New York City Museums

New York City is known for many things: architecture, culture and history. What better place to find all of those things but in a museum? There are many museums in New York City, geared to all different types of people. There's even a street named just for them- Museum Mile. Museums are separated into several categories: children's, art, and history. It's all up to you to pick which one to go to. A museum in New York City will take you pretty much all day to visit. It's not just because most of the museums take up an entire city block but also because there are many interesting programs and exhibits in each museum.
Children's Museums in New York City.

If you're traveling with small children and you're not sure where to take them so that they're not driving you up the wall, try any one of the following museums. Each museum is geared for kids 1 month to adult age. Each museum also has different exhibits and programs that are geared to all different ages so that no one is bored.

Children's Museum of the Arts

o Near Chinatown; 182 Lafayette Street
o Like an art studio for kids starting at age 2
o Current exhibits include Creative Play Area, Artist's Studio, Actor's Studio, The Ball Pond, and Magnetic Masterpieces
o The museum building is a little "hidden". If you can't find it just look for a zebra statue on the sidewalk and bright colors on the windows.

Children's Museum of Manhattan

o 212 W. 83rd Street
o Great for ages starting at 1 month
o Wonderful exhibits that allow your children to interact and show their creative and whimsical side
o New exhibits include Oh Seuss! Off to Great Places which will be open until September 2005; Beginning on December 11, 2004, kids will be able to interact Dora the Explorer. Play with boots, help solve a new mystery with Dora and friends. Great for kids age 2-6.
o For the young-ins, there's an exhibit called Word Play where kids starting age 1 month until 4 years old can interact with things that help establish a love of language. Parents interact with their children doing several activities.

Brooklyn Children's Museum

o 145 Brooklyn Avenue; a little bit outside of Manhattan, I know, but it's well worth the trip
o This is the place where kids can explore, touch, play and learn.
o Ongoing performances, i.e. Jazz Performances, Puppet Shows, culture shows, etc.
o You can't miss the building. It pops out at you! You'll see what I mean.

New York History Museums

There are several museums in the city that are about the city. You can learn a lot about the rich history of the big apple. Like for example, did you know the New York City was our nation's capital for a short period of time? All this and more can be explored at the several museums dedicated to the history of New York City.

Museum of the City of New York**

o Located at 1220 Fifth Avenue
o Presents individual and shared heritages that has developed this great city
o Current Exhibits include Harlem is… Activism (an exhibit about African American activism); Trade (a history of Wall Street); and the internationally renowned Toy Collection (i.e. Eloise…)

Castle Clinton National Monument**

o The centerpiece of Battery Park
o Built to defend New York Harbor during the War of 1812 (the forgotten war)
o You will be led on a tour by costumed tour guides about the different defenses of New York during that time period.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum**

o The statue was the first thing that immigrants saw as their ships pulled into port. The island was the first stop for immigrants wanting to come into the country. This is where all of their information was taken and their identities were placed in record.
o Welcomed immigrants until 1954 and was opened to the public in 1965
o The only way of visiting the island is by taking the ferry. The museum is free but the ferry varies in price.
o Be aware; Due to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, there are heightened security procedures. So please be patient. Also don't expect to be able to visit the crown of the statue. It's closed to the public.

Louis Armstrong House

o For all of you jazz aficionados, this is the place to visit to get a little closer to jazz great Louis Armstrong.
o 34-56 107th Street, Corona, Queens; be sure that you want to venture to Queens!
o Current Exhibit, "Red Beans and Ricely Yours", which features Louis' fascination with food, weight control and laxatives.

Lower East Side Tenement Museum**

o 97 Orchard Street; Garment District
o Built in 1863 as cheap housing for immigrants from different countries, this museum shows the public first hand what it was like to live in a three room house that only consisted of a hallway, a kitchen, and a bedroom (where possibly more than 2 people slept at a time).
o This museum is only accessible by guided tour so be willing to wait in line.

NYC Fire Museum**

o 278 Spring Street (SoHo)
o When visiting this museum, you will find yourself in a renovated 1904 firehouse
o Features history of the fire department from the late 18th Century to the present
o Several exhibits include a fire prevention exhibit that demonstrates to children as well as adults how to prevent fires and what to do if there is a fire.
o There is also a permanent exhibit dedicated to the memory of all of the fire departments fallen brothers of September 11, 2001

NYC Police Museum**

o Located at 25 Broadway between Morris and Bowling Green 2nd floor
o Displays the 158 year history of the police department
o Exhibits include history of the uniform and the weapons, notorious criminals, and heroes.
o Also included is a firearms training simulator
o There is also a permanent exhibit "9.11 Hall of Heroes"

As I mentioned before there is an entire street dedicated to the different types of museums found in New York City. The street is Museum Mile. It's literally a mile of museums along 5th Avenue between 82nd and 105th Street. The museums include exhibits on art and culture. Museums on Museum Mile are:
o Metropolitan Museum of Art
o Guggenheim Museum
o Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design
o El Museo Del Barrio
o Jewish Museum (has included exhibits on Anne Frank)
o Museum of the City of New York
o Goethe House
o National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts

All Interests Museums

There are museums geared towards any and everyone. The following museums are special interest museums that most people would find very interesting.

Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum**

o 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenue (Times Square)
o Began by Madame Tussaud who in 18th Century Paris was forced to create death masks for executed aristocrats during the French Revolution. She later opened her shop as a museum dedicated to famous and infamous personalities.
o Museum has 6 themed interactive environments with wax displays of famous people such as Woody Allen, Marie Antoinette, John F. Kennedy Jr. and The Beatles.

American Museum o f Natural History**

o Central Park West at 79th Street
o Exhibits cover millions of years of earth's evolution, this includes different cultures of the world, different time periods, different animals/mammals (there is a great dinosaur display with a life-size t-rex), etc.
o On the premises is also the Hayden Planetarium which has daily programs about the solar system; there is also an IMAX theater with different scheduled movies
o Educational fun for all ages

Whitney Museum

o 945 Madison Avenue (75th Street)
o This museum focuses entirely on American Art
o You can join seminars with artists, courses and lectures and panel discussions, performances and readings
o This is the museum to go to if you are an art buff.

Museum of Television and Radio

o 25 West 52nd Street
o Purpose of the curators of this museum is to collect and preserve TV and radio programs and to make them available to the public
o While at the museum you can find clips and artifacts from shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Beverly Hill 90210" and many others; also learn a little about the history of television and radio

The Cloisters**

o Fort Tryon Park
o Probably the most beautiful museum in the city
o This museum is devoted to the art and architecture of Medieval Europe (12th to 15th Century); includes sculptures, tapestries, stained glass, history of armor; also has a beautiful garden that, often in the past, has been used as a backdrop for wedding proposals.

Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum**

o Pier 86, West 46th Street and 12th Avenue (on the Hudson)
o If you ever wondered what it was like on board an aircraft carrier, than this is the museum to go to. A 40,000 ton, 900 foot long aircraft carrier that served the Navy from 1943 to 1974 that houses aircrafts from WWII to the present, as well as several other exhibits that deal with the military.
o Also try your skill in the Intrepid Navy Flight Simulator
o When you're done here take a walk over to the Circle Line booth and take a scenic ride around NYC.

National Museum of the American Indian**

o One Bowling Green, The George Gustav Heye Center
o This museum is dedicated to the preservation, study and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history and arts of Native Americans.

** A note for all Teachers: All of the starred museums have group and educational programs; most are actually an important element in each states standards for Social Studies/History