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

Fee: Yes.

Whitney Museum of American Art Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 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: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Sunday: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Address: 99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014, USA

Phone: (212) 570-3600

Official Website: Whitney Museum of American Art

Whitney Museum of American Art Reviews

Rated 4.5 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Whitney Museum of American Art is one of my favorite modern art museums in New York, and I make a point of visiting it almost every time I’m in the city. Located in the trendy and constantly evolving Meatpacking District, near the High Line, the museum beautifully combines contemporary art, impressive architecture, and a unique New York atmosphere. The museum spans several floors in a striking modern building, featuring spacious galleries, open terraces, and beautiful views of the city and the Hudson River. From the moment you enter, you can feel that this is a vibrant, dynamic, and inspiring place. One of the things I love most about the Whitney is the wide variety of exhibitions. Alongside its permanent collection of modern and contemporary American art, the museum hosts excellent temporary exhibitions, so every visit offers something new and interesting to discover. Even visitors who are not typical “museum people” can usually find an exhibition here that speaks to them and captures their interest. The atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed rather than overly formal, making the museum feel accessible and enjoyable. It’s easy to spend several hours here exploring, thinking, and getting inspired — whether visiting alone, as a couple, or with family. Another great advantage is that admission is free on Friday afternoons, making the experience even more worthwhile for visitors to the city. For me, this is one of the most interesting, modern, and enjoyable museums in New York, and a place I’m always happy to return to.
idan yechiel - 2 months ago

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4 Star Rating Review by someone who is not a fan of contemporary and modern art. The Biennial exhibits are currently showing. Most are interesting, even though I don’t ‘like’ most of them. The more bizarre (a very large room with ~60 noose hung stuffed animals with wings) to the media exhibits, the worst displaying a video game background of a lush forest (can’t recall exactly. We’ve seen it all before in many video games and isn’t that someone work product?). There are some classics like Warhol, O’Keefe, Hopper, etc. the highlights are the outdoor terraces and views. Lots of cafes. Plenty of benches to rest. Jul 2026
Linda M - 2 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating Exceptionally built museum, however, the actual artwork inside the museum is a little underwhelming. There is also a relatively modest amount of art pieces, but at least there are a few great pieces of artwork. The building has it all: dramatic outdoor terraces, beautiful design, and nice flow. 60 to 90 minutes to see the whole museum. Definitely worth visiting this museum once. Start at the top (8th floor) and walk your way down. The outdoor terrace at the 8th floor has expansive city views. The Whitney Museum is very close to other major attractions in the neighborhood: the High Line, Little Island waterfront park, Chelsea Market, and Hudson Yards. The neighborhood also is full of restaurants & very upscale shops. Parking is difficult in the neighborhood. The museum has a nice gift shop on the 1st floor (as well as a small cafe).
Adam Hakimian - a month ago

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5 Star Rating The Whitney offers a strong and thoughtfully curated selection of American art. The museum itself is relatively compact, which makes it easy to navigate and enjoy without feeling overwhelmed. That said, tickets were $30 during my visit, and 2 of the 5 floors were closed for renovation. Given that, it might make more sense to plan a visit when all floors are open to get the full experience and value. Still, the quality of the exhibitions on display was solid and worthwhile.
MAXIM PAK - 6 months ago

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5 Star Rating I love a great museum. The Whitney isn’t my go to place for a museum BUT I love the free Friday’s during the summer and the permanent collection is amazing. I got to see The Rose in person which is something I have always dreamed of seeing. I am so happy they had it on display and also got to see it for free. I would also recommend going to the studio bar on the 8th floor for a fun evening night drink. Really helps ease you into the headspace to look at some creative masterpieces.
ben hunt - 3 months ago

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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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