7 Best Museums in New York City

New York City is a huge city with five boroughs. And those five boroughs hold shops, restaurants, bars, commercial complexes, art galleries, live performance venues, schools, colleges, parks and museums.    

New York is so vast that for decades it has been a melting pot of cultures. People from all across the globe move to the city for better opportunities.

And countless travelers had chosen the city as a destination for their vacation.

Along with other attractions, museums are pretty popular amongst tourists. Just like the demography of NYC, the types of museums in the city are diverse.

We bring you a list of the best museums in New York City so that you could choose the ones you want to visit on your NYC trip.

Seven best museums in NYC—  

1. American Museum of Natural History.

Adjacent to Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History is deemed to be one of the best of its kind, in the world.

Spanning over four city blocks, it is a marvel of the 19th century.

Like the name suggests, the museum depicts everything related to nature and its history.

Gems & minerals, dinosaur fossils, marine life, insect species, mammals of different biomes of the world, artefacts from indigenous cultures around the world, dioramas of North American forests, dioramas of ocean ecosystems, birds of varied environments including city birds.

When it comes to permanent exhibits, the options are almost endless.

This museum is humongous. So, if there’s a time crunch, you can simply select an exhibit hall that interests you the most and explore all its contents.

Other than the permanent exhibits, the museum organises temporary or travelling exhibits on a regular basis.

These temporary exhibits include things like art, culture, nature and creativity. Many of the travelling exhibits are interactive and offer an immersive experience.

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the best museums in New York City for adults and kids alike.  

2.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Within its walls, the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds not just 490,000+ works of art but also 5,000 years of history.      

Intriguing European paintings, ancient Roman sculptures, Greek sculptures, Exquisite Asian fabrics, musical instruments, arms & armour, photographs, clothes designed by iconic fashion designers, Islamic art, Medieval art, drawings & prints are some of the items in its amazing collection of art and artefacts.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is another museum in NYC that was established in the 19th century.

The museum is housed in a building with Gothic Revival architecture. So, the building itself is a piece of art and history.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art also hosts various temporary exhibits that showcase the artworks of talented artists.

These artworks may include paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, letters and illustrated books by an individual or various artists.        

3. National Museum of the American Indian.

Founded in 1989, the National Museum of the American Indian is located at the southern side of Manhattan.

It is a part of the Smithsonian Institution; an institution that has a group of museums and research centers under it.

It is one of the best museums in NYC; especially if you want to learn about the history, art and culture of the Native Americans.

This museum displays art pieces, clothing, musical instruments, photographs and everyday items (utensils, baskets etc.) of more than 1,200 indigenous communities of the Americas.

Along with the permanent exhibits, the museum regularly presents temporary exhibits featuring contemporary Native American artists, photographers, illustrators and sculptors.

If you are looking for free museums in NYC, then you can add the National Museum of the American Indian to your itinerary. There is no entry fee here.

You can visit this museum and explore all the interesting exhibits for free.  

4. The Museum of Modern Art.

The Museum of Modern Art, nicknamed as MoMA, is huge. It spans over an area of 630,000 sq. ft.

Founded in 1929, its permanent collection contains alluring art pieces from the 1880s to current times.

Different exhibits have been categorised differently based on an artist, a specific time period, a particular medium of art or even a similar concept of art.

The temporary exhibits highlight the artworks of artists from the past and present. To name a few, Robert Frank, Rosa Barba, Jack Whitten and Otobong Nkanga.

Paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints, videos, interactive art, interesting installations and immersive performances— the MoMA has it all.

Along with permanent and temporary exhibitions, the MoMa hosts art & culture related events and workshops fairly frequently.

What’s more? The Museum of Modern Art is a place for education and research.

It is one of the best art museums in NYC. It is also counted amongst the most popular art museums in the world.

So, it is best to purchase the tickets in advance, online. Entry into the art museum is free for kids of 16 years and under. But you would still need a ticket for them.    

5. Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

Ellis Island is a place that is not just beautiful but also drenched in history.

On the island, there is an immigration station that was used to process millions of people immigrating to the U.S. during the 19th and 20th century.

It happens to be the country’s (U.S.A.) first and largest federal immigration station that was functional from 1892 to 1954.

Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration tells stories of the life-changing events, the hardships and the triumphs of immigrants who beat great odds and reached a new place for new beginnings.

Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is housed in the restored Main Building of the former immigration complex.

The collection of the museum contains photographs, heirlooms and other items related to the immigrants that passed through the gates of the immigration centre in hopes of a better life.

Visiting this museum would evoke thoughts and emotions that might not be evoked anywhere else.

For history buffs, it is one of the best museums in New York City.  

6. Whitney Museum of American Art.

Located in Manhattan, the Whitney Museum of American Art was founded in 1930.

The museum accommodates indoor galleries spanning over 50,000 sq. ft. In addition to this, there are four different spaces for exhibitions that can be held outside.

Whitney Museum of American Art’s collection comprises more than 26,000 works of art. These artworks were created by more than 4,000 American artists.

The awe-inspiring collection features everything from paintings, drawing, prints and photographs to sculptures, artefacts, films and videos.

Even the building where this art museum is housed is a sight to behold; making it one of the best art museums in New York City.

On your visit to this museum, you can also spend some time exploring the contents of its library. There are nice serene reading rooms you can use if you feel like reading one of the books there.

There’s even a restaurant and a bar at the same building for you to grab a bite or a drink.

The museum, known as ‘The Whitney’ is a great place for you to get immersed in some art and culture.

7. 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

Located at the World Trade Center, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum commemorates the events of that fateful day that changed the course of history.

The memorial and museum was founded with the intention to impart a greater understanding of 9/11 and its ongoing legacy.

9/11 Memorial & Museum was also erected to honour the heroes (humans and canines) who helped in rescuing people, saved lives, and even sacrificed their own lives to save others.

It is one of the most visited museums in New York City.

The museum covers an area of 110,000 sq. ft. and has permanent exhibits, temporary exhibits and special exhibits.

The museum’s amazingly vast collection consists of more than 82,000 items (images, artefacts, audio recordings, video recordings and first-person testimony) that document the fate, struggle and bravery of victims, survivors and responders.

Plus, the museum hosts regular programmes and events that help the audience and participants gain a better understanding of 9/11’s continuing impact in America and other parts of the world.

Have you been wondering, what is the #1 museum in NYC? You can visit one or all of these museums in New York City and find out for yourself.