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: Closed
  • 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

3 Star Rating Every Friday the museum has free tickets and you just have to make sure you book a head of time. you can arrive 15minutes early. There is free coat/ bag check on the lower level which is really nice. The place was so lit with music and drink for purchase. There was alot of people though. If you want a quiet museum experience, Friday night might not be for you. I think it was better that way for me since I don't think modern art is for me but I wanted to explore it. I think the layout of the museum is very nice and I like how there are tours listed if you want to join in on one it is free as well. I love the balcony more than the exhibit itself.
Lucy Liu - a month ago

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5 Star Rating One of the true gems on New York City’s, cultural scene, easy to spend a good half a day here. Since we live just a 10 minute walk away, we often stop in for their free Friday evenings. Those are only on the first Friday of the month I believe, and you have to reserve your tickets in advance to get an entry time. I love the permanent collection, there is always something interesting to see, and they have a lot of interesting works that are part of other exhibitions. There are some great terraces where you can get beautiful views of Greenwich Village, and parts of the city up north and big windows facing the Hudson river.
ESB NYC - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating This museum is really nice. It has a wonderful view of the city. Fun tip! Whitney museum has a donation night on Fridays. You just have to RSVP beforehand. Wonderful place for a date night or just hanging out with friends and wanted to check out some cool art. The museum has six floors about four of them have art displays. I will definitely be coming again.
Jeffrey Usher - 4 months ago

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4 Star Rating Two floors were under renovation when I went (but thats just bad timing for me), but the entry price was still the same? (Less art, should be less fee). Aside from that, the contents that I did get to see were astounding. Aside from that, there are large external courtyards on the 6/7th floors with incredible panoramic views of NYC. Great place for Instagram moments.
curtis wood - a week ago

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5 Star Rating The Whitney Museum of American Art, or just The Whitney, is a contemporary art museum in New York City. It was founded in 1930 by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, a sculptor and art patron, who wanted to showcase the work of living American artists. The museum has a permanent collection of over 25,000 works of art usually shown on the 7th floor. They also organizes the Whitney Biennial, which will open this March '24. It is a prestigious exhibition of emerging artists. The museum in the Meatpacking District with amazing restaurants.
Samrudha Dixit - 2 weeks 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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