Whitney Museum of American Art

Whitney Museum of American Art features a large collection of significant works by contemporary American artists

Mirror-finish train by Jeff Koons on display at the Whitney Museum
Mirror-finish train by Jeff Koons on display at the Whitney Museum cc licensed photo by Marc-Anthony Macon

Opening in 1931 in Greenwich Village, the Whitney Museum for American Art was borne out of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney's recognition of the difficulties faced by American artists whose work was overlooked by traditional institutions. When the endowment of a collection of more than 500 works by living American artists assembled by Whitney was refused by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she founded her own museum.

In 1966, the museum opened on New York's Museum Mile, housing a permanent collection containing over 18,000 important pieces from the first half of the 20th century and exhibiting the work of contemporary American artists. As of May 1st 2015 the Whitney Museum will be moving to a brand new larger facility located by High Line Park in the Meatpacking District. You can learn more about this impressive new facility in the video under the 'Photos and Video' tab. Notable pieces in the Whitney Museum collection include works by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Jackson Pollack, Georgia O'Keefe and Jasper Johns.

Free gallery tours are offered daily through the Whitney Museum for American Art's current exhibitions and permanent collections. Visitors can download audio and video guides prior to their visit from the Whitney website and check for an updated schedule of film exhibits and performance installations. The website also provides details on available Whitney Family Programs offering interactive tours and workshops for children up to age 12.

Take a break and have a light cafe lunch at Untitled, the new restaurant at the Whitney Museum for American Art. Located on the lower level, the menu features breakfast all day and contemporary coffee shop cuisine, with brunch and dinner service on weekends.

Nearby attractions include High Line Park.

Facts For Your Visit

Official Website: Whitney Museum of American Art

Fee: Yes.

Closed Now

Regular Hours:
Hours may be subject to change. Please verify on the official website.

  • Monday: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday: 10:30 am - 10:00 pm
  • Saturday: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Sunday: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Category: Art Museums

Address: 99 Gansevoort St
New York, NY 10014

Phone: (212) 570-3600

Reviews

Yelp Rating:
4 out of 5 4 Star Rating
Based on 570 Reviews.

See all reviews on Yelp

5 Star Rating I really enjoyed my recent visit to the Whitney Museum. I hadn't been in nearly 7 years and was glad to visit again. There are some pieces that are part... Read More

Lucia P. May-05-2023

2 Star Rating I understand that we're all supposed to love all cultural institutions all the time, but the building is difficult to navigate, the elevators are tiny and... Read More

Lauren S. Aug-26-2023

4 Star Rating Love the downtown location, so hip compared to UES museums. Very spacious, industrial like space. Without looking at the history it was obviously a factory... Read More

Lisa E. Mar-10-2023

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Directions

Subway Line Nearest Station Walking Time
L8th Avenue6 minutes
A,C or E14th Street8 minutes

How to get to Whitney Museum of American Art by Subway

Take the L train to 8th Avenue, Cross the road and walk south one block on 8th Avenue to W 13th Street and go right; walk west one block to Gansevoort Street and go left; continue on Gansevoort Street to the museum entrance. Alternately you can take the A,C or E train to 14th Street, and proceed as above, but you'll have to walk a total of 3 blocks south on 8th Avenue adding an extra 2 minutes.

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Photo Gallery

Video


Video about the impressive new facility being built to house the Whitney Museum scheduled to open in 2015

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