New York City Museums
Written by Alexia Davis
New York City is known internationally for the abundance of cultural and stimulating
activities it offers. The City's museums are one of its most valuable assets and their
vast collections of art and artifacts are priceless. New York City holds an impressive
number of museums and each museum is unique in it's own way. Whether you are interested in
Natural History, Science, Contemporary Art, Antiques, Jewish History or anything else that
a museum could possibly hold, you'll find it in New York City. A trip to a museum is an
inexpensive, highly educational way to spend an afternoon; it's great for
families with children and people of all ages. Each museum provides their visitors with a
variety of interesting programs such as films, art classes, lectures, and evening dances
or concerts. Fortunately, several of the larger museums are located on what has been
coined "the museum mile" along Fifth Avenue, making it easy to make a day of museum
hopping.
The Whitney Museum
The Whitney Museum, located at 945 Madison Avenue, is known as a historical museum with an
expansive collection of American art. Its permanent collection contains what has been
described as "the finest 20th-century American art". There are approximately 11,000 works
of art, representing over 1,700 artists in the permanent collection. The Whitney also
recognizes and emphasizes the works of living artists. The Whitney's very own Biennial is
the only continuous exhibition regarding the developments in the ever-evolving art world.
The library and research facilities are a great strength of The Whitney as they hold more
than 30,000 volumes referencing American art. The Film and Video Department of the museum
support independent filmmakers and exhibit video art. The Whitney Museum averages fifteen
exhibits annually and six film and video programs.
The MOMA
The Museum of Modern Art, better known as the MOMA, has relocated to Queens. Only minutes
from Manhattan by bus, taxi or subway, the MOMA Queens will have a full exhibition
schedule while the MOMA building on West 53rd Street in Manhattan is undergoing
renovations. The museum is ideal for families as it offers several programs geared towards
children of all ages, family workshops and gallery talks. The MOMA's growth started from
the small gift of eight prints and one drawing and has blossomed into a collection of more
than 100,000 artworks, 14,000 films, four million film stills, and 140,000 books. The
exhibitions in the MOMA are plotted out through 2005 and vary in subject matter with
everything from Billboards, to Architecture, to Avant-Garde, to Picasso and Matisse.
The Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum of Art is easily accessible from Manhattan, located at 200 Eastern
Parkway in Brooklyn. The permanent collection at the BMA is made up of
fine art from around the world and is recognized in particular for their Egyptian art. The
BMA displays the art of Asia, the Pacific, Africa, the Ancient Middle East, and The
Americas. The artworks range from textiles, paintings, sculpture, drawings, decorative
art, and costumes. The recent acquisition of Judy Chicago's Dinner Party, a well-known
Feminist installation piece, was an enormous stride for the museum. The Brooklyn Museum of
Art will be the first permanent home to the artwork, which has been traveling since its
creation in the 1970's. The BMA provides public programs including the First Saturday
Series, which is an evening of art and entertainment every month. Group tours can be
arranged through visitors' services, and children under twelve are welcomed
for free.
The Frick Collection
The Frick Collection is an elegant museum housed in a former mansion at 1 East 70th
Street, in New York City. The collection consists of exceptional works from the
Renaissance through the late nineteenth century. Included are some of the world's most
celebrated Western artists, such as Constable, Goya, Manet, Monet, Rembrant, Renoir, and
Whistler. The Frick Collection is also the home to delicate French porcelains, Italian
bronzes, sculptures, and period furniture. Tours are enhanced by Acoustiguide, which is
available in six languages. Friday evenings the Frick will stay open until 9pm with a cash
wine bar in the Garden Court. Children under 10 are not permitted and an adult must
accompany children under 16.
The Guggenheim
The Guggenheim Museum is renown for it's diverse collection of art and
the Manhattan location's architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the building at 1071
Fifth Avenue and it "shattered the existing notions of what a museum could be". The
Rotunda of the Guggenheim stands out against the rectilinear architecture of surrounding
buildings. In 1992 extra gallery space was added and restoration was done to Wright's
original design. Today, the museums collection has grown and the Guggenheim has extended
itself around the world. The art found in all of the Guggenheim establishments focuses on
the visual culture of the twentieth-century. The Guggenheim offers public programs that
include family workshops, lectures, and other activities that allow the public to get
involved with the museum, art and education.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, better known as the Met, is also located
along the museum mile at 1000 Fifth Avenue. The Met is one of the largest museums in New
York City and it is easy and fun to get lost in. The museum's collection contains work
from virtually every part of the world, spanning from the Stone Age to the
twentieth-century. Their Egyptian collection is enormous and includes an entire temple.
The Met offers a vast selection of events and programs, great for families, students, or
anyone who's interested. There are group tours, lectures, concerts, films, and much more.
Children under 12 are welcomed for free and students and seniors are asked to make a $5
contribution. General admission is a $10 contribution.
The Museum of Jewish History
The Museum of Jewish Heritage is a "Living Memorial to the Holocaust" located at 18 First
Place in Battery Park City, Manhattan. Open to the public since 1997, the
museums mission is to educate people of all ages and all cultures of the Jewish experience
before, after, and during the Holocaust. It is conveniently located within walking
distance to the National Museum of the American Indian, great for a day of sight seeing in
New York City. The top floor of the Jewish Museum is ideal as it provides a view of New
York Harbor, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The museum itself contains artifacts
related to every aspect of Jewish culture including books, clothes, artworks, and
religious objects. The objects represent Judaism from five thousand years ago to the
present. The museum welcomes individuals, youth groups, families, and school groups.
Children under the age of 5 are free.
The American Museum of Natural History
For 125 years, the American Museum of Natural History has been one of the world's leading
science and research institutions, known for it's exhibits and collection that span the
millions of years of Earth's evolution. Located at Central Park West at 79th Street, the
museum is a beautiful, sprawling stone building that is architecturally unique. One of New
York City's oldest and most famous tourist attractions, The Natural History Museum is a
must see. It is especially great for children as it examines subjects that spark curiosity
and interest, such as the dinosaurs, zoology, astronomy and more. There is also an IMAX
Theater, a Sky Show, and interactive exhibits. There is no set fee for entrance to the
museum, however, a donation is recommended. The IMAX and Sky Show are charged separately.
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