How Many Museums in New York City? I'll tell you with some info
Written: Dec 19 '03 (Updated Apr 25 '06)
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Pros: NEW YORK has it all when it come to museums
Cons: It would take a life time to see them all.
The Bottom Line: New York has it all in museums. Start now and maybe you can see them all in this lifetime.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: New York City Museums |
I've been getting myself prepared for this review for quite some time now. I was not quite sure what format or what information I would give. Having lived in and around NYC I have had a chance to see many of them, well I thought I saw a good deal of them.
After doing some research, it seems I have barely scratched the surface of the museums NYC offers.
I found a site that listed what seems to be most of them.
http://www.ny.com/museums/all.museums.html
If you follow that link you will find over 80 Museums! of which over 60 are in Manhattan.
Here's the list.
Museums in New York City
Alice Austen House Museum
American Craft Museum
American Folk Art Museum
American Museum of Natural History *
American Museum of the Moving Image
American Numismatic Society
Americas Society
Artists Space
Asia Society and Museum
Bronx Museum of the Arts
The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens *
The Brooklyn Children's Museum *
The Brooklyn Museum of Art *
Carnegie Hall/Rose Museum
Central Park Zoo/Wildlife Gallery *
The Children's Museum of the Arts
Children's Museum of Manhattan
The Cloisters *
Cooper-Hewitt
Dahesh Museum
Dia Center for the Arts
The Drawing Center
Ellis Island Museum *
Empire State Building Lobby Gallery *
Museum at FIT
Forbes Magazine Galleries
The Frick Collection
Grey Art Gallery
Goethe House
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum *
Guggenheim Museum SoHo
Hayden Planetarium *
The Hispanic Society of America
International Center of Photography
Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum *
Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum
Jewish Museum
LaGuardia and Wagner Archives
Lower East Side Tenement Museum *
Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum New York *
Merchant's House Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art *
The Morgan Library
Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden
Municipal Art Society
El Museo Del Barrio
Museum for African Art
Museum of American Financial History
Museum of Chinese in the Americas
Museum of Jewish Heritage *
Museum of Modern Art *
Museum of the City of New York
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of Television and Radio *
National Academy Museum
National Design Museum
National Museum of the American Indian *
New Museum of Contemporary Art
New York Botanical Garden
New York City Fire Museum
New York City Police Museum
New York Hall of Science *
New-York Historical Society
New York Public Library *
New York Transit Museum
Nicholas Roerich Museum
PS1 Contemporary Art Center
Pierpont Morgan Library
Queens Historical Society
Queens Museum of Art
Rose Center for Earth and Space *
Schomburg Center
Seaman's Church Institute
Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Sony Wonder Technology Lab
South Street Seaport Museum *
Staten Island Institute
Studio Museum in Harlem
Taipei Gallery
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
Ukrainian Museum
Wave Hill
Whitney Museum of American Art *
Whitney Museum/Philip Morris
* These are museums I have been to.
In this selection you will find multi-themed and an unbelievably diverse choice of many fine places to learn of culture, arts, history, sciences and so much more.
If you do use the site it is easy to use. Just click on the museum and it will give you a short synopsis of what it holds and the address and phone numbers are listed.
Now I said I scratched the surface. I starred the ones I have been to. I'll tell you of a few of them. I will list them in no particular order.
AMERICAN MUSEUM of NATURAL HISTORY
This is probably my favorite. I have always enjoyed nature and this one brings it out many ways. This is also the first museum I ever remember going to. I'll never forget standing in the lobby area right across the street from Central Park. It was the largest indoor space I had ever seen until then. My parents took me to see the dinosaur display. They were awesome. That display had been changed in fairly recent years. The walk through that area is better than ever. They have it planned out as a "family tree". It shows how dinosaurs moved out in different ways of developement in a very interesting a informative way. I was really taken at how well they did this. There are films and hands on displays as you make your way through this area.
The museum holds four floors covering many sciences. Zoology, ecology, biology, astronomy, and anthropology are all covered. This museum has wonderful dioramas where the animals look so real in their natural surroundings. Remember this is an American History museum. It gets very detailed in it's displays.
The peoples of the world are given attention in block long halls with presentations of artifacts.
This museum is just about finished going through some major changes. The fact is you will not notice any of this going on except for the fact that some wings may be closed. There is still so much to see. This museum is amazing and the architecture of the building is equally astounding.
Part of the museum , the Hayden Planetarium, has given way to a new area that is now even more high tech. It is the.....
.....ROSE CENTER for EARTH and SCIENCE
This is listed as a museum in itself. The show here is amazing. It's a must see. The rose center explains, how we now understand it, the history of the Universe from the "Big bang" till now. Astronomy is covered soup to nuts.
This is all new and the setting is unbelievable beautiful in its futuristic look.
I shouldn't forget, the museum's IMAX theatre is definitely a stop to make. This combination of two museums is perfect for kids.
Another terrific place for the kids and adults and also on the west side though a bit far to walk is the.....
......INTREPID SEA-AIR-SPACE MUSEUM
I happened to do both these museums, not all that long ago, with a friend who came over from England. I've been to the Intrepid a couple of times. I find more to see each time. This is a WWII Aircraft carrier that saw action in that war. It was refitted and put in service in Vietnam. It was also used as the prime recovery ship for many of the manned space vehicles, in the 1960's and 70's, that preceded and included the US landings on the moon.
This museum has decks and decks of interesting displays and hands on fun for kids and adults. It also has simulators for an extra fee. They are pretty neat stuff.
On the deck of the carrier are over thirty aircraft old and new. I understand that as of last week a retired SST is now part of the collection. Check on that one but I believe it's true.
This museum also boasts a destroyer and a submarine. You can go on and in these too! It's all on the west side of Manhattan along the docks of the Hudson River. The views from here are beautiful.
While I'm talking about museums that adults and kids will appreciate, let me tell you about a place you can walk to from the Intrepid. Walk downtown a couple of blocks to 42nd street and look a few blocks crosstown. You can't miss the marquee for ....
....MADAME TUSSAUD'S WAX MUSEUM
I suppose I'm still a kid because these two, well three museums I just told you about and this one are my favorites.
Madame Tussaud was a wax artist in France who was put to work making death masks of the aristocrats of the day that were losing their heads during the French revolution.
She moved to England and opened the world famous Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. Well now New York has one and it's EXCELLENT!!
This multi-exhibited place takes you to visit many and mostly American "icons". I use that term loosely in some cases. There are over 200
The museum inside and out is pretty cool. There can be a bit of a line getting in. We waited about 45 minutes to get through the process. Once inside there is so much to see. The museum is set up into a few different gathering areas with all the celebs out in the open.
The first one is a party room with a host of "portraits" as they are called enjoying the festive atmosphere. Donald Trump, Woody Allen, Robin Williams, Bette Midler and so many more are here.
We go into another large room that is set to be a sort of UN meeting of leaders past and contemporary. Many presidents are there as is Martin Luther King, Dalai Lama, Pope John Paul II, Picasso, Einstein, Colon Powel, and many others.
We are treated to some background info on Madam Tussaud and also the processes of making these portraits.
Another are that is very cool is the pop idol area. The Beatles, Janis Joplyn, Marilyn Monroe, Babe Ruth, John Wayne, and many others are hanging out.
This place is great because all the figures are open to have pictures with them. In fact it is encouraged. They even sell cameras.
This is a fun and light museum.
There are others that tell us of the history of man coming to the United States. One that helps tell this American tale is the.......
....ELLIS ISLAND MUSEUM
This is actually off the southern tip of Manhattan and is part of the Statue of Liberty tour. Boats can be found at Battery Park.
The boat takes you to the Statue and then you return to the boat for a very short ride to Ellis Island.
This is where millions of immigrants from Europe and the rest of the world came through to get to America. It is an extremely moving experience. There are films, artifacts, audio with the own words and voices of some who passed through. There is a short play that we saw when there. They still offer it. It was terrific. It was an extra charge though.
On the island is a wall with names of many of the immigrants who came through the island. If you know of somebody, you can have this done for them. We did it for my grandparents.
A very interesting part of the museum is some computer data that you can search through to try and find relatives that came over. I was able to look up and find the manifest and a picture of the ship my grandfather came over in. It was really a special moment looking over descriptions of him on the manifest. Small scar, married, could read and write, a mason, and had twenty dollars in his pocket.
The tale of immigrants can be continued if you go to ......
....The LOWER EAST SIDE TENEMENT MUSEUM
This chronicles the lives of a few families that lived in one building spanning the years of 1864-1935. Over those years more that 7,000 people lived in this one building. It gets very personal and you can relive what they went through.
The building, when first constructed had no running water, no toilets, no electricity or gas for lighting. People lived in deplorable conditions.
This museum is relatively new. Maybe 15 years old. It is now part of the National Parks Service. It's small yet, very informative. The guides were excellent and we really got the feel of the living conditions these people lived through.
Another Museum that is downtown and very close to Battery Park is the.....
....JEWISH HERITAGE MUSEUM
I have been here just once. It tells of the lives of Jews before the 20th century. It teaches of their culture. It then describes the times just before World War II and then of the holocaust. It was quite moving. The museum doesn't end there. It continues teaching of the ways these people work to survive in a world that is divided against them.
While talking of this destination of a people who have gone through hard times let me mention that a five minute walk can take you to the.....
......NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
I have, many times, wondered what that magnificent Greek Temple Building across from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan is. It's immense and gorgeous. The museum is part of the Smithsonian displays that encompass a few buildings. I read this piece on the NY Museums site.
"The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian is dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of Native Americans. Established by an Act of Congress in 1989, the museum works in collaboration with the Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere to protect and foster their cultures by reaffirming traditions and beliefs, encouraging contemporary artistic expression, and empowering the Indian voice."
This museum is so very convenient to all the lower Manhattan destinations. It's loaded with thousands of artifacts and the design of walking you through what seems like never ending circles is interesting too.
There is a market just outside the front of the museum. It's a place to get some fresh fruit and take a short break. You can sit on the stairs of the museum in the warm sunlight.
Throughout Manhattan there are many museums dedicated to different peoples and cultures that have made NY their home.
My wife is an artist and art educator. She, over the years, has dragged me to many of the world famous NY art museums. Hey, this guy actually learned to appreciate the stuff.
Probably the most inclusive and largest is the MET,...
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM of ART
This immense and gorgeous building is worth seeing on its own. It is on Fifth Ave in Central Park. We have been here countless times.
It has all kinds of art from around the world. It even has an original Egyptian Temple that dominates a huge open room in the museum. Be prepared to see knights in armor, totem poles and the art work of cultures from southern Pacific Islands. It is full of art pieces. The museum is a collection of art in all medium, from all over the world from the long past to contemporary work.
We have seen many special shows over the years. They have four or five new shows at any given time.
This is also a wonderful place to visit at Christmas time. The put up a tree every year that is on display in a huge room. Every hour or so they dim the lights of the hall and the tree comes to life with lights and figures. We love it.
The museum also has a restaurant with live music. You can get food cafeteria style or be seated for a fine full dinner.
In another part of the museum, about once a week, a stringed quartet plays music while you sip on wine and eat some light fare. We have done this a few times and the atmosphere, of sound and site, is heavenly.
During the warmer months be sure to go up on the roof with the sculptures and enjoy the view. It's awesome up there.
Another part of this museum, that is wonderful to experience in comfortable weather, is the......
CLOISTERS
This takes a bit of checking out to get to. It's way uptown in Manhattan. It is worth a visit. The building, of French monastery design, is beautiful with its arches and columns. The setting is atop a hill with gardens overlooking the Hudson River.
This museum specializes in European medieval works of art. Some of the showcases of art made from gold are stunning!!
This museum would take about two hours of your time. It gets you away from the metropolitan feel of the city and deposits you in a calm serene atmosphere. Some of the tapestries here will keep you mesmerized. The tour guides are excellent.
Nearby the MET on fifth Ave is a museum that is a complete total change of atmosphere and art from the Cloisters. Walk from the MET uptown seven blocks to the .....
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
This modern looking building, that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is really an interesting piece of architecture. The "tea cup" shape houses an, endless feeling spiral, of an ascending and descending passageway. I remember just looking over the rails to the middle and seeing the curves with people making their way up and down.
The Guggenheim is home to 19th and 20th century artists. Look for works by Van Gogh, Picasso, and Chagall among hundreds of others in this massive museum.
I remember as a kid passing this museum when it was first being built. It was futuristic looking at that time. Forty five years later it still is a building ahead of its time.
Speaking of the futuristic looks there is one art museum that has more modern art than any other museum I know. You just have to visit.......
MoMA, The METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
At the moment this museum Manhattan residence is closed for expansion and renovation. I always loved the courtyard of this place. I wonder if some will be lost.
Update
This museum is once again open. The courtyard is still there. The museum is bigger and better than before holding more Modern Art than any other museum in the world. Be sure to read my new review linked at the end of this reivew.
In the mean time, though some exhibitions may be closed, many others are now being displayed in the MoMA satellite facility in Long Island City. That is part of Queens.
I haven't been to the Queens location. Though this is a satellite building it still holds much in the museums collection. It also has special shows going on continually. Unfortunately my wife missed the Ansel Adams show that was there just a month ago. We love his photography and have visited many of the National Park setting he uses as subject matter.
Look for the Grand Re-Opening of MoMA in late winter a little more than year or so from now.
While we are out of Manhattan let me tell you of two places that are right next to each other and shouldn't be missed.
The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and
The Brooklyn Museum of Art
These two destinations, that are right next to each other, and, in fact, share the same parking area, are a real jewel outside Manhattan. My wife and I were going to the gardens together even before we married almost thirty three years ago. They are magnificent and has its own special charms in the different seasons. They have rose gardens and in the spring they have blooming peonies like I have never seen anywhere else. A gorgeous Japanese Garden is a stunning background for photos.
They have a conservatory that is home to many different flowers and plants. Be sure to see the Bonsai plants in the back, some are over a hundred years old.
You can spend the whole day just walking around these beautiful 54 acre grounds. Lilly Ponds, Cherry trees, herb gardens and a special little garden I always enjoy. That is the fragrance garden. This is doable for anybody, yet perfect for the handicapped. In raised beds they have hundreds of plants that have special fragrances. It's fun to go and take some time to "Smell the Roses" and so much more.
There is one glassed in building where I have been with my company. We do many parties that are held in the Palm Building. Very classy.
The next door Brooklyn Museum, the second largest museum in New York, is grand in its presentation. I love the lobby and the museum store.
This museum has a large collection of Egyptian art. It also has a wonderful collection of American artists. Arts from the Americas, Africa and the Pacific are all on display. This is also the museum, that in recent years has held art shows that are on the cutting edge. Many protests, counter protests, and free publicity for the museum has followed.
The Brooklyn Gardens and the Art Museum can barely be toured in one day. There is just so much you can absorb. We visited it and enjoyed it many times over the years. We always seemed to go home with some kind of gift from the museum shop.
Another Brooklyn museum, though I haven't been here in years is the.....
Brooklyn Children's Museum
We had been there with our children when they were younger. It is extremely hands on. Parking is a bit of a problem in the area.
Another place that I feel is even better for kids that is easy to get to by car with plenty of parking is the....
New York Hall of Science
I remember this place when it was first built for the 1964 New York Worlds Fair. The pavilion was then taken over for use as a kids hands on museum. Outside, and left from the worlds fair days, are mock rockets that stand tall dwarfing the kids under them. The museum was again reworked with more up to date, hands on, and high tech things to do in the 1980's. I've been here on field trips and with my children as a family. This is a terrific multi-levels museum. I found it is more crowded during the week with kids on field trips than it is on weekends. It is a good sized place and you won't get claustrophobic.
I have shared my basic knowledge of most of the museums I have been to. New York has so many fine places. You can see by the list, that there are many I have not gotten to yet. If you do, please write a review. That will help all of us.
NEW YORK museums and places of interest by Popsrocks
The Empire State Building
The INTREPID Sea-Air-Space MUSEUM It's a good one!
Museum of Natural History
The Metropolitan Museum of ART The MET
The Guggenheim Museum
The Museum of Television and Radio
Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
MoMA, The Museum of Modern Art
Hall of Science Museum In Queens
The Brooklyn Museum
Ellis Island
The Lower Manhattan Tenement Museum Learn how immigrants lived when they first arrived
SOUTH STREET SEAPORT
Federal Hall National Historic SiteDowntown across from Wall Street, our first Capitol Building was there.
Jewish Heritage Museum
St Paul's ChapelA living Memorial to 9/11
Recommended:
Yes
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