the defeat of Nazi Germany.”
The museum itself is a masterclass in design and storytelling. Conceived by the late architect Rafael Viñoly, the elevated exhibit deck — supported by five massive concrete columns representing each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces — sets a solemn tone from the moment visitors arrive. Inside, immersive galleries, rare artifacts, letters from home, and multimedia displays trace the lives and sacrifices of more than 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients, from the Civil War to the present day. Guests can even participate in virtual reality missions or interview recipients through interactive exhibits.
Education and reflection sit at the heart of the experience. Every gallery encourages visitors to consider the values of courage, service, and character, making it more than a museum — it’s a space to grapple with the human stories behind the medal.
It’s for this reason that the museum stood out in a crowded field. USA TODAY’s top 10 finalists included everything from the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University to the Museum of BBQ, but Arlington’s tribute to valor captured the nation’s imagination. Past winners of the Best New Museum category include Gettysburg’s Beyond the Battle Museum and the National Comedy Center, putting the Medal of Honor Museum in rarefied company.
Tickets start at $30, and visitors can explore a range of tours or opt for membership with unlimited access. The museum sits on five acres at 1861 AT&T Way, a destination that is already reshaping Arlington’s cultural landscape.
Charlotte Jones, chairman of the museum’s foundation board and co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys, said in a release that this award reflects both the museum’s mission and its visitors’ response. “This incredible honor is a testament to the work and generosity of so many people whose dedication has created a home for the stories of Medal of Honor Recipients,” she said. “Arlington has so much to offer, and we are thrilled to add the Best New Museum to that list.”
Best New Museum Rankings
- National Medal of Honor Museum
- Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University
- National Public Housing Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History
- Museum of Art + Light
- Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream
- Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium
- Door County Granary
- Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art
- Museum of BBQ