10 Ways to Explore the Museum of the City of New York in Manhattan

Located on Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and part of “Museum Mile”, the Museum of the City of New York was founded in 1923. Originally housed in Gracie Mansion (now the residence of the mayor of New York City) until the permanent museum was built in 1932, the museum’s collection has over three quarter of a million artifacts including photographs, costumes, paintings, sculptures, toys, and decorative arts. Permanent exhibits showcase New York City’s founding and evolution over four centuries and several rotating exhibits feature influential figures, movements, and seasonal celebrations. When we visited in December 2024, the annual Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake Off was in full swing- the annual event is a must see during the holiday season.

Travel Tips:

10 Ways to Explore the Museum of City of NY:

1. Check the daily calendar for crafts and activities in the main lobby, StoryTimes for children, and other engaging activities related to museum exhibits. 
2. Mail an Art Decor inspired postcard to someone and share what you’ve learned in the Art Deco City exhibit on the 3rd floor. Learn about the rise in popularity of postcards in the 20th century and see models of Art deco design like the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center. Exhibit through mid February 2025.
3. Name ALL the films featured in the You Are Here: Filmmaking in New York exhibit on the 3rd Floor. Sixteen film screens surround the exhibit space and simultaneously play iconic scenes from dozens of blockbuster and independent films and documentaries filmed in New York City. Note: Some film clips may not be appropriate for younger children.
4. Complete the scavenger hunt while learning about Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first woman to run for president as part of a major political party, in the 2nd floor exhibit Changing the Face of Democracy. The exhibit, which celebrates Chisholm’s 100th Birthday, includes artwork and children’s books featuring Chisholm’s life and several recordings of Chisholm advocating for issues she championed. Visitors can even pretend to vote in the 1972 presidential elections in a real election voting booth. 
5. Consider the questions posed in the Raise Your Voice art installation by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya on the 2nd floor. Reconsider some of the stereotypes associated with Asian American and Pacific Islander New Yorkers. 

6. Learn about the various forms of activism over the past three centuries as New Yorkers advocated for rights on issues such as civil rights, women’s rights, disability rights, transgender rights, and immigrant rights in the Activist New York exhibit on the 2nd floor. Each focus has its own display with a timeline and pivotal events, as well as audio interviews and important artifacts. 
7. Travel back in time to New York’s beginnings as New Amsterdam in the New York at Its Core: Port City exhibit on the 1st floor. Showcasing over 400 artifacts from the museum’s permanent collection, as well as videos, interviews, and photographs, the exhibit segments the evolution of the city with important milestones from the 17th century through the 19th century. 
8. Continue down the hall to the New York at Its Core: World City exhibit that focuses on the advancements made in New York City during the past 120 years. Gallery exhibits feature Progressive City, the Roaring 20s and the Jazz Age, the New Deal, and Divided City.
9. Look closely at the images painted within some of the 300 canvases of graffiti art in the Above Ground exhibit on the 1st floor. The art work is completed in various mediums such as aerosol and ink.
10. Watch the 30 minute Timescapes film that chronicles the evolution of New York City. The film, narrated by actor Stanley Tucci, runs every 40 minutes throughout the day in the Ground Floor auditorium. 

Bonus: Vote for your favorite entry in the Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake Off competition (through mid January).  See over a dozen entries of models of famous New York landmarks created entirely in gingerbread form. There’s also a scavenger hunt for kids to complete. 

Looking for other adventures in New York City? Check out our index of posts here and follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and X.