Museum of the City of New York 🇺🇸

You'll find the Museum of the City of New York along Fifth Avenue on Manhattan's Upper East Side, positioned at the northern end of Museum Mile across from Central Park. Founded in 1923, this history and art museum is housed in an impressive 1930s neo-Georgian building featuring red brick with marble trim, marked by facade niches holding statues of Alexander Hamilton and DeWitt Clinton. Inside, you can explore a collection of over 1.5 million items showcasing the rich history of New York City and its residents, with particular strengths in 19th and early 20th-century artifacts.

You will step through restored historic galleries alongside a modern two-level glass pavilion addition. Highlights to see include iconic photography by Berenice Abbott, Jacob Riis, and Stanley Kubrick, thousands of prints by Currier and Ives, and rare historical treasures like a chair belonging to Sarah Rapelje and a detailed model of New Amsterdam based on the 1660 Castello Plan. You can also view historical dioramas, Broadway theater memorabilia, decorative furniture, antique toys, and silver.

Visiting offers you an authentic, deep look into the evolving story of New York City across centuries.

What to see at Museum of the City of New York

• A collection of over 1.5 million items focused on NYC history
• Photographic works by Berenice Abbott, Jacob Riis, and Stanley Kubrick
• A model of 1660 New Amsterdam based on the Castello Plan
• Currier and Ives prints, antique toys, and Broadway theater collections
• Neo-Georgian architecture with facade statues of Hamilton and Clinton

Visiting tips

Take a moment before stepping inside to admire the building's exterior niches facing Central Park, which house statues of Alexander Hamilton and DeWitt Clinton.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Museum of the City of New York is easy to reach on Manhattan’s public transport, and pairs naturally with National September 11 Memorial & Museum and Trinity Church. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Manhattan travel guide.