Just last week, the Whitney Museum opened its new, Renzo Piano-designed space in lower Manhattan to some pretty serious fanfare. After all, Michelle Obama doesn’t just turn up to any old dedication ceremony. But while a star-studded event docket is a boon for the museum, all of the attention translates to looooong lines and hordes of visitors — stopping by in the next few weeks will mean looking at the back of people’s heads rather than the art itself.
So, we suggest that you do your best to ignore any latent feelings of FOMO and, instead, use this an opportunity to check out an underrated museum or two — in our experience, the best things often require a little bit of digging around. The following 10 venues have amazing collections, beautiful grounds and one very priceless amenity: you may very well have the place to yourself.
P.S. The Whitney will still be there in a month. Don’t panic.
1. The Cloisters
The buildings of the Cloisters were assembled from architectural elements that date to the twelfth century Europe — et tu, Renzo Piano? Additionally, the museum’s holdings include the Unicorn Tapestries, which are among the coolest, most striking pieces on view in the city. With a sprawling garden and views of the Hudson River, it’s ideal for a sunny spring day.
The buildings of the Cloisters were assembled from architectural elements that date to the twelfth century Europe — et tu, Renzo Piano? Additionally, the museum’s holdings include the Unicorn Tapestries, which are among the coolest, most striking pieces on view in the city. With a sprawling garden and views of the Hudson River, it’s ideal for a sunny spring day.
2. The Brooklyn Museum
Though it’s arguably less popular than it’s Manhattan counterpoints, the Brooklyn Museum has a reputation for staging incredible, envelope-pushing exhibits (Murakami in ‘08, Keith Haring in ‘12) and the latest offerings are no exception. To wit: “Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks” is on view until August 23rd, so there’s really no excuse to miss it.
Though it’s arguably less popular than it’s Manhattan counterpoints, the Brooklyn Museum has a reputation for staging incredible, envelope-pushing exhibits (Murakami in ‘08, Keith Haring in ‘12) and the latest offerings are no exception. To wit: “Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks” is on view until August 23rd, so there’s really no excuse to miss it.
3. The Lower East Side Tenement Museum
Tour guides take visitors through apartments restored to look as they would in the early 20th century — when the Lower East Side was the most densely populated place in the world. Outdoor walking tours expose the area’s rich immigrant history, and are one of the richest ways to channel the city’s The Knick-era history.
Tour guides take visitors through apartments restored to look as they would in the early 20th century — when the Lower East Side was the most densely populated place in the world. Outdoor walking tours expose the area’s rich immigrant history, and are one of the richest ways to channel the city’s The Knick-era history.
4. Neue Galerie
A Museum Mile stop you may have missed, the Neue Galerie focuses on German and Austrian art and design. Recharge at the in-house Café Sabarsky, which was modeled after Viennese cafés from the early 20th century.
A Museum Mile stop you may have missed, the Neue Galerie focuses on German and Austrian art and design. Recharge at the in-house Café Sabarsky, which was modeled after Viennese cafés from the early 20th century.
5. The Cooper Hewitt
Apart from having one of the city’s best gift shops, the Cooper Hewitt also boasts a collection of over 217,000 historic and contemporary design objects. The Cooper Hewitt completed a major renovated in 2014 to include 60% more gallery space and interactive elements, like an Immersion Room that allows visitors to project their own digital artwork on the museum’s walls.
Apart from having one of the city’s best gift shops, the Cooper Hewitt also boasts a collection of over 217,000 historic and contemporary design objects. The Cooper Hewitt completed a major renovated in 2014 to include 60% more gallery space and interactive elements, like an Immersion Room that allows visitors to project their own digital artwork on the museum’s walls.
6. The Frick Collection
With works by Vermeer, Velasquez, Rembrandt, Botticelli, Degas, and El Greco, the Frick is not to be missed. Located in the Fifth Avenue mansion of 19th-century industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick, the Beaux Arts setting only enhances the viewing experience.
With works by Vermeer, Velasquez, Rembrandt, Botticelli, Degas, and El Greco, the Frick is not to be missed. Located in the Fifth Avenue mansion of 19th-century industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick, the Beaux Arts setting only enhances the viewing experience.
7. The Museum of the City of New York
Originally housed in Gracie Mansion back in the 1920s, the MCNY’s collection has grown immensely since then. Featuring photos, art, and objects from New York’s history — a current exhibit, “Hip-Hop Revolution” looks at the genre’s early beginnings in the ’70s-era Bronx — the MCNY takes I <3 NY to new levels.
Originally housed in Gracie Mansion back in the 1920s, the MCNY’s collection has grown immensely since then. Featuring photos, art, and objects from New York’s history — a current exhibit, “Hip-Hop Revolution” looks at the genre’s early beginnings in the ’70s-era Bronx — the MCNY takes I <3 NY to new levels.
8. Museum of the Moving Image
As the country’s only museum dedicated to the art, history, technique, and technology of the moving image, TV binge watchers and movie buffs are due for a visit. And hurry: there’s only one month left to see “Matthew Weiner’s Mad Men,” which includes large-scale reproductions of the series’ iconic 1960s sets.
As the country’s only museum dedicated to the art, history, technique, and technology of the moving image, TV binge watchers and movie buffs are due for a visit. And hurry: there’s only one month left to see “Matthew Weiner’s Mad Men,” which includes large-scale reproductions of the series’ iconic 1960s sets.
9. Queens Museum
Another outer borough museum that deserves a visit, the Queens Museum is housed in a structure that was originally built for the 1939 World Fair. It’s most famous for its Panorama of the City of New York, a 9,335-square-foot model of the city’s five boroughs, which itself was commissioned for the 1964 World’s Fair.
Another outer borough museum that deserves a visit, the Queens Museum is housed in a structure that was originally built for the 1939 World Fair. It’s most famous for its Panorama of the City of New York, a 9,335-square-foot model of the city’s five boroughs, which itself was commissioned for the 1964 World’s Fair.
10. The Morgan Library and Museum
Bibilophiles rejoice! The Morgan houses Dickens manuscripts, Salinger’s love letters, and first editions of Fitzgerald.
Bibilophiles rejoice! The Morgan houses Dickens manuscripts, Salinger’s love letters, and first editions of Fitzgerald.
