The Museum of the City of New York Is an Incredible Stop on Your New York Tour

If you are a first-time visitor to the Big Apple and aren’t sure quite what to expect, give yourself a basic understanding of the city by stopping first at the Museum of the City of New York. Founded in 1923, this is city’s official museum, and its temporary and permanent exhibits will educate you about the past and present of our nation’s biggest city. Did you know New York was settled by the Dutch? That’s just one of thousands of interesting facts to be learned at this popular tour stop.

Snap a Photo Under Starlight

The dazzling focal point of the Museum’s main entry space, Starlight is a brilliant light installation suspended above the Rotunda’s marble staircase. Conceived by Cooper Joseph Studio, its 5,283 points of light boldly complement the Museum’s neo-Georgian home, reflecting a mission to connect the city’s past and present. Using state of the art technology, the piece needs minimal energy and generates virtually no heat. It is among the museum’s most photographed features.

As you climb to the second floor, check out one of the Museum’s most popular artifacts, the dollhouse of Carrie Walter Stettheimer, who lived from 1869 to 1944. The 12-room house brings together the fashion and style of New York's Gilded Age in miniature form. Its particularly notable for its décor of original, miniaturized works crafted especially for Stettheimer by renowned avant-garde artists of the 1920s, including a 3-inch version of Nude Descending a Staircase by Marcel Duchamp.

Information on the Quick

One of the most popular permanent feature of the Museum of the City of New York is the 22-minute film known as “Timescapes.” Take in the history of the city from before its establishment by the Dutch all the way to modern day. The information is presented using photographs, maps, prints and paintings from the museum’s collection. It runs repeatedly all day so you won’t miss out!

Also stop by Activist New York to explore the drama of social activism in New York from the 17th century right up to the present. In a city renowned for its in-your-face persona, citizens and visitors have banded together on issues as diverse as historic preservation, civil rights, wages, sexual orientation, and religious freedom. Using artifacts, photographs, audio and visual presentations, this exhibition presents the passions and conflicts that underlie the city's history.

Now’s the Time to Book!

If you are ready to get a start on your New York City education, now is the perfect time to book your tour of the Museum of the City of New York. Don’t miss out on one of the most popular stops on Museum Mile.