Must-See Museums in New York City
March 27 2023
It’s no secret that New York is home to some of the best museums in the world, but they can get super busy – especially during spring and summer breaks and holidays.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Modern Art receive almost 15 million combined visitors annually.
If queues and crowds are something you’d rather avoid, plenty of lesser-known museums are hiding in plain sight within the city – if you know where to find them.
El Museo del Barrio
“El Barrio,” or the Spanish Harlem, is a fascinating neighborhood that came to life in the 1900s when it was home to Native Americans, African American Farmers, immigrants from Germany and Ireland, and eventually Italians.
After World War II, the area became home to many of the arriving Puerto Ricans to the city, and the neighborhood quickly became known as El Barrio.
El Museo del Barrio was founded over 50 years ago by Raphael Montanez Ortiz to present and preserve the Latin American and Puerto Rican art and culture in the city.
In addition to collections, exhibitions, and publications, the museum prides itself on its bilingual options – including public programs, educational activities, and various festivals and special events.
The Skyscraper Museum
The New York City skyline is perhaps the most famous in the world, so what better place for a skyscraper museum?
With free admission, the Skyscraper Museum, founded in 1996, explores the past, present, and future skyscrapers – both in New York and on an international scale.
Visit to explore the ideas that shaped New York City and all the modern cities that followed it.
New York City Fire Museum
The New York Fire Museum is housed in an Original Fire House from 1904 and is home to the most complete and important collection of fire-related artifacts in the USA.
The museum is home to firefighting artifacts that go back to the 18th century and a gallery dedicated to the 343 fire department members that were lost on 9/11.
All firefighters (from any country worldwide) receive discounted entry at $8 per ticket, while adult admission is $10, and children are $5.
The Hotel Beacon is situated in the heart of the Upper West Side, a great central location for seeing the best of the city.
