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New York Museums

New York City may be nicknamed the City that never sleeps, but you can also call it the city of museums. Visiting New York without a trip to at least one museum can be called a New York City sin. There is something for everyone from modern art to Medieval armor and everything in between. Spending the day at a museum is a great way to spend time with the family or avoid a washout rainy day in the city.

The Natural History Museum

Imagine exploring a museum with artifacts so old, they stand the test of time. A trip to the American Museum of Natural History is perfect for history gurus or those impressed with impressive exhibitions. This impressive institute of culture and science has been around since 1896, pioneering large scale projects dedicated to anthropological findings.

The Museum of Natural History is famous for its mammal and fossil collection. These outstanding pieces are a permanent display of pre-existing life forms that are often massively large in size. Children, even adults will be impressed with the grandeur of this exhibit.

Most of the exhibits tell stories and the history of life's existence around the world, during many time periods, like the first civilizations in Central America. They explain how people and animals moved over time and what methods and/or instruments they used to survive.

The Museum of Modern Art

What does it take to understand modern art? It takes a fresh mind and perspective and a visit to the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown Manhattan. Nicknamed the “MoMa” for over 80 years, this creative museum collects the world's most thought provoking art to inspire artists and visitors. The museum goes beyond collecting just art, but works of architecture and design, photography, and electronic media, like documentaries and short films.

Some famous works that tourists come to the MoMa to see include "The Starry Night" by Vincent van Gogh, "Campbell’s Soup Cans" by Andy Warhol and "Water Lillies triptych" by Claude Monet. Besides these famous works, the museum has a reputation for collecting fine pieces of art from many famous American and European artists like Willem de Kooning, Auguste Rodin and Jackson Pollock.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as The Met is one of the world’s best museums, located on Museum Mile in New York City. Famous for its permanent collection of over 2 million pieces, tourists flock to The Met to be amazed at the beauty of the building itself, as well as the art kept inside.

With a pristine location on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, it’s easily accessible to Central Park via the New York City Subway. Families will love enjoying a simple dinner on the Museum Rooftop, where special exhibits are held to the backdrop of a perfect Manhattan skyline view.

Ellis Island Immigration Museum

The Ellis Island Immigration Museum was once the immigrant gateway to America, but is now a historical conservation of New York's impressive history. The original facility which once processed immigrants who first migrated to America via Ellis Island is now a Museum that commemorates the importance of the immigrant experience in New York City.

Ellis Island stopped being utilized as a passageway in 1954 and wouldn't reopen until 1976 for America's bicentennial. Not until 1990 after major redevelopments did the Ellis Island Immigration Museum open for the public. Exhibits include records and artifacts preserved from passengers and books with the names of those who arrived from ships abroad. The most famous exhibit is the American Family Immigration History Center, where individuals can research their ancestry for their own personal use.

Lower East Side Tenement Museu

An apartment building that turns into museum sounds like a prolific place for people to live. In retrospect, The Lower East Side Tenement Museum was home to thousands of immigrants from 1863 to 1935. It may look like any other tenement in New York City, but its location tells a story of New York history. The building itself stops in time, demonstrating the influences and lifestyles of the 19th and early 20th Century in New York City.

The building was left abandoned over time until 1988 when the residents of the Lower East Side became interested in restoring this historic place. It would eventually become a landmark, depicting the lives of immigrants that once lived there.

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New York Museums