Museum of the City of New York
The collections in Museum of the City of New York explore the vibrant past, present and future of New York
Housed in a 1930s American Colonial brick mansion on the northern end of Museum Mile, the Museum of the City of New York celebrates the history and panache of the Big Apple. The exhibitions explore all things New York from the urban landscape to the cultural diversity of its 8 million residents that define the city's distinct personality.
Collections of paintings, artefacts and photographs bring the sights, sounds and styles of the Empire City to life and provide tourists an essential introduction to the vibrant past, present and future of New York.
The comprehensive collection of the Museum of the City of New York is estimated to contain upwards of 1.5 million objects related to the five boroughs from their beginnings as a Dutch settlement and as a major port in the New World to modern day. The permanent collections include galleries dedicated to Broadway memorabilia and the history of nightlife and theatre, the history and evolution of police and fire fighting techniques and the influence of the fashion and textile industries. A large anthology of toys illustrate a social history of childhood in the city and an impressive decorative arts collection chronicles the trendsetting style of New Yorkers.
The museum has recently undergone a major renovation and they are also very active in introducing new exhibitions all the time, so even if you have visited in the past, you will find plenty of new things to discover.
Nearby attractions include Central Park, Whitney Museum of American Art, The Frick Collection and the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesMuseum of the City of New York Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: 1220 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029, USA
Phone: (212) 534-1672
Official Website: Museum of the City of New York
Museum of the City of New York Reviews
Rated out of 5![]()
•A great place to learn about New York’s history in a wonderful and engaging way.
•The exhibits are interactive, well-organized, and easy to follow.
•It’s less crowded than bigger museums, so you can explore at your own pace.
•Perfect if you want to understand the city beyond the usual tourist spots.
•There are a lot of nice souvenirs at the shop!
•The staff are very accommodating.
BA - 3 weeks ago
On Christmas Eve during the morning, we walked in Central Park to enjoy the outdoors while we waited for the Museum to open its doors at 10:00 AM. We were there for the Gingerbread NYC. The detail of the baked buildings is fascinating. My personal choice is the house with stonewalls, crawling ivy on the side of the house and tall wild grass in the backyard. Afterwards, we walked upstairs to purchase gingerbread cookies to appreciate the Holiday. The Museum of the City of New York has a room where you stand on a well lit borough name to activate the video.
We walked downstairs to see another informative video showing how the city has changed.
After visiting the museum, I appreciated the city even more.
Vhuntermassage LLC
Veronica Hunter - 2 months ago
I was pleasantly surprised by the exhibits. Online I didn't think I'd find anything to enjoy but opted to visit on a free Wednesday since all of the fashion exhibits were permanently closed now. I was happy to see that some garments remained in the ballroom portion of the music and dance through the ages exhibit and some select small items in the other exhibit rooms to satisfy my desire for fashion in NYC. Im happy we made the journey out
Tiffany W - a month ago
After many trips to NYC, I'm drawn to the lesser known sites. The museum of NYC is one of them (not the Met, Guggenheim, Natural History, etc.). It was both educational and fun. The film (approx 30 min) which depicts the history and story of the city to the present is well made and captivating. A diorama of the city was the reason for my visit and it didn't disappoint. The displays are creative and engaging--especially the room where the boroughs are represented by the music/musician residents through the years. By stepping on a lighted circle of the borough, a song/composition is heard...step off and back on...and another plays. You could spend hours visiting each borough's circle (I gave it up to some kids). Thoroughly entertaining---go visit! Plus there's a cute little cafe featuring Amy's breads on site...great tuna sandwich.
Joe - a week ago
The Museum of the City of New York may be relatively small, but it’s elegant, well curated, and packed with insight. The 30-minute movie (starting every 40 minutes) is beautiful and does an excellent job summarizing the story of New York, from Hudson’s arrival to the rise of new industries. Each floor features different sections covering topics like diversity, activism, music, immigration, and urbanism. A great museum if you want to understand the soul and history of New York in a compact and engaging way.
Düzgün Dilsiz - a month ago
![]()
Directions
| Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 103 Street | 7 minutes |
| 2 or 3 | 110 Street | 11 Minutes |
How to get to Museum of the City of New York by Subway
Take the 6 train to 103rd Street, and follow it west for 3 blocks (use the pedistrian path to get between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue) then go right on 5th Avenue to the entrance; or take the 2 or 3 train to 110th Street, walk one block east to Fifth Avenue, then left (south) to 103rd Street.
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Accommodations near Museum of the City of New York:
Photo Gallery
-
One of many old paintings and photographs on display at the Museum of the City of New York -
Photo Credit: pburka - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: edenpictures - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: edenpictures - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: edenpictures - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: edenpictures - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: edenpictures - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: gaf.arq - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: benzado - cc license via Flickr

