Whether you’re eager to learn more about different cultures across the globe without stepping foot in an airport, or you want to spend your lunch break doing something other than scrolling social media — we’ve got a pretty neat activity for you to try.
Google Arts & Culture, a digital initiative to make the world’s art and culture more accessible, has partnered with 2,000+ cultural institutions and artists to create a free online platform with high-resolution images and videos of art and artifacts.
US Cities
Explore this foodie-centric mountain town through Google Arts & Culture’s 450+ historic photos and an online collection that was built in partnership with the Moogseum.
Immerse yourself in the history of this vibrant tech hub through 1,600 historic photos and digital collections including:
- Blanton Museum of Art
- South Austin Popular Culture Center
- Women & Their Work
- Texas Archive of the Moving Image
At almost 400 years old, it probably comes as no surprise that this northeast city has 14,000 historic photos on Google Arts & Culture. There are also seven museum collections to check out, including the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.
The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge (aka the Cooper River Bridge) connects downtown Charleston to Mt. Pleasant.
Photo via Pexels
Take a digital trip through the Lowcountry by viewing ~2,000 historic images and exploring exhibits + art from the Holy City’s Gibbes Museum of Art and International African American Museum.
Explore this Tennessee town through pictures that date back to the 1860s. Bonus: Try the browse-by-timeline feature.
View collections from 10+ Windy City organizations and museums, including:
Plus, get to know the city’s history through 60,000 photos and cultural artifacts.
Columbia, SC
Learn about the South Carolina state capital through ~200 photos, including shots from a 1955 USC football game. Oh, and don’t miss this 1952 shot of a large crowd outside the South Carolina State House when President Dwight Eisenhower visited Columbia during his campaign for presidency.
Dive into the history of Ohio’s state capitol through 2,300+ images and a digital collection with the Ohio History Connection.
The city of Fort Worth was incorporated in 1874.
Photo by @lantzscape_photos
Digitally discover this North Central Texas city through collections from the Kimbell Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Plus, view 650 historic photos, including a shot of Vice President Lyndon Johnson and President John F. Kennedy attending breakfast with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
See historic moments from this Upstate South Carolina city’s past through ~700 pictures. This 1948 photo of a car auction is pretty neat. Can you identify what type of car is in the photograph?
With 5,000 historic photos to dive into as well as collections from the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, there are plenty of opportunities to learn about Indiana’s capital city.
There’s no place like the City of Fountains. Learn a little about Kansas and a little about Missouri... while learning a lot about Kansas City via Google Arts & Culture’s ~5,000 photos and collections from spots like:
- Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
- National WWI Museum and Memorial
- American Jazz Museum
- Visit KC
- Kauffman Center for Performing Arts
Explore 1,000 photos and historic artifacts related to Kentucky’s second-largest city, like shots of Calumet Farm from the 1940s.
Los Angeles’ famous Hollywood Sign was originally the Hollywoodland Sign, until “land” was removed in 1949.
Photo via Pexels
Eager for a trip to Los Angeles to experience the perpetually sunny SoCal weather? Before you disembark, learn about the city’s history through a digital selection of 55,000 photos + collections from places like:
Understand some of the history behind America’s Derby City through 4,200 photos, including some of the Kentucky Derby over the years.
This state capital is one of just two US cities built on an isthmus — a narrow strip of land with water on each side that connects two larger areas of land. Get to know more about the city through 750+ photos that date back to the late 1800s. Plus, view exhibits from the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.
Check out photos that date back to the mid-1800s and view a digital collection by the Country Music Hall of Fame that explores everything from Nashville’s music scene from 1945 to 1975, to a story about Loretta Lynn.
View some of the Big Apple’s most iconic museum collections like:
Want more? There are 63 more collections available on Google Arts & Culture as well as ~150,000 photos.
Philadelphia, PA
Spend some time learning about The Birthplace of America through Google Arts & Culture’s nine digital collections, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and The Franklin Institute. Bonus: View 7,300 historic photos + five stories about Philly, like “Historic Philadelphia.”
The grounds of Pittock Mansion are open to the public and offer panoramic views of downtown Portland.
Photo via Pexels
Travel back in time while viewing historic photos that date back to the 1860s. We especially love this shot of Multnomah Falls and this panorama of Portland and the Willamette River — both were shot in 1867.
See what Raleigh looked like in 1917 and explore a digital collection by the North Carolina Museum of Art. Bonus: Don’t miss this shot of two NC State basketball players holding the Dixie Classic Championship Cup in 1959.
Did you know the famous “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech was delivered by Patrick Henry in Virginia’s capital city? Check out this 1876 artwork of the scene. Plus, view 2,600 more historic images and check out collections from places like:
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
- The Valentine
- The Library of Virginia
- The Maggie L. Walker Historic Site
- The Wilton House Museum
Explore California’s state capital through 1,000+ pictures and digital collections from:
- The California Museum
- The Crocker Art Museum
- The California State Archives
- The California State Library
With 3,000 photos and 15 digital collections, there’s plenty to learn about San Antonio through Google Arts & Culture. Some of our favorite collections include the Briscoe Western Art Museum and Visit San Antonio. Plus, check out this story about seven Hispanic heritage sites.
Examine San Diego’s history through 4,600 photos and a digital collection from the Museum of Us. Psst — don’t miss this neat picture of 400 people waiting to board a plane in 1947.
San Jose’s Google Arts & Culture page consists of 660 photos + collections from History San Jose and the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.
Get to know the cultural center of Northern California through 14,000+ images and 14 collections, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the California Academy of Sciences.
We never tire of learning about the Emerald City — and when you begin looking through some of the city’s historic photos, we have a feeling that you’ll feel similarly. One of our favorites has to be this shot from the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962. Also, be sure to check out the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience’s collection.
This bustling Florida metropolis — nicknamed The Big Guava — can be explored through 600 photos. We are especially fascinated by this 1898 shot of a cavalry blitzing through the water.
The Washington Monument opened to the public in 1888.
Photo via Pexels
As the nation’s capital, it’s no surprise that Washington, DC has a robust selection of images on Google Arts & Culture. Additionally, there are 35 digital collections, including:
- The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
- The National Gallery of Art
- The US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Get to know some of this North Carolina town’s history through Google Arts & Culture’s collection of 380 photos that date back to 1901.
International Destinations
Fun Fact: Mexico City is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Visit it virtually through 5,500 historic photos and 25 digital collections, including Museo Frida Kahlo and the Museum of the Purpose of the Object.
See some of the very best that Rome has to offer from your living room. The Italian capital’s Google Arts & Culture page consists of 14,000+ photos and 30 collections, including La Galleria Nazionale and Museo Carlo Bilotti.
The epochal Sydney Opera House opened in 1973.
Photo via Pexels
If “P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney” has been stuck in your head since Disney’s “Finding Nemo” was released in 2003 — we’re right there with you. In lieu of a 15-hour flight, digitally travel across the globe by viewing Google Arts & Culture’s 3,400 images, 18 collections, and seven stories about the iconic New South Wales city. We especially recommend checking out the Sydney Opera House and the Biennale of Sydney collections.
See the Eiffel Tower over the decades and more via 30,000 historic images. Plus, view 40 different collections, including the Musée d’Orsay and the Paris Opera.
There’s no shortage of new things to learn from this collection of 43,000 pictures and 37 stories. Plus, see collections from 80+ museums and organizations, including:
