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
The Queens Museum, located in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, is a center of culture, history, and art. It features diverse galleries such as the Pakistan Gallery and the Philippines Gallery, along with exhibits on New York’s water system. The museum is also home to the famous Tiffany Glass Gallery, showcasing exquisite handcrafted glass pieces decorated with floral and intricate designs, reflecting timeless craftsmanship. Its most iconic attraction is the Panorama of the City of New York, a breathtaking large-scale architectural model that represents the entire city with remarkable detail. In this panorama, every element—from rivers, bridges, temples, and massive buildings—has been recreated just as it exists in reality, offering visitors a unique way to explore the grandeur of New York in miniature form.
zubair sheikh - a month ago
I'm so grateful we stopped here when visiting. This museum has the most amazing replica of Queens. This is the real reason to stop in. But please check out the rest of the museum. There are quite a few interesting exhibits. There was also a show and health fair happening at the time.
Ada Rich - 3 weeks ago
The panorama is amazing and not to be missed! It is the main draw, but be sure to check out some of the other exhibits on display, too. The gift shop has a very well-curated selection of books (especially children’s books) and stationery. The cafe is open and inviting with a long wall of windows overlooking the park.
Admission is free with IDNYC and for people with various other affiliations.
Jennifer Sloan - 2 months ago
A true surprise, this is a great trip back through time to the 1964-1965 world's fair. Well worth the visit, and it will completely change your view of the park after you see how it was arranged for the fair.
Matthew Francis - 4 months ago
Very small quiet museum with suggested donation staff is quite friendly. Onsite parking. Two main exhibits are the World's Fair and the amazing NY Panorama I highly recommend this place. Only reason for 4 stars is that you need something else to do in the area because you can get through it in under two hours if you take your time. On a warm day, the park is a good idea. Otherwise look for some other options.
Tax Professional - 8 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
