The Best Museum Stores For Online Shopping
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change.
Even if your legs are tired from a tour, your eyes need a break from all those paintings and your phone’s out of storage, you probably just have to see the gift shop before leaving a museum.
While museum gift shops have the usual T-shirts and mugs with logos, they also are a gold mine for one-of-a-kind gifts that you can’t find anywhere else.
Right now, you might be missing going to museums as most of them across the country and around the world have closed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. UNESCO estimates that 90% of museums globally have shut their doors.
Since many museums rely on donations and entrance fees, places like the Tenement Museum in New York City have struggled to stay afloat in recent months.
It’s especially important to support museums now in whatever way you can — whether that includes taking an online tour like the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers, getting an annual membership to somewhere like the Museum of Modern Art, or, of course, spending money with a museum’s gift store.
If you didn’t know, there are a lot of museums that have online gift stores now that you can shop at while staying on your couch — and get some good quarantine birthday gift ideas for adults, while you’re at it.
From the Smithsonian Store to the Art Institute of Chicago Museum’s shop, we found the best museum gift shops online for things like home decor, jewelry and gift ideas.
Check out these museum gift shops that you can shop online:
The Met Store
You'll find everything from this set of column bookends, Tiffany stained glass magnets that'll feel fancy on your fridge, and mugs with Van Gogh's irises. All the purchases help support The Met's conservation efforts.
Check out The Met Store.
The Smithsonian Store
Most products in the Smithsonian Store are reproductions or remodels of artifacts and archives that can be found in the museums. The profits from the store go back directly to exhibitions and public programs for the museums. Our favorite finds in the store include this book of the history of America through objects, ceramic travel mug with a traditional Acoma Pueblo parrot and this Beatles' sock set.
Check out the Smithsonian Store.
The Tenement Museum Shop
Orders from the Tenement Museum's gift shop help support the museum, and you'll find things like this tea towel that features now-classic New York foods, MetroCard playing cards, a Greek diner ceramic mug and this banned books match set.
Check out the Tenement Museum Shop.
The Getty Store
The Getty Store even has its own section of "Getty Exclusives," where you'll spot items like a standing desk mobile in bright colors, a beaded brown-eyed brooch, and all the painting postcards you could imagine at the online gift shop.
Check out the Getty Store.
The MCA Store
The MCA Store features pieces from designers and artists that buyers from the museum specifically pick out. You'll see things like a Venus bust vase that was made in Greece, a swan-shaped ladle for soups, and a fingers-crossed pin .
Check out the MCA Store.
The MoMA Design Store
The MoMA Design Store is particularly focused on design, filled with all sorts of one-of-a-kind objects like this kit-cat clock that rolls its eyes, a primary-colored panel vase and self-watering terracotta pots.
Check out the MoMA Design Store.
The PAMM Shop
You'll definitely want to see what's hiding in the museum's gift shop, also called the PAMM Shop. There, you'll find this "Por Favor, Do Not Touch The Art" T-shirt, a tote bag that's inspired by the captions you read at the museum and kitsch flamingo patch.
Check out the PAMM Shop.
The MOCA Store
Every purchase made at the MOCA Store goes back to the museum. You'll find unique home products hiding in the online store, including this abstract expression mobile, a puzzle that's coming up roses and a handy tray that'll hold your jewelry.
Check out the MOCA Store.
The Autry Store
The museum's gift shop, called the Autry Store, includes Western and Native American objects, along with pieces from local artists. You'll find this classic bandana, puzzle about the history of hairdos and Virginia Woolf notecard set at the store.
Check out the Autry Store.
The Whitney Shop
The museum's Whitney Shop has all kinds of prints, posters, apparel and home items. The products in the shop are designed by artists and creators. You can even send in ideas for products to the Whitney Shop.
The products we're checking out? This colorful Lotería market bag, playful grape earrings and bandana that features New York landmarks.
Check out the Whitney Shop.
The Art Institute of Chicago Museum Shop
The Art Institute of Chicago Museum Shop is filled with all sorts of products that would make perfect presents (and win you brownie points for being original). We're eyeing these lavender spoons, this doormat that's inspired by one of Frank Lloyd Wright's designs and this "American Gothic" puzzle.
Check out the Art Institute of Chicago Museum Shop.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art Store
And well, duh, we had to see the museum's online store for ourselves, after all. We've spotted gems like this Philly deck of tarot cards, "Thinker" trapped in a snow globe and a full-color-spectrum chalk set.
Check out the Philadelphia Museum of Art Store.
The SAM Shop
The SAM Shop is all about objects made by local artists, including home decor and jewelry. What are we eyeing? This crocheted cactus, a cross-stitch clock kit and gradient puzzles.
Check out the SAM Shop.
Related...
Black-Owned Etsy Jewelry Shops To Support Now And Always
15 Black Artists To Know And Buy From On Etsy, Society6 And Saatchi Art
Stores Similar To Nordstrom To Find Designer Clothes For Cheap
Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
