As home to 83 museums spread out over its five boroughs, New York City can arguably be considered the world’s cultural mecca.
There are 32 of these museums in Manhattan alone. Its most heavily-concentrated collection of museums occurs along a one-mile-long stretch of 5th Avenue in the Upper East Side.
This area—Museum Mile—features several of the world’s most celebrated art institutions, located between 82nd and 105th streets.
Here is a short guide of these eight museums that house some of the “finest collections of art, history, design and culture from around the globe.”
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
5th Avenue, 80th Street
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the largest and most well-respected museums in the world. It attracts millions of people every year (nearly 5 million visitors in 2017).
It was established in 1870, and houses works from around the globe—from American, European, Islamic, Asian, Greek, Roman and Egyptian art, to sculpture, arms, costumes, photography, historic artifacts and antiquities from pre-history to modern day.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art also features more than 30 exhibitions each year (more than any other museum around the globe).
El Museo del Barrio
5th Avenue and 104th Street
The El Museo del Barrio was founded in 1969 with the mission to fill a gap in society by preserving and exhibiting the contributions of the Caribbean and Latin American artists.
The museum exhibits over 6,500 objects spanning 1,000 years, including: traditional art, pre-Columbian Taino artifacts, drawings, sculptures, paintings, photography, video, films, and much more.
In addition, the museum is devoted to educating and enriching both the Latin American community and the public at large through its various festivals, activities, bilingual programs and special events.
The Jewish Museum
5th Avenue at 92nd Street
The Jewish Museum on 5th Avenue holds the distinctions of being the first of its kind in America, and one of the oldest of its kind in the world.
Over 30,000 pieces of art, historical objects, ceremonial pieces, and media tell the story of the global Jewish experience and culture. Its permanent collections, temporary exhibitions and diverse programming schedule is intended for the enjoyment and education of visitors from all backgrounds.
From biblical times to modern day, 4,000 years of Jewish art and artifacts are brought to life in this museum that traces its own roots back to 1904 when it was housed in the library of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
The museum’s diverse programming curriculum offers public lectures, performances and workshops, as well as custom educational programs for school students and educators.
The Museum of the City of New York
5th Avenue and 103rd Street
The Museum of the City of New York was established in 1923, and originally resided in Gracie Mansion.
The entire museum is a celebration of the city of New York, chronicling its transformation from a Native American hunting ground to the preeminent metropolis it is today.
The story of New York is portrayed through nearly 2 million paintings, photographs, prints, furniture, antique toys, books, manuscripts, costumes, historical documents, first responder and military collections, dioramas, and an extensive theatre collection from the golden age of Broadway.
The National Academy Museum
5th Avenue and 89th Street
The National Academy Museum opened its doors as a proper museum in 1979. It traces its roots back to 1825, however, and remains part of the National Academy School and The National Academy (an honorary organization of artists).
The museum is governed by Academy members who elect peers to join the organization, and whose work is part of the 8,000 pieces of American art on display.
Classic and contemporary pieces of every artistic style are featured, exhibiting the mastery of America’s finest artists and artisans from the 19th, 20th, and 21st century.
Neue Galerie
5th Avenue and 86th Street
The Neue Galerie features paintings, sculpture, photographs, drawings, decorative art and more from Austria and Germany from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.
Pieces in the Austrian collection are representative of both fine art and decorative (functional) art being created in Vienna at the end of the 19th century.
German art exhibitions feature prominent German artists of the early twentieth century practicing popular disciplines of the time including decorative art, impressionistic painting, and more.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
5th Avenue and 88th Street
It’s impossible to miss Frank Lloyd Wright’s spectacularly-distinctive circular design of the The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum building.
The art within is equally as impressive, with a seemingly spiral display of art, photographs, sculptures and more in a variety of styles including: non-objective, surrealist, impressionistic, post-impressionistic, European and American minimalistic, post-minimalistic, environmental, and conceptual.
Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum
5th Avenue and 91st Street
The Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum is housed within Andrew Carnegie Mansion, and is one of three Smithsonian facilities within the city. It is the only museum of its kind in America, celebrating nearly 250 years of design and decorative objects.
Some of the items you will see at the museum include sculpture, woodwork, metalwork, musical instruments, architecture, furniture, costumes, matchbooks, Russian porcelain, shopping bags, pottery, lace, and much more.
The museum is home to several famous objects, namely a Beatles Rolls-Royce automobile donated by John Lennon and Abraham Lincoln’s chair.
A Masterpiece in Customer Service
94th Street and 2nd Avenue
“Situated only steps away” from museum mile is the Marmara Manhattan. With its custom-designed, sophisticated bedroom suites, deluxe accommodations, and attentive staff, it’s the perfect place to unwind and get a good night’s rest after a long day of visiting museums.
Learn about The Marmara Manhattan’s spectacular Penthouse suite.
