New York is a hub of American and global culture that is upheld by various institutions. Museums preserve history and showcase art, specifically art that is pushing boundaries or have had a cultural impact. NYC has a wide array of museums and galleries but some stand above the rest. Here are the most popular and best museums to see while in New York City.
- American Museum of Natural History
Not only are the pieces within the museum beautiful, the building itself is mesmerizing. It is home to many prehistoric pieces and many artifacts dating back hundreds of years. The museum itself has also been around for over 150 years. The museum has a piece of history for everyone. Whether you are interested in dinosaur skeletons or how cultures lived years ago. The admission to the museum is a suggested donation but has exclusive exhibitions that cost special tickets.
- Museum of Modern Art
The MoMA is known for showcasing some of the most popular pieces of art in the world as well as edgy, thought-provoking works of art, as well. It has one of the world’s finest collections of work that range through the 18th century to today. It is home to Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Picasso’s Les Demoiselles. This museum will give anyone something to talk about.
- Guggenheim Museum
Located on the Upper East Side, this museum is home to many impressionist, post-impressionist, modern, and contemporary art. The building itself is quite recognizable on 5th Avenue. The Guggenheim’s collection has grown over the decades and was founded originally with Solomon R. Guggenheim’s first collection. The overall collection is shared with a sister museum located in Spain.
- The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum
One of the United States’ national travesties, the 9/11 Museum gives incredible insight to the event in 2001. Located in Manhattan, this center provides a strong Memorial and significant information about the events that happened to the World Trade Center. The museum has many pieces of the building, multimedia displays, and exhibits of the history leading up to the events.
- Ellis Island Immigration Museum
Considered the “heart of American history”, the Ellis Island Museum shares the story of the largest migration of humans in history. The exhibits inside include the Hearing Room to the Treasures from Home. The museum has many multimedia rooms that exhibit video footage from the period. It is an incredible story to learn about how the statue of liberty was a symbol of freedom for so many immigrants.