New York City has become a top destination for travelers to come and marvel at the lights, skyscrapers, fine dining experiences, and the most exquisite museums in the world. NYC is home to more than 83 museums ranging from contemporary art, art institutes, religious and historical to science-based museums. Getting lost in the wonder and visions while visiting New York City is something everyone has to experience at least one time.
The Museum Mile
What’s it mean to be apart of the museum mile and where do you visit such a place?
Situated on The Upper East Side of NYC, there is a stretch down Fifth avenue from 82nd street to 105 street, possibly extending in the future termed the Museum Mile. Here you will find world-class museums and institutions that have been a staple of visiting the diverse city. However, only eight museums are officially in the museum miler club.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known to many as “The Met,” is one of the largest museums in the western hemisphere. Visitors come to feast their eyes on the extraordinary works of art that have been around for over 300,000 years. This artistic achievement doesn’t go unnoticed, with over millions of people visiting this beautiful museum a year. If you only have a short stay in NYC and you love art museums, visiting the Met should be on your list to explore if it wasn’t already!
Neue Galerie, the museum’s opening back in 2001, is a great addition to the Museum Mile. Located in the William Starr Miller House Mansion is home to the cultural art and design collections of well-known 20th century German and Austrian artists. The most world-famous artist on view works from Gustav Klimt’s collection. Stop by Viennese-inspired Café Sabarsky downstairs and order a Sachertorte chocolate cake.
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, allows guests to access the museum free of charge and takes visiting a museum to a more engaging environment. Visitors can dive into the world’s art collection while interacting on a digital level and gaining knowledge of the design process. Cooper Hewitt museum is full of historical and contemporary art collections that span over thirty centuries. Take a walk throughout the picturesque museum and see the past in a new light.
Jewish Museum: Visit the NYC Jewish museum and learn and gain knowledge of the culture, artifacts, and works of art that span over 4,000 years with nearly 30,000 works of art from the Jewish community. Due to continuing the practice of social distancing, to visit this museum, people must purchase a timed entry ticket to gain access to the museum.
Museum of the City of New York: Celebrating the city of NYC with past decades of artifacts and important moments in New York history. The Museum of the City of New York was founded in 1923 by Henry Collins Brown and was put in place to preserve the history of the culture and NYC people. Collections on view range from artwork paintings, drawings, prints, costume designs, and manuscripts to police and firefighter collections and Golden Age theater collections.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum: The Guggenheim’s unique aspect many visitors witness is the museum’s modernist architectural design that has taken the world by storm. Designed late in Frank Llyod Wright’s career, he took the vision of modern and minimal art to the next level. Travelers gaze upon impressionist, early modern, and contemporary art while ascending the spiral ramp gallery with natural light pouring out from the domed sky above.
El Museo del Barrio is the nation’s first museum dedicated to the roots of Puerto Rican, Latino, South American, and Caribbean cultures. Visitors can view over 6,500 works on display that date back to the early 12th century. So, spend an afternoon discovering and immersing yourself in the picturesque landscape and art of the Latino culture and spirit.
The Africa Center opened its museum doors in 2019 and joined the Museum Mile as the most recent addition. Discover and become educated on the African culture through paintings, film screenings, readings, and special exhibits that provide guests with engagement with contemporary artwork from Africa.
Traditionally, suppose you plan a visit on the second Tuesday in June. In that case, you have the opportunity to join one of the most significant cultural block parties by partaking in NYC’s Museum Mile Festival. The festival allows guests to access the museums free of charge during that day and evening timeframe.
Saving Time and Money
New York City has an abundant array of cultures and museums to visit. Although the Museum Mile hits a good portion of the top-visited spots for travelers, the city has so much more to explore. If you plan to stay in the town for a long weekend to a more extended trip, there are two passes to be on the lookout for, the Sightseeing Pass and the New York City Pass. Both passes allow visitors to access multiple attractions and museums that will save time and money based on the length of your trip, but there is a difference between each one. Sightseeing Pass works like a credit card and is on how many attractions you plan to explore. The New York Pass is solely on the calendar days you plan to explore and begin on your first attraction entry. Visit the links above to see if either of these passes would benefit you and your family.
Additional Museums to Visit
NYC has 83 museums in and around the surrounding area. Unless you plan to stay for an extended period of time, most likely you will not be able to explore them all. Below is a curated list of some of the top museums attractions to visit while vacationing to NYC but be mindful that there are so many museums to explore!
The Museum of Modern Art: Establishing a permanent collection in 1952, The Museum of Modern Art, also known to many as MoMA, has been influential to modern art and architecture in developing and collecting some of the most extraordinary pieces worldwide. Many works from the avant-garde era of paintings, famous sculptures, and films are displayed. Some of the world-famous portraits that visitors can see are those of Salvador Dalì, Roy Lichtenstein, Lee Bontecou, and Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Nights. Find your inspiration by strolling through some of the greatest works of art.
American Museum of Natural History: Situated on the Upper West Side is home to the largest natural history museum in the world. The American Museum of Natural History spans the area with 25- interconnected buildings that offer visitors the opportunity to take a walk in the past and see how science and life have impacted the world. The museum tells the stories through multiple presentations and some rotating special exhibits that can be an addition to the general admission ticket.
9/11 Museum and Memorial: The most humbling museum you can visit during your time in the big city is the 9/11 Museum and Memorial. Take a walk through some of the most somber moments in US history, honoring 2,977 that have fallen from the September 11th, 2001 attacks and the 1993 bombing that killed six at the Trade Center in Manhatten. The museum displays material evidence, historical recordings, and testimonies of the two attacks on the World Trade Center in the permanent collection. Guest can get an inside glimpse of the devastation that took place and the aftermath years later but with the hope of healing, uniting as one, and the renewal of a better tomorrow. As you make your way to the outside memorial fountains, take some time to reflect on everything you have gained insight into on how the world stood still in the moments after knowing life was never going to be the same as it once was. It is a very moving and emotional museum, but I highly recommend visiting and commemorating a piece of history.
Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum: Sail on over and check out the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. This museum showcases the American military and maritime history through artifacts, viewing the footage, and interactive displays. Take a journey through ages past on the aircraft carrier Intrepid and learn about how this aircraft made an impact through World War II. Head over to the space pavilion, where you will blast off to space and learn all about the Enterprise and how it paved the way for NASA’s space shuttle program. Another museum’s highlight is visiting the Submarine Growler and getting a bird’s eye view into the “top-secret” missile command center. The Growler is the only submarine on display that will allow guests to get an in-depth idea of life aboard a military submarine. Continuing your journey outside, venture over to the British Airway Concorde on display. The Concorde is the record-breaking plane to cross the Atlantic Ocean in under three hours.
New York Transit Museum: We all know how important transportation is when heading to a city like NYC, but step back in time and explore the adaptions of such milestone advancements in the world by viewing exhibits displaying vintage restored New York City subway, buses, and commuter rail train cars along with bridge and tunnel exhibits.
The Morgan Library & Museum: Once a private library that collected many rare books, literary, music, historical manuscripts, and old drawings, prints have been gifted to the public over the years to be viewed and shown on display. The Morgan Library has become an independent research library. It has expanded to allow guests to have more welcoming spaces to explore the rare collections that continue to add pieces to the museum. To gain access to the museum, guests must purchase a timed entry ticket, and the tour last approximately one hour. Open your mind and explore the world through words and illustrations of ages past.
The Tenant Museum: The Tenant Museum is a historical piece in American culture. Between 1863 to 2011, the buildings were home to over 15,000 people from over 20 nations worldwide. Visitors can now take an up-close and personal view of how those lived daily and worked for the American Dream through stories of ages past.
The Met Cloisters: Situated on the Upper West Side at Fort Tyron, visit this historical Monastery site home to European Medieval, Roman, and Gothic periods of art and artifacts. The tour is approximately only 35 minutes long. However, many can spend time wandering around the grounds and taking in the peaceful nature of the open spaces overlooking the Hudson River.
New York Public Library: What makes this library unique to be added to the museum highlight list? The grandeur of the rooms and the stunning murals throughout the space entices people to visit this public library daily. The most famous, popular room is the Rose Main reading room, located on the third floor. The space can be used for quiet study and research to the public while gazing upon the mural above. Whether you plan to visit, study or do some research, New York Public Library should be a quick stop during your time in the city.
Ellis Island Museum of Immigration: A short ferry away is Ellis Island, where guests can experience the arrival process of those venturing to seek out the American Dream. Stroll through the hallways where so many people walked, explore the trials and tribulations of how people were processed and held till the approval to step foot onto US soil came to be. If you know of your ancestry background, you can look up the last name to see if they came through Ellis Island before reaching North America and the date on which they traveled. Venturing outside, visitors can view the names of all the people who have endured Ellis Island through years past. The museum is free of charge to visitors; however, you must purchase a ferry ticket to access the island. The ferry ticket generally will include the combination of visiting both Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, therefore, plan an afternoon and discover those who came before us and the process it took to achieve the dream of entering North America.
Spyscape: Ever wanted to know what life would be like as a spy? Visit one of the upcoming top destination museums filled with interactive fun and excitement as you make your way through the seven experience zones and a James Bond exhibition.
Museum of Ice Cream: Calling all ice cream lovers! Step into a colorful world full of sprinkles and amazement. Learn about the history of ice cream making as visitors will indulge in ice cream flavors in various shapes and sizes through multi-sensory rooms. Find your youth and play in a pool full of colorful sprinkles and take a ride down a three-story slide. Be sure to have your cameras ready! The shades of pink with pops of color add to the perfect photo background.
Overall Thoughts
New York is a thriving metropolis when it comes to exploring museums. Whether you plan to see history come alive, view art masterpieces, be humbled by visiting a museum memorial, or jump in a pool full of sprinkles while indulging in your favorite flavor of ice cream, there is so much to explore. The most challenging part is deciding which museum to visit while on your vacation to the Big Apple.
What museums are you excited to explore?
