Ohio does not usually come up in conversations about the world’s most beautiful museums, but that may be changing.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has been named one of the world’s most beautiful museums at the 2025 Prix Versailles World Ceremony, held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The international honor recognizes the museum’s recently completed $150 million architectural redesign, placing a Cleveland institution among a small group of museums worldwide acknowledged for design excellence.
The recognition follows a multi-year transformation led by DLR Group, a global architecture and design firm. Inspired by the glaciers that shaped the Great Lakes region, the redesign features sweeping forms and open, light-filled public spaces intended to create a closer connection between visitors and the natural world.
Sustainability played a central role in the project.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History became the first museum in the United States to earn LEED v4 Platinum certification, the highest level available under the program. The campus incorporates solar arrays, bird-safe glass, and green infrastructure designed to improve environmental performance while supporting long-term operational efficiency.
“Every aspect of our transformed Museum aims to achieve one unified vision: to promote healthy humans, a healthy planet, and a better future for all,” said Sonia Winner, president and CEO of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. She said the recognition affirms the museum’s focus on architecture that supports science, education, and environmental responsibility.
Prix Versailles judges recognized the museum for both its interior and exterior design, as well as its broader commitment to community engagement.
The award adds to a growing list of recent honors for the institution, including a 2025 American Architecture Award and recognition from the Ohio Museums Association, which named the museum its 2024 Institution of the Year.
The museum plans to continue expanding its offerings, with new exhibitions and education programs scheduled to launch in 2026. For Ohio residents, the international recognition highlights a cultural institution in their own backyard that is drawing attention well beyond the Midwest.
