Kitt's Picks: Museums

The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts is one of the oldest artist-run organizations in the United States. Founded in 1825, they have always fostered the promotion of the Fine Arts in America, and house a sizeable collection of American Arts, over 8,000 works! Designated a New York City landmark, this elegant and stately six-story Beaux-Arts townhouse designed by Ogden Codman Jr. is one of the few remaining mansions on Fifth Avenue that is open to the public.
Lectures, symposia, gallery talks, tours, and other educational programs are presented regularly, designed to complement special exhibitions and provide rare insights into the creative process from the artist's perspective.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed this building, now designated the youngest New York City landmark. As you walk the spiral walkway toward the dome above, you will view works from artists of the 19th and 20th century including: Brancusi, Braque, Calder, Chagall, Robert Delaunay, Giacometti, Kandinsky, Klee, Leger, Miro, Picasso, and Van Gogh.

The Hispanic Society of America is a free museum and reference library for the study of the arts and cultures of Spain, Portugal, and Latin America located on Audubon Terrace.
The Society offers a comprehensive survey of Spanish painting and drawing from the Middle Ages to the present, with particular strengths in that of the Spanish Golden Age (1550-1700), the nineteenth century, and the early twentieth century. These pieces offer a comprehensive history of Spain's past from the Bronze Age to the period of Roman rule and include Ibero-Phoenician ivories from the 7th century B.C., as well as Roman silver, glass, mosaics and statuary.
In addition to the Ancient and Classical pieces, the Hispanic Society collection contains a significant selection of Islamic and Christian sculpture dating from the Middle Ages to the early twentieth century.
The comprehensive collection of textiles, one of the finest in the world, attests to the richness of this art in the Iberian Peninsula from the Arab rule to the early twentieth century. The collection contains magnificent examples of Hispano-Moresque gold, silk, and satin brocades from the thirteenth through the fifteenth centuries. The Hispanic Society also possesses an outstanding selection of rare carpets from Letur, Alcaraz, Cuenca, and Las Alpujarras, as well as lace and embroidery from the fifteenth through the nineteenth centuries.

The Alice Austen House Museum on Staten Island recalls the world of an exceptional woman, photographer Alice Austen. Austen's quaint, Victorian cottage-style home, with a magnificent view of New York Harbor, displays prints from the large glass negative collection of her work that depicts turn-of-the-century American life. The City bought the Austen house in 1975 and restored it and the grounds in 1984-85. The Victorian garden was replanted according to Austen photographs with shrubs such as weeping mulberry and flowering quince. The Staten Island Historical Society owns Austen's collection of negatives and helps the Friends of Alice Austen House--which operates the museum--present photographic exhibitions at Clear Comfort." Together with the restored cottage and gardens, the exhibitions perpetuate Austen's life, her times and her art."

The International Center of Photography is a museum, a school and a center for photographers and photography. ICP's mission is to present photography's vital and central place in contemporary culture, and to lead in interpretation issues central to its development.

Since 1804 The New-York Historical Society has served as the collective memory of New York, accumulating vast collections in American painting, sculpture, books, manuscripts, decorative arts, architectural drawings, photographs, prints and ephemera. The mission of the newly revitalized Historical Society is to use these collections to help New Yorkers understand the complex and diverse past behind the world we know today. In the Luce Center, visitors to The New-York Historical Society can see over 40,000 art and artifacts-from masterworks of American painting to the draft wheel that played a role in one of the worst urban riots in US history.

The Fashion Institute of Technology's Museum houses the largest collection of costumes, textiles and apparel dating from the 18th century in the world. The museum also hosts fantastic exhibits ranging from jewelry design to fashion photography and including the Fashion Design Student Show.

The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture annually organizes two to three exhibitions devoted to diverse issues relevant to the decorative arts and related fields. The primary mission of the exhibitions is to enhance scholarship and promote public awareness of the decorative arts, design, and culture by examining Western and non- Western subjects from the ancient world to the present. This educational initiative is achieved through the interpretation of objects from an interdisciplinary perspective and the publication of fully-illustrated scholarly catalogues. A range of seminars and public programs as well as gallery tours are also organized in conjunction with each exhibition.
The Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry

The Brooklyn Museum has one of the best collections of Egyptian Art in the world; their permanent collection also includes Classical and Ancient Middle Eastern Art, Arts of Africa, the Pacific and the Americas. They have installed 28 period rooms and feature an extensive selection of American Paintings.

The Merchant's House Museum offers visitors a glimpse of life in a bygone era, when the greatest city in world, New York City, was being carved out of sprawling farming communities and industry was beginning to change the face of society forever.
The Merchant's House was built in 1832 and is sited as the finest example of Greek Revival architecture in the nation. It remained in the hands of the Tredwell family for 98 years and in 1936, it was made into a museum. The family left all their possessions including furniture, family apparel and memorabilia, books, paintings, glass, and chinaware.

The heart of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum is its landmark tenement building, home to 7,000 people from 20 nations between 1863 and 1935. Visitors to the Museum tour the cramped living spaces and learn about the lives of past residents: a German Jewish family (1870s), an Eastern European Orthodox Jewish family (1918), and an Italian Catholic family (1930s).

The Cloisters house the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection of art and architecture from medieval Europe. Best known for the beautiful tapestries on display, the Cloisters also offer architectural installations, a series of special programs, and fantastic views of the Hudson.
Located on four acres overlooking the Hudson River in northern Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park, the building incorporates elements from five medieval French cloisters--quadrangles enclosed by a roofed or vaulted passageway, or arcade--and from other monastic sites in southern France. Three of the cloisters reconstructed at the branch museum feature gardens planted according to horticultural information found in medieval treatises and poetry, garden documents and herbals, and medieval works of art, such as tapestries, stained-glass windows, and column capitals. Approximately five thousand works of art from medieval Europe, dating from about A.D. 800 with particular emphasis on the twelfth through fifteenth century, are exhibited in this unique and sympathetic context.

The collection of The Jewish Museum demonstrates how Jewish culture is reflected in art through 28,000 objects of different media, including Fine Arts, Judaica, and broadcast media.
The museum has taken a broad view of fine arts acquisitions, collecting material that is both specifically and implicitly related to Jewish culture: by virtue of the subject depicted; because of the implicit intent of the artist; or because a work by a Jewish artist represents a significant contribution to the history of art.

The Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution displays a virtual cornucopia of decorative and design arts in Andrew Carnegie's Upper East Side mansion.
The exhibits, in large part, focus on work that gives every day items like furniture, computers and toothbrushes a more unique appearance, adding form to the function. Architecture and graphic design are also well covered.

For 125 years, the American Museum of Natural History has been one of the world's preeminent science and research institutions, renowned for its collections and exhibitions that illuminate millions of years of the earth's evolution, from the birth of the planet through the present day.
The New York Times Capsule, a 5' x 5' x 5' sculpture of welded stainless steel designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, contains diverse artifacts chronicling life in the late 20th century.
The brand new Discovery Room offers families and especially children ages 5-12 a hands-on look at the Museum and its sciences.
The Natural History Museum is one of the most famous tourist attractions in New York City. The architecture alone makes the museum stand out; it's a huge, sprawling stone building that reflects an eclectic mix of design styles. The Central Park West entrance has towering white columns and a bronze statue of President Theodore Roosevelt on horseback, other parts of the building look Medieval, with towers like on a storybook castle, and the Rose Center is as modern as a building can get, a glass box with the new Hayden sphere floating in the center.
The most important thing to know when planning a visit is that the museum is huge so plan to do a lot of walking and stair climbing. There are four floors of gallery space and the building is spread over an area of several city blocks. Inside there are 42 permanent exhibits and several temporary ones covering everything in creation from the beginning of time to the present, every discipline of human science: biology, ecology, zoology, geology, astronomy, and anthropology. The museum presents its collection of millions of artifacts with detailed information about the cultural, scientific, or historical importance of the pieces. It's quite possible to spend hours just in the Halls for Asian, African & South American Peoples.
The new Rose Center for Earth and Space, which replaced the old Hayden Planetarium, is an ultra modern building that looks like it could have come from a science fiction story. It's a clear glass cube, which is dominated by the sphere of the new planetarium theater. A spiral walkway winds down from the sphere, through scale models of stars, galaxies and planets hanging from the ceiling, to the gallery's floor. Besides the theater, the Rose Center also exhibits a history of the Universe from the Big Bang till now, narrated by Jodi Foster, models of various stellar bodies to emphasize the relative sizes of objects in the Universe, an ecosystem contained inside a glass ball and an assortment of other space-related displays.
The Natural History Museum is a must-see, especially if you're traveling with children, since many of the exhibits appeal to a person's sense of wonder and curiosity. There is no fixed admission price, just a recommended donation, but that doesn't include the Sky show, IMAX Theater or temporary exhibits. The museum is an extremely popular place to visit, so food and gifts will cost tourist prices. Also, it may get quite crowded sometimes, so getting to look closely at a display can be hard on weekends, but it's definitely still worth a visit.

Located in the Forbes Magazine building at 60 Fifth Avenue, this free museum displays an intriguing assortment of goodies that the late Malcolm S. Forbes, Sr. began collecting back in the 1930's. The impressive collection features over 12,000 toy soldiers, 500 toy boats, and objects d'art, Presidential papers and historical documents. The gallery also displays other memorabilia including as antique trophies and several original versions of the game Monopoly.

The New Museum of Contemporary Art, founded in 1977, is the premier contemporary art museum in New York City and among the most important internationally. The Museum exhibits innovative contemporary art from around the world.

BBG blooms in the middle of one of the largest cities in the world. Each year more than 750,000 people visit the well-manicured formal and informal gardens that are a testament to nature's vitality amidst urban brick and concrete. More than 12,000 kinds of plants from around the globe are displayed on 52 acres and in the acclaimed Steinhardt Conservatory. There's always something new to see.

If you could only see one museum, this is it". The Met is a universal museum: every category of art in every known medium from every part of the world during every epoch of recorded time is represented here and thus available for contemplation or study -- not in isolation but in comparison with other times, other cultures, and other media."

For 14 years, this was the home of Theodore Roosevelt, the young man who was to become the 26th President of the United States. Roosevelt lived here from the time of his birth, October 27, 1858. The house was reconstructed in 1923, to preserve the story of the early life of this influential president.
Wander through the rooms of the house, restored with some of the original furnishings dating back to the 1860's. There are tours available and the staff is quite helpful.
Operated by the National Parks Service.

The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust opened to the public in September 1997. Its mission is to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about the 20th century Jewish experience before, during, and after the Holocaust.

The Museum focuses on the Ukrainian experience, past and present through exhibitions and various programs and activities. The events are designed to educate and motivate visitors to further explore this incredibly rich cultural heritage. Also, the Museum store features truly remarkable merchandise.

The Sports Museum of America (SmA), located in Lower Manhattan, is the nation's first and only museum to celebrate, under one roof, all of the sports Americans love. Created in exclusive partnership with more than 50 single-sport Halls of Fame, Museums, National Governing Bodies and other sports organizations from across North America; SmA is further distinguished by our Board of Trustees, which includes some of the most beloved and respected athletes in all of sports.

Things To Know
To enhance the experience of all of our guests, and to protect sensitive exhibits, interactives and artifacts, please note the following strict policies within the Sports Museum of America:
• No photography or video
• No use of cell phones or other mobile devices
• No food or drinks
• No smoking
• No strollers
Strollers may be stored in the coatroom located in the SmA Lobby before entering the museum. The Sports Museum of America does not, however, assume responsibility for lost or stolen items.

A non-profit cultural institution located on 28 acres in the northwest Bronx, Wave Hill is dedicated to exploring the interaction between human beings and the natural environment. Programs in both the arts and sciences are designed to foster public understanding of and appreciation for this complementary relationship.
The Arts Program at Wave Hill presents the work of contemporary artists and landscape professionals whose work explores, demonstrates, or otherwise reflects upon the dynamic relationship between human beings and natural phenomena.

The Children's Museum of the Arts provides stimulating, interactive exhibitions and programs for children under ten years old, encouraging them to develop their full creative potential through the visual and performing arts. The Museum emphasizes inclusion, with programs geared to integrate special needs children, their families and school into the life of the museum.

One of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in the world, The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx is a museum of plants and a National Historic Landmark with 250 acres of gorgeous grounds, 47 gardens and plant collections (such as daylilies, herbs, native plants, perennials, alpine plants, roses, annuals, magnolias, and tulips, as well as thousands of shrubs and trees), 40-acres of the Forest that once covered all of New York, and the spectacular Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. This Holiday Display is fabulous.

The Asia Society is America's leading institution dedicated to fostering understanding of Asia and communication between Americans and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific.
Extensive Renovation and Expansion.
To meet the increasing demand for greater awareness and understanding of Asia and its dynamic relationship with America, the Asia Society has undergone an extensive renovation and expansion of its world headquarters in New York City. The $30 million initiative has substantially enhanced the Asia Society's museum galleries, as well as its public facilities and programs, and has strengthened the Society's role as the only institution in North America addressing the intersection of the arts, economics, politics, and society throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

The New York City Police Museum, a not-for-profit New York State Department of Education Chartered Museum is now open to the public. Located in the heart of the Financial District near other museums such as the Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of American Financial History, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, Living Memorial to the Holocaust, and Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty ferries.

The New York City Fire Museum houses one of the nation's most important collections of fire related art and artifacts from the late 18th century to the present. Among its holdings are painted leather buckets, helmets, parade hats and belts, lanterns and tools, pre Civil War hand pumped fire engines, horse drawn vehicles and early motorized apparatus.

The Studio Museum is the premier museum dedicated to African American art. The collection features nineteenth and twentieth-century African-American art, twentieth century Caribbean and African art, and traditional African art and artifacts.

In 1991, the Rose Museum opened as part of Carnegie Hall's 100th anniversary celebration. Located on the First Tier level of Carnegie Hall, the Museum houses special temporary exhibitions as well as a display of the permanent collection drawn from the Carnegie Hall Archives.
Documenting more than a century of musical history connected with the Hall, the permanent collection of the Rose Museum features signed photographs, letters, musical quotes from the artists of the day, and Carnegie Hall archival material, from programs to unique memorabilia.
More than 300 items recall the concerts, lectures, and other events that have appeared onstage at the Hall, along with the history of the building itself up through the 1986 renovation. Also on view are materials related to notable tenants of the studios above the stage, including Leonard Bernstein and Marlon Brando. From the silver trowel with which Mrs. Andrew Carnegie laid the cornerstone in 1890, to batons of Toscanini and von Karajan, Benny Goodman's clarinet, and an autographed program of the Beatles' landmark 1964 concert at the Hall, the display suggests the changing tides of American musical and social history.

Ellis Island is currently fully open. Liberty Island is also open, though access to the interior of the Statue of Liberty Monument is restricted as a security measure. Over 40% of the U.S. population descends from the 17 million immigrants that have passed through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954. The three story Ellis Island Museum is housed in the same building that the immigrants came through in those 64 years. Ferry boats leave from Battery Park for the 27 acre island, including an option to visit the Statue of Liberty, located on an island nearby.

Founded in 1971, the Bronx Museum of the Arts offers wonderful exhibitions and programs for children and adults. The Museum's collection consists of over 800 twentieth-century and contemporary works of art in all media.
Guided by the Museum's mission--to serve the ethnically-diverse populations of the Bronx and to stimulate community participation primarily through the visual arts--the permanent collection reflects the Museum's surrounding communities and constituents, comprised primarily of African American and Latino populations, as well as a growing number of Asian-American communities in the metropolitan area.

Sarabeth's Restaurant at the Whitney offers delicious late lunch or weekend brunch. For hours and more information, call (212) 570-3670.
The Whitney, one of only a few museums in New York City that focuses entirely on American art, has a distinctly contemporary look of sharply angled, polished gray stone and glass. However, it's not the building that makes the Whitney unique, it's the extensive collection of twentieth century American art housed inside.

The New Museum, designed by Tokyo-based architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa/SANAA with Gensler, New York, serving as Executive Architect, is a seven-story, structure located at 235 Bowery between Stanton and Rivington Streets, at the origin of Prince Street in New York City. The first art museum ever constructed from the ground up in downtown Manhattan, the New Museum opened on December 1, 2007, coinciding with the institution’s 30th anniversary.

The New Museum building is a home for contemporary art and an incubator for new ideas, as well as an architectural contribution to New York’s urban landscape. Sejima and Nishizawa, who received the commission in 2002, have described the building as their response to the history and powerful personalities of both the New Museum and its storied site. “The Bowery was very gritty when we first visited it,” they have said. “We were a bit shocked, but we were also impressed that a contemporary art museum wanted to be there.”

In a steamy rain forest or in an icy Antarctic penguin habitat, the Wildlife Center at the Central Park Zoo introduces visitors to fascinating animals - from tiny leafcutter ants to tremendous polar bears. Explore the Tropic Zone, a beautiful tree filled rain forest environment, the Temperate Territory, where sea lions and monkeys frolic, or the Polar Circle, where you can watch polar bears swim underwater thanks to a plexiglass wall. If you are visiting with kids, don't miss the wonderful Tisch Children's Zoo, designed especially for children age 6 and under, letting little animal lovers meet gentle creatures up close. This Enchanted Forest" features a petting zoo with goats, sheep, cows, pigs and other furry animal friends. Admission to the children's zoo is included in the price of admission to the main zoo."

The Frick mansion was designed by Carrere and Hastings, the same architects who worked on the New York Public Library, and was built to make Carnegie's place look like a miner's shack." Preserved on Millionaire's Row, the mansion is a grand setting for an incredible collection of European painting and decorative arts. The enclosed inner courtyard is a perfect place for weary art lovers to take a rest."

The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden transports the visitor back to the days when midtown Manhattan was a country escape for New Yorkers living in the crowded city at the southern tip of the island. New York City's only surviving day hotel, this unique museum brings this bygone era of old New York alive for children and adults alike. The Museum has a fine collection of American furniture and decorative arts, costumes, quilts and textiles, and works on paper including early American and New York City historical archives and documents.
History of the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden
In 1795, William Stephens Smith and his wife Abigail Adams Smith purchased 23 acres on Manhattan's Upper East Side on which they began to build a grand estate which they named Mount Vernon" in honor of George Washington's home in Virginia. Unfortunately, the Smiths had financial difficulties, and were forced to sell the unfinished property in 1796. In 1799 William T. Robinson, a successful china trade merchant completed the main house, and the stone carriage house, which is now the site of the Museum. In 1826, when the main house burned to the ground, the carriage house was converted into an elegant day resort called the "Mount Vernon Hotel", which operated there until 1833.
Sixty years ago, the doors of 421 East 61st Street were opened to the public for the first time as the Abigail Adams Smith House, and in keeping with current fashion and scholarship of the day, it was installed as a federal period mansion. In 1983, the Abigail Adams Smith Museum was accredited by the American Association of Museums. At this time the Colonial Dames of America began to reevaluate the museum's installation, and in 1988, after years of careful research and planning, and in keeping with current scholarship and museum standards, the Board of Managers approved the new Mission Statement for the Museum, providing for its reinterpretation as the 1826-1833 Mount Vernon Hotel."

Built as a pavilion for the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, the Hall of Science served as a museum from 1966 to 1981. In 1986, an improved museum reopened with 25,000 square feet of exhibition space, new hands-on exhibitions, and a new staff. The New York Hall of Science is ranked as one of America's best science museums. Visit the Hall to interact with over 225 exhibits which provide fun learning experiences for everyone! Hands-on exhibits and trained Explainers are available to enrich your museum experience as you discover the wonders of science. See the physics, chemistry and biology behind everyday life.

The permanent home of The Noguchi Museum displays a comprehensive collection of artwork by sculptor Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) in a tranquil setting created by the artist. On exhibition are more than 240 works, including stone, metal, wood and clay sculptures, models for public projects and gardens, dance sets, and Noguchi's Akari light sculptures. Housed in thirteen galleries within a converted factory building, and encircling a garden containing major granite and basalt sculptures, the museum presents one of the most dramatic installations of art in New York City.

New York City's maritime past comes alive at South Street Seaport Museum. Here adults, families, and children can see, touch and enjoy the city's rich and diverse maritime past in the 19th century district where it all began. Explore the decks and cabins of six historic ships, see exhibitions of maritime art and artifacts, discover New York's archaeological heritage. Journey through the area's stone-paved streets as well as the little shops all along he way. Learn to use a 19th Century letterpress, sail around New York harbor on a graceful twin-masted schooner or excursion vessel.

The Museum of the City of New York is a private, not-for-profit, educational agency established in 1923 to collect, preserve, and present original materials related to the history of New York City. In addition to individual contributions and gifts from foundations and corporations, the Museum receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The City of New York, the owner of the Museum's building, provides support in the form of operating and programmatic funds through the Department of Cultural Affairs.

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. The museum includes the The George Gustav Heye Center in Manhattan, the Museum on the Mall in Washington, D.C., and the Cultural Resources Center (CRC) in Suitland, Maryland.

Museum of American Financial History, the nation's only independent public museum dedicated to celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and the democratic free market tradition which has made New York City the financial capital of the world. Founded in 1988, the Museum was chartered as an educational institution. Fifteen years later, financial education is at the core of the Museum's mission and its public programs and services.

The Museum for African Art is dedicated to increasing public understanding and appreciation of African art and culture. Recognized worldwide as the pre-eminent organizer of exhibitions and publishers of books devoted exclusively to historical and contemporary African art.
As a step in our long-term plan to build a permanent home for the Museum at 110th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, has relocated to an interim space in Long Island City's Sunnyside neighborhood in Queens, joining the community of cultural organizations that make Queens their home. The Museum will operate its galleries, as well as its public and school programs out of a 12,500 square-foot space on the third floor at 36-01 43rd Avenue, Long Island City.

The goal of the Americas Society is to foster an understanding of the contemporary political, social and economic issues confronting Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada, and to increase public awareness and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of our hemispheric neighbors.

Get up close and personal with your favorite celebrities at the 85,000 square-foot, five-story Madame Tussaud's New York. Opened in November, the New York version of the famous London museum takes on the face of the place" presenting New York's most famous and infamous personalities, as well as figures of international fame and acclaim. Leave time to tour these six themed, interactive environments showcasing nearly 200 masterfully crafted, lifelike wax figures:
The Opening Night Party set in an Italian baroque garden, features Woody Allen, Bette Midler, Nicolas Cage, Hugh Grant, Oprah Winfrey, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Donald Trump:
Madame Tussaud's Story, spanning 200 years of history, features Marie Antoinette and Napoleon's lover Josephine:
Behind the Scenes is a multimedia exhibit about the process of creating the incredibly life-like wax figures at the museum featuring Al Roker and others:
The Gallery, set in a meeting of the United Nations, features The Dalai Lama, Maya Angelou, John F. Kennedy, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., Buffalo Bill and Diana, Princess of Wales:
Popular Culture, a whirlwind history of the trendsetters of the 20th century, features Mikhail Barishnikov, Babe Ruth, Janis Joplin, Charlie Chaplin, The Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Bill Gates and Neil Armstrong:
It Happened in New York is an immersive midnight ride celebrating the city's illustrious history.
Madame Tussaud's New York joins the growing international family of museums with locations in London, Amsterdam, Las Vegas and Hong Kong. The tradition began in 18th century Paris, when Madame Tussaud was forces to create death masks for aristocrats executed in the French Revolution. In 1835, she established the London museum, which now welcomes more than 2.5 million guests each year."

Founded in 1929 in order to help people understand and enjoy the visual arts of our time, MoMA was the world's first museum dedicated to the education and enjoyment of modern art. MoMA's rich and varied collection constitutes one of the most comprehensive and panoramic views into modern art in the world, and has grown to include over 135,000 paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, sculptures, films, and design objects. The Museum also maintains an active schedule of exhibitions highlighting significant recent developments in the modern visual arts and new interpretations of major modern artists and art historical movements.

The Queens Museums of art is home to the famous Panorama of New York City. The model is 9335 sq. ft. with 800,000 buildings representing the 320 square miles of New York City.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a national research library devoted to collecting, preserving and providing access to resources documenting the experiences of peoples of African descent throughout the world. The Center's collections first won international acclaim in 1926 when the personal collection of the distinguished Puerto Rican-born Black scholar and bibliophile, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, was added to the Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints of the 135th Street Branch of The New York Public Library. Schomburg served as curator from 1932 until his death in 1938. Renamed in his honor in 1940, the collection grew steadily through the years. In 1972 it was designated as one of The Research Libraries of The New York Public Library and became the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Today, the Schomburg Center contains over 5,000,000 items and provides services and programs for constituents from the United States and abroad.

The Rubin Museum of Art is New York's newest museum. Opened on October 2nd, 2004, it is the first museum in the Western World dedicated to the art of the Himalayas and surrounding regions. The museum's mission is to establish, present, preserve and document a permanent collection that reflects the vitality, complexity and historical significance of Himalayan art.

Note: Strollers are not permitted in the Museum's galleries.
The American Museum of the Moving Image tells the story of the innovation and artistry that make the moving image the most powerful artistic and cultural influence of the twentieth century. The Museum houses the nation's most important collection of motion picture and television artifacts. Exhibitions elegantly illustrate how the art and the craft of moving image making are inseparable.
The Museum also presents retrospective film series, often accompanied by discussions with the filmmakers themselves, and digital media seminars with industry pioneers. Education programs for junior high school and high school students connect moving image media with the study of the humanities and sciences.
Major Exhibit: Behind the Screen
Behind the Screen illuminates the many processes involved in producing, marketing, and exhibiting the moving image, with more than a thousand film and television artifacts, computer-based interactive experiences, commissioned installations, audio-visual materials, and demonstrations of professional equipment and techniques.

Chartered as the Museum of Early American Folk Arts when it was founded in 1961, the Museum originally focused on the vernacular arts of 18th and 19th century America, especially of the northeast. The institution adopted a more inclusive name - Museum of American Folk Art - in 1966. Over the years, it established a national and international reputation as a leading cultural institution dedicated to the collection, exhibition, and study of traditional and contemporary American folk art. As the American Folk Art Museum, it will present exhibitions and programs that embrace an even wider range of folk art, both traditional and contemporary, from the U.S. and abroad.