My Visit to the Museum of the City of New York: Tips, Highlights, and Why You Should Go
Last Wednesday (the day it’s free), I went to the Museum of the City of New York for the first time. It immediately became one of my favorite museums in New York.
I’ve lived here for four years total, and I can’t believe I haven’t gone. In this article, I will share my experience and give my tips for the museum.
Where Is the Museum of the City of New York?
The Museum of the City of New York is in Harlem’s portion of Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, across from Central Park at the top of Museum Mile.
Because it’s more uptown than other iconic museums like the MET, it’s just off the beaten path enough that it doesn’t get the tourist draw of other Manhattan museums.
How Much Time Should You Plan?
I spent about two hours there and wished I had more time. Ideally, I’d recommend at least two and a half to three hours if you want to take your time with the exhibits. That’s especially true if you like watching short films common at museums. MCNY has several.
Friendly, Helpful Staff Set the Tone Right Away
As soon as I walked into the main hall, I was greeted by staff members at a table handing out pamphlets and exhibit guides. They also gave me a personalized tip: since the museum’s 30-minute film was starting shortly, I should begin my visit downstairs with the movie.
The MCNY is big enough (four floors with several exhibits on each), but still intimate enough that a well-timed tip like this can elevate the whole experience.
Don’t Miss the 30-Minute Introductory Movie
Located downstairs, the orientation film offers a compact overview of New York City’s evolution. It’s well-paced, engaging, and inspiring. Whether you know nothing about New York City and are visiting, or whether you’ve read many books about it like me, this is an ideal starting point.
I highly recommend starting here if it’s your first time at the museum. It sets the tone and gives context for what you’ll see upstairs.
Highlights from the Temporary Exhibits
MCNY rotates its temporary exhibits regularly, but when I went, there were three that especially stood out: Activist New York, Shirley Chisholm: Unbought and Unbossed, and New York Urban Stomp.
Interactive Elements Make These Exhibits Shine
One thing I loved: how interactive these temporary exhibits were. Sometimes museums, when you just stare at things, can be hard to sink your teeth into. But MCNY makes it easy with all the interactive pieces. We’re all children inside, and let’s not pretend otherwise.
For example, in Sounds of New York, you stepped on a borough on the floor and then it played iconic music from that borough.
That exhibit naturally led into…
Urban Stomp: The Most Fun I’ve Had in a Museum
This was my favorite temporary exhibit.
If you’re looking for a creative date idea in NYC, this is it.
Urban Stomp: Dreams and Defiance on the Dance Floor features life-size dance tutorials on huge screens, where you can try everything from salsa to swing to breakdancing.
There are mirrors, music, and a kind of playfulness you rarely find in a museum setting.
I went solo, but I’m planning to go back with my girlfriend just for this.
Shirley Chisholm, Activist New York, Filmmaking in New York: NYC Deep Cuts
These exhibits dive into chapters of New York City history that often don’t make the mainstream textbooks, from Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 presidential run to the nuanced history of social movements across centuries.
They had a part for activist groups that rarely make mainstream conversation, like the Young Lords.
If you’re a film buff, you’ve gotta go to the exhibit on the making of movies in New York. Of course, the city is known for being the backdrop to many of Western civilization’s most important films across more than a century.
I ran out of time, so I didn’t get to see all the exhibits in detail, hence why I recommend three hours.
Permanent Exhibits: A Walk Through NYC’s Full History
While the temporary exhibits are exciting and fresh, the permanent collections give the Museum of the City of New York its backbone.
I studied much of the history of New York in college, so I went through this quickly to spend more time in the temporary exhibits. But they did a great job covering lots of different elements.
Nice Touches
I loved, for example, the quotes on the staircases.
A Perfect Museum for First-Time Visitors to NYC
The permanent exhibit wings are split in two:
- One side covers NYC’s early history, from the Lenape people to the turn of the 20th century.
- The other picks up from the 1900s to the present, exploring immigration, architecture, industry, and culture.
If you’re a tourist visiting New York and want to understand the city’s full story, this museum is a phenomenal starting point.
Final Tips for Visiting the Museum of the City of New York
- Go on a Wednesday if you can—it’s free! (Suggested donation on other days is $20 for adults.)
- Budget at least a few hours. I think three hours is ideal.
- Start with the film if you can catch it at the right time. It’s in the basement
- Check the rotating exhibit calendar on the MCNY website before you go. By the time you read this, the temporary exhibits might be different.
When I travel, I always go to museums and other cultural centers. Yet, living in New York, it’s easy to forget how much is accessible to me. It’s nice to be a tourist in my own city.
I’ll be going back soon. Next time, I’m bringing someone to dance with.
Questions or Comments on the Museum?
Leave your comments down below. Give some helpful advice for those visiting or ask a question that I should include in the article.
If you enjoy this museum, I recommend another NYC-focused one, The Transit Museum.
More New York Travel Tips
Here for a short time? Check out my guide on budget NYC travel tips.
Looking to stay longer? I’ve lived in New York many years, but I experienced it while living as a nomad.
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