Queens Museum of Art
Queens Museum is worth visiting just to see the incredible scale model of all five boroughs of New York City
Founded in 1972, the Queens Museum, formerly called the Queens Museum of Art, is best known for the Panorama of New York City, an amazing scale model covering all five boroughs of New York modelling every single building as of 1992. More new models and updates continue to be added to the map on a regular basis.
The museum is housed in the former New York City Building which was originally built for the 1939 World's Fair. The building was home to the United Nations General Assembly between the year 1946 and 1950. Today the museum has a permanent collection of about 10,000 exhibits, the majority of which pertain to the two World Fairs held in 1939 and in 1964. The museum also houses a large collection of Tiffany Glass including lamps and windows. Tiffany Studios and Furnaces were once located in the same area as the museum.
The crown jewel of the museum is the massive architectural scale map and model of all of New York City known as the Panorama of New York City. This amazing model was commissioned and built for the 1964 World's Fair. It took a team of about 250 modellers a total of three years to complete the 9335 square foot map. From 1970 to 1992 there were no updates, but in 1992 the map was updated with 85,000 new building models. The scale model now represents every building, as of 1992, in all five boroughs for an incredible total of 895,000 buildings. In 2009 a program was started to continue updating the map with more new models. You will never get to see the entire city of New York in person during your vacation, so be sure to see it here at the museum.
In addition to the giant map of New York and the permanent collections, the Queens Museum hosts a wide variety of temporary exhibits and educational programs with a focus on quality and that reflect the diverse and contemporary urban life of New Yorker's and especially residents of Queens.
It is well worth it to take the subway to Queens to visit this enjoyable museum and to also see the world's largest globe, the Unisphere, located right in front of the museum.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes. Visit the official website for details.Queens Museum of Art Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Building, Corona, NY 11368, USA
Phone: (718) 592-9700
Official Website: Queens Museum of Art
Queens Museum of Art Reviews
Rated out of 5
As someone riding across the country on my motorcycle, I was passing through Brooklyn to visit friends and decided to check out the Queens Museum. It turned out to be a great stop! The highlight for me was definitely the Panorama of the City of New York—seeing the entire city in miniature was impressive, especially for someone not originally from here. The museum’s location inside Flushing Meadows-Corona Park made it a relaxing break from the city buzz, too.
The exhibits were thought-provoking, and I appreciated the diversity in the artwork, which gave a unique perspective on New York’s culture. It’s a relatively small museum, so don’t expect to spend all day here, but that made it perfect for a quick visit. Only reason it’s not 5 stars is that a couple of exhibits were closed for renovation, but I’d still say it’s worth the stop if you’re in Queens.
Luca Bettin - 2 months ago
Although small, the Queens Museum is famously known for its panorama and 1964-1965 World Fair displays. The exhibits are fascinating, introducing new artists' pieces. Definitely a must visit museum if you want to check out Queens.
Ellie G (ellie) - 4 months ago
Truly a hidden gem. I had an incredible time and such a moving experience. My daddy went to the 1964 World's Fair. When we saw the exhibit on the Fair at the Museum, so many memories came back for him. It was wonderful! It was a delight!
M V - 6 months ago
A pay what you wish museum. Small, but has some gems that make it worthwhile. The city model is nice but outdated. Worth a stop if you’re in the area.
Gabriel Segovia - 3 months ago
Directions
| Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Mets-Willets Point | 12 Minutes |
How to get to Queens Museum of Art by Subway
Take the 7 Train to Mets-Willets Point. Follow the signs, walking through the park to the museum which is located just west of the giant stainless steel globe (Unisphere).
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Photo Gallery
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Panorama of New York City at the Queens Museum of Art cc licensed photo by aveoree
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