History

Experience age-old traditions, such as paddle-making and quilting in Great Camp Sagamore. Explore New York’s modern side via our upstate arts and architectural hub, the Capital-Saratoga Region. For the thrill-seekers, Niagara Falls and the Finger Lakes are full of adventure, while those who prefer an indoor experience can visit cultural centers like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown or the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum. Finally, no one can pass up a trip to New York City, which holds eons of historical significance all by itself. With the ability to experience years and acres of history throughout New York State, everyone is sure to find something they love.

NYC’s finest history and cultural museums.

The sheer amount of museums and cultural institutions in New York can boggle the mind—it doesn’t have just world-class museums spanning neighborhoods from the Upper East Side all the way to the Lower East Side; it’s got entire neighborhoods, like Chelsea, dedicated to smaller galleries and . With specialties ranging from Chinese, Hispanic, and Jewish art to photography, natural history, and cutting-edge contemporary galleries, there’s truly something for any interest—all you have to do is decide what that is. Our list of New York City’s best museums has you covered no matter what you’re interested in.

This is no ordinary art museum. Located in a striking Renaissance Revival former public school building in Long Island City, Queens, MoMA PS1’s setting is just as interesting as its collection. All manner of cutting-edge contemporary art is shown here, with a collection over 200,000 pieces strong, from the likes of James Turrell and Ai Weiwei. The people-watching can be just as good as the art, as creative types from around the city come here to find inspiration.

This intimate, meditative museum in Long Island City was conceived and built by Isamu Noguchi himself. Here, his mostly abstract sculptures and often-copied paper lamps are displayed across two levels of exhibition space and throughout a quiet, ivy-covered walled garden. Even if you’re not familiar with Noguchi’s work, you’ve probably come across one of his Akari light sculptures—geometric or globular lamps made of washi paper and bamboo that glow softly from within—which have become something of a modern design trope since he started designing them in the early 1950s.

New-York historical society.

Founded in 1804, the New-York Historical Society is New York City’s first museum, and today it houses a collection that’s soared to about 1.6 million works, from paintings and watercolors (including many fine examples of the Hudson River School) to George Washington’s bed from Valley Forge. The museum’s main dining venue is worth a visit, too—be sure to stop by Caffè Storico for the salumi and plates of lobster linguine.

The metropolitan museum of art

For nearly a century and a half, the Met has remained the cultural epicenter of New York City, thanks to forward-thinking exhibits and an extensive permanent collection. With its Gothic-Revival-style building, iconic tiered steps, and Central Park location, the building is a sight to be seen. But step inside its Great Hall—as a ceaseless parade of museumgoers move to-and-fro—and you’ll feel the overwhelming sense of possibility and discovery that lays beyond. If you’ve got limited time or compatriots with limited attention spans, start with the Temple of Dendur, a 2,000-year-old soaring Egyptian temple (the only complete one in the Western Hemisphere).

Rubin Museum of Art

Located in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, the Rubin Museum is dedicated to the art of the Himalayas and India. Spanning 1,500 years and 38,000 pieces, the Rubin’s collection is a comprehensive, unparalleled deep dive into the art of the Himalayas, composed of sculptures, paintings, installations (that display rituals such as Nepalese wax metal casting), and reproductions of murals of Tibet’s Lukhang Temple. Fascinating temporary exhibits showcase, for example, photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson’s documentation of mid-century India, or the ceremonies, agrarian festivals, and natural environment in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley.