Museums
in New York City, NY

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Did you know that there are approximately 850 million visits to museums every year in America? They contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year. If you think about how marvelous museums are, these numbers make sense. Museums can transport you to old worlds, future worlds, worlds you never thought you could be a part of.

If you’re looking to add some of those unknown worlds to your day, check out our list of museums in the area. They are all within driving distance and offer a variety of topics that will enchant every member of the family.
American Folk Art Museum
American Folk Art Museum

(212) 265-1040

2 Lincoln Sq
New York, NY 10023   Directions Website

Browse the arts housed at the American Folk Art Museum. The museum features diverse artworks from 20th and 21st century artists. Over 500 works and more than 5,000 objects comprise the collection, including works like Archangel Gabriel Weathervane and Ammi Phillips' masterpiece, Girl in Red Dress with Cat and Dog (1830–1835). Even the building itself is a work of art; the World Architecture Awards named it the Best Building in the World, Best Public/Cultural Building in the World and Best North American Building.

American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History

(212) 769-5100

Central Park W at 79th St
New York, NY 10024   Directions Website

Explore the exhibits and attractions at one of the world's largest museums, the American Museum of Natural History. The museum is home to over 32 million artifacts, and the various exhibitions are encompassed within 25 buildings, including 46 permanent exhibit halls. The kids will love learning about the secret lives of dinosaurs, the mysteries of space, the wonders of the human body and much more.

Asia Society
Asia Society

(212) 288-6400

725 Park Ave
New York, NY 10021   Directions Website

Learn about Asian culture with some help from the Asia Society. The society was founded by John D. Rockefeller III to help strengthen relationships among the citizens, leaders and institutions of the United States and Asia, and is focused on educating the world about Asia. The museum showcases traditional and contemporary works from over 30 Asian-Pacific countries. Hindu and Buddhist statuary temple carvings, Chinese ceramics and Japanese paintings are all featured at the museum. Exhibitions change several times a year presenting art, performance, film, lectures and programs to visitors, students and teachers.

Bronx Museum of the Arts
Bronx Museum of the Arts

(718) 681-6000

1040 Grand Concourse at 165th St
Bronx, NY 10456   Directions Website

Get an eyeful of art at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, considered to be the "flagship cultural institution of the Bronx." The museum was founded in 1971 and features contemporary and 20th century artwork created by culturally diverse, American artists. There are more than 800 paintings, sculptures, photographs and works on paper in the museum's permanent collection.

Brooklyn Children's Museum
Brooklyn Children's Museum

(718) 735-4400

145 Brooklyn Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11213   Directions Website

The kids will love exploring the interactive exhibits and attractions at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. There are over 30,000 artifacts housed in the museum, including interesting natural science items such as minerals, fossils, and preserved creatures like mammals and birds. There's much to learn at this fascinating and engaging museum.

Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum

(718) 638-5000

200 Eastern Pkwy
Brooklyn, NY 11238   Directions Website

Browse the extensive collection at the city's second-largest art museum, the Brooklyn Museum. The permanent collection is comprised of over one-and-a-half million objects, showcasing culturally diverse works from ancient Egyptian masterpieces to contemporary arts, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th century paintings and sculptures. Patrick Kelly, Chuck Close, Denis Peterson, Takashi Murakami, Mat Benote, Jim Dine, Sylvia Sleigh and William Wegman are just a few artists that have work featured here.

Children's Museum of the Arts
Children's Museum of the Arts

(212) 941-9198

103 Charlton St
New York, NY 10014   Directions Website

Take a look at some art that the kids will appreciate at the Children's Museum of the Arts. Over 2,000 paintings and drawings have been amassed from all over the globe to complete the museum's collection. The museum is also home to 19 rare pieces created by children during the 1938 Works Progress Administration Children's Art Project under President Roosevelt. These pieces showcase New York City's style, architecture and landmarks of the 1930's as only a child would see them.

Cooper-Hewitt Museum
Cooper-Hewitt Museum

(212) 849-8400

2 E 91st St
New York, NY 10017   Directions Website

Architects will appreciate the exhibits at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. The museum is housed in the former Andrew Carnegie Mansion and features exhibits and artifacts that showcase design history, along with contemporary design. The collection is showcased in four departments: Product Design and Decorative Arts; Drawings, Prints and Graphic Design; Textiles, and Wallcoverings.

Dia Art Foundation
Dia Art Foundation

(212) 989-5566

535 W 22nd St
New York, NY 10011   Directions Website

Explore the art collection of the Dia Art Foundation, an organization that specializes in preserving art projects. As you stroll through the galleries you'll find that most of the works were created by artists of the 60s and 70s; most of the works are large-scale installations, paintings and sculptures.

El Museo del Barrio New York
El Museo del Barrio New York

(212) 831-7272

1230 5th Ave
New York, NY 10029   Directions Website

Familiarize yourself with arts from another culture at the El Museo del Barrio New York, an art museum that specializes in Latin American and Caribbean art, highlighting artworks from Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican community of New York City. The museum has amassed a collection of approximately 6,500 pieces of pre-Columbian and traditional artifacts, as well as 20th century arts and crafts, graphics, and popular media. Through its extensive collection of Dominican art, social and political themed art, folk art and others, the museum educates its diverse body of visitors in the richness of Latin and Caribbean cultures.

Ellis Island Museum
Ellis Island Museum

(212) 344-0996

17 Battery Place
New York, NY 10004   Directions Website

Visit the Ellis Island Museum to see if any of your ancestors can be found on the "Wall of Honor," a partial list of the immigrants who entered the country through the island. Other exhibits include: Hearing Room, Peak Immigration Years, the Peopling of America, Restoring a Landmark, Silent Voices, Treasures from Home and Ellis Island Chronicles.

Fraunces Tavern Museum
Fraunces Tavern Museum

(212) 425-1778

54 Pearl St
New York, NY 10004   Directions Website

Take a look back into American history as you explore the Fraunces Tavern Museum. The museum shines a light on New York City's role in the American Revolution, as the city was the site of much of the war. The building that houses the museum was built in 1719, and is the site where George Washington gave his farewell address to the Continental Army.

Grey Art Gallery
Grey Art Gallery

(212) 998-6780

100 Washington Square E
New York, NY 10003   Directions Website

The Grey Art Gallery is New York University's fine arts museum that operates to document, interpret and exhibit the evidence of human culture through the arts. Grey pinpoints art's historical, cultural, and social elements through organized exhibits featuring all aspects of visual arts, video, film and performance. The gallery hosts traveling exhibitions and produces original exhibitions, some of which travel the nation and abroad. The Grey Art Gallery is also responsible for award-winning publications, distributed worldwide.

Hispanic Society of America
Hispanic Society of America

(212) 926-2234

613 W 155th St
New York, NY 10032   Directions Website

Spanish culture has deep roots in the United States, and the Hispanic Society of America shines a light on how deep those roots go. This museum is home to a rare books and manuscripts research library holding 15,000 books printed before 1700. An intrinsic feature of the museum is the Sorolla Room, which displays a vast series of Sorolla paintings created from 1911 to 1919; these paintings illustrate scenes from each of the provinces of Spain. Other art showcased at the museum include works by Diego Velázquez, Francisco de Goya, El Greco, and Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, among others.

International Center of Photography
International Center of Photography

(212) 857-0000

1133 Ave of the Americas at 43rd St
New York, NY 10036   Directions Website

If photography is your passion, the International Center of Photography is a must-see destination for you. The center is a photography museum, school and research center located in Manhattan. Since opening in 1974, ICP has presented over 500 exhibitions featuring the work of more that 3,000 photographers. The permanent collection is home to about 100,000 photographs that explore the history of photography. Types of photos include daguerrotypes to gelatin silver and digital chromogenic prints.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

(212) 957-7041

700 W 46th St
New York, NY 10036   Directions Website

Those with an interest in military and maritime history will enjoy the exhibits at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. The museum has a collection of ships and other war craft including the World War II aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, the submarine USS Growler, a Concorde SST and a Lockheed A-12 supersonic reconnaissance plane. Exhibits showcase aircraft from: the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, NASA and Britain, Italy, France, Israel, China and Poland.

Merchant's House Museum
Merchant's House Museum

(212) 777-1089

29 E 4th St
New York, NY 10003   Directions Website

Take a step back in time when you visit the Merchant's House Museum, the only 19th century home in New York City preserved both inside and out. The house is renowned for its collection of approximately 3,000 items including original furnishings, decor and preserved clothing and effects of the family that inhabited the home. The museum produces many performances, presentations, lectures, exhibitions and special events throughout the year.

MoMA PS1 Contemporary Art Center
MoMA PS1 Contemporary Art Center

(718) 784-2084

22-25 Jackson Ave
Long Island City, NY 11101   Directions Website

See what's new at the MoMA PS1 Contemporary Art Center. The center is more of an exhibition space rather than a collecting institution like it's affiliate, the Museum of Modern Art. PS1 promotes the enjoyment, appreciation, study and understanding of contemporary art and hosts over 50 exhibitions annually including retrospectives, site-specific installations, historical surveys, arts from around the globe and a full schedule of music performances.

Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden
Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden

(212) 838-6878

421 E 61st St
New York, NY 10065   Directions Website

Take a look into the city's past at the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden, a facility that presents the history of the Mount Vernon Hotel. The hotel operated from 1826 until 1833; in its heyday, the hotel was a fashionable country resort that was popular among New Yorkers who wanted to take a break from city life. After restorations, the site was opened to the public in 1939 and serves as a reminder of a significant era in New York City history.

Museum at Eldridge Street
Museum at Eldridge Street

(212) 219-0302

12 Eldridge St
New York, NY 10002   Directions Website

Check out a piece of true New York City history at the Museum at Eldridge Street, also known as the Eldridge Street Synagogue. Throughout the years, the synagogue was more than a place of worship. For many it was their greeting to America, as the synagogue was an agency of acculturation. Immigrants came seeking food, loans, information on housing opportunities and to make arrangements to care for the ill and dying. Years later, the synagogue is still pursuing its cultural and educational mission through informative tours, walking tours, concerts, festivals, readings, and other special events that relate to American Jewish history, the history of the Lower East Side and immigration.

Free Mondays: Eldridge Street is one of few museums that are open for free on Mondays.

(between Canal and Division Streets) - Hours: 10 am to 5 pm Sunday-Thursday and 10 am to 3 pm Friday; closed SaturdaysAdmission Prices: $12 adult; $10 senior/student; $8 children 5-17 (free to children under 5)

Museum for African Art
Museum for African Art

(718) 784-7700

36-01 43rd Ave
New York, NY 10029   Directions Website

The Museum for African Art was founded in 1984 to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation of African art and culture. The museum has organized nearly 60 critically acclaimed exhibitions that have traveled to almost 140 venues worldwide, including 15 foreign countries. The most well-known exhibitions have been the "Art/Artifact: African Art in Anthropology Collections" in 1988, "Exhibition-ism: Museums and African Art" in 1994, and "Africa Explores: 20th-Century African Art" in 1991.

Museum of American Finance
Museum of American Finance

(212) 908-4110

48 Wall St
New York, NY 10005   Directions Website

Future business leaders of the world will appreciate a visit to the Museum of American Finance. The museum is the nation's only independent public museum dedicated to celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and the democratic free market – the stuff that has made New York the financial capital of the world. The Museum of American Finance is a presenter and interpreter of current financial issues through the procurement, preservation and exhibition of financial objects and information.

Museum of Arts & Design
Museum of Arts & Design

(212) 299-7777

2 Columbus Cir
New York, NY 10019   Directions Website

The Museum of Arts & Design serves as a center for the collection, preservation, study and display of contemporary hand-made art designed with materials like clay, glass, metal, fiber and wood. The museum's collection is comprised of over 2,000 objects that document contemporary and historic innovations in craft, art and design.

Museum of Chinese in America
Museum of Chinese in America

(212) 334-1057

215 Centre St
New York, NY 10013   Directions Website

The Museum of Chinese in America offers the perfect opportunity for you to examine the impact that the Chinese culture has had on our country. The museum chronicles 160 years of Chinese culture in America through innovative exhibitions and educational and cultural programs. The museum is home to more than 60,000 letters, documents, business and organizational records, oral histories, clothing, textiles, photographs and artifacts that celebrate Chinese American arts, culture and history.

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