Mummies

One of the oldest museums in the country and the reason most local kids know it is the two ancient Egyptian mummies on permanent display. Beyond that there is Hudson River School landscape painting, Albany silver, and rotating exhibits on regional history. It is small enough to see properly in ninety minutes which suits families better than a sprawling institution. Staff run family art workshops and drop-in activities on select weekends. A short walk from the state museum so you can chain both in one downtown Albany afternoon.

Housed in the old Lone Star Brewery on the River Walk Museum Reach, which is half the appeal because the building looks like a castle. The Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities galleries are the reliable kid win, with mummy cases and Roman glass. There is a strong Latin American folk art collection full of colour and animals that younger kids respond to. Free or reduced admission windows run weekly and family art days happen regularly. Galleries are compact enough to do in ninety minutes.