Heading to New York City? You’re probably planning to visit some of the most iconic museums the world has to offer. While museums such as the MoMa and The Met house world renowned works of art and historically significant artifacts, we thought we’d share nine unique museums you can add to your itinerary that we guarantee you won’t find anywhere else.
- Wyckoff House
Yelp / Mr F G and Ms M S The Wyckoff House is one of the oldest structures in New York. Pieter Claesen Wyckoff and his wife settled here when it was farmland. The farm now sits in the borough of Brooklyn. It was been occupied by the Wyckoff family for eight consecutive generations until 1901, when the land and house were sold to developers. Since then, its been restored and is currently preserved by the Wyckoff Association.The association works to preserve history and celebrate Brookyln’s roots as some of the most fertile and productive farmland in the United States.
TripAdvisor / eminker The garden — 1.5 acres of some of the last remaining farmland in Brooklyn, engages their community through land stewardship. The house serves as a museum, attracting thousands of students and teachers through their school programs, which focus on various education topics such as slavery and abolition, agriculture, and immigration.
5816 Clarendon Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11203
- Reverse
Facebook / Reverse The word hip comes to mind when New Yorker’s think of Brooklyn — and this non-profit art space is exactly that. The space supports and forester’s art that uses technology, focusing on the relationship and its effects on the creative process of art-making. Many projects focus on pushing creative boundaries with new digital tools.
516 West 25th Street, #306 New York, NY
- The Skyscraper Museum
Yelp / Tyler L. New York City’s Skyscraper Museum explores the architectural heritage of large buildings and the historical forces and individuals behind the iconic skylines that stand today.
Facebook / The Skyscraper Museum This unique museum explores buildings of epic proportions through exhibitions, programs, and publications. You can learn about these buildings and how they are viewed in regards to design, their position within technology, construction, real estate, places of work, and residence.
39 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280
- Edgar Allen Poe Cottage
Flickr / Courtney “Coco” Mault Located in Poe Park, this humble cottage, and park in which it resides, was named after the famous American Poet who rented it from 1846 to 1949.
Flickr / Kristine Paulus Originally located near the intersection of Kingsbridge Road and Valentine Avenue, the cottage was moved about 450 feet north from where it was originally built. While it’s unlikely you’ll hear sounds of a beating heart from the floor boards, you can take a tour of the cottage and enjoy the scenic Park, which inspired many of Poe’s works.
2640 Grand Concourse at East Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10458
- FIT Museum
Aaron Leizerovici Photography Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the FIT museum is one of a select few fashion museums. With an emphasis on contemporary avant-garde fashion, their collection focuses on esthetically pleasing pieces and historically significant clothing, accessories, textiles, and visual materials. The museum has gathered roughly 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present.
Flickr / Charlotte Powell The museum has thee exhibition galleries. The lower level is dedicated to special exhibitions, which change every six months. Student and faculty exhibitions are location on the main floor, such as the Art and Design Graduating Student Exhibition every May, which also fills the lower level gallery and lobbies across campus.
7 Avenue at 27th St, New York, NY 10001
- The Frick Collection
Flickr / Paul Gorbould A collection of European paintings and other major works of art sum up the Frick Collection. Nestled in the Upper East side adjacent Central Park, the collection also includes fine bronze sculptures, eighteenth-century French furniture and porcelain, nineteenth-century works on paper, Limoges enamels, and other notable works.
1 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021
- National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath)
Flickr / jon mannion For all of the non-mathematicians out there, this museum is the coolest thing that ever happened to math.
Yelp / Liana L. MothMath is geared toward changing the public’s perception of math. Their fun programs and exhibits have been created to arouse curiosity and bring a greater understanding to Mathematics. By featuring bright, colorful, hands-on activities designed for a diverse audience, it is fun for all, even if you never took Calculus.
11 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010
- Lewis H. Latimer House Museum
Facebook / Lewis H. Latimer House Museum Once home to the prolific African American inventor, Lewis H. Latimer, from 1903 until his death in 1928, this museum honors Latimer’s work and achievements.
Facebook / Lewis H. Latimer House Museum Along with his own inventions, Latimer also worked as a draftsman with Alexander Bell and Tom Edison. The museum houses an exhibit on Latimer’s life and his career achievements.
34-41 137th Street, Flushing, NY 11354
- Mmuseumm
Yelp / Dylan M. Mmuseumm’s content is as interesting as its spelling. Their collections come from across the world and are collectively random, unique, and thought provoking — all at the same time. Here’s what they currently have on display: Isis currency, fake U.S. fast food franchises of Iran, personal objects of immigration, Donald Trump products, and other interesting collections on display.
4 Cortlandt Alley in lower Manhattan, New York City
Museums like the Wyckoff House, the Poe Cottage, and the Latimer House are exclusive to NYC as they are part the of state’s history. MoMath is one of the only (fun) math museums in the U.S., and we’re not sure any other museum houses articles as interesting as the ones found in Mmuseumm. With a handful of fashion museums in the world, FIT’s vast permanent collection, and student and faculty galleries make it a must see on any fashionista’s list.
Yelp / Mr F G and Ms M S
The Wyckoff House is one of the oldest structures in New York. Pieter Claesen Wyckoff and his wife settled here when it was farmland. The farm now sits in the borough of Brooklyn. It was been occupied by the Wyckoff family for eight consecutive generations until 1901, when the land and house were sold to developers. Since then, its been restored and is currently preserved by the Wyckoff Association.The association works to preserve history and celebrate Brookyln’s roots as some of the most fertile and productive farmland in the United States.
TripAdvisor / eminker
The garden — 1.5 acres of some of the last remaining farmland in Brooklyn, engages their community through land stewardship. The house serves as a museum, attracting thousands of students and teachers through their school programs, which focus on various education topics such as slavery and abolition, agriculture, and immigration.
5816 Clarendon Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11203
Facebook / Reverse
The word hip comes to mind when New Yorker’s think of Brooklyn — and this non-profit art space is exactly that. The space supports and forester’s art that uses technology, focusing on the relationship and its effects on the creative process of art-making. Many projects focus on pushing creative boundaries with new digital tools.
516 West 25th Street, #306 New York, NY
Yelp / Tyler L.
New York City’s Skyscraper Museum explores the architectural heritage of large buildings and the historical forces and individuals behind the iconic skylines that stand today.
Facebook / The Skyscraper Museum
This unique museum explores buildings of epic proportions through exhibitions, programs, and publications. You can learn about these buildings and how they are viewed in regards to design, their position within technology, construction, real estate, places of work, and residence.
39 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280
Flickr / Courtney “Coco” Mault
Located in Poe Park, this humble cottage, and park in which it resides, was named after the famous American Poet who rented it from 1846 to 1949.
Flickr / Kristine Paulus
Originally located near the intersection of Kingsbridge Road and Valentine Avenue, the cottage was moved about 450 feet north from where it was originally built. While it’s unlikely you’ll hear sounds of a beating heart from the floor boards, you can take a tour of the cottage and enjoy the scenic Park, which inspired many of Poe’s works.
2640 Grand Concourse at East Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10458
Aaron Leizerovici Photography
Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the FIT museum is one of a select few fashion museums. With an emphasis on contemporary avant-garde fashion, their collection focuses on esthetically pleasing pieces and historically significant clothing, accessories, textiles, and visual materials. The museum has gathered roughly 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present.
Flickr / Charlotte Powell
The museum has thee exhibition galleries. The lower level is dedicated to special exhibitions, which change every six months. Student and faculty exhibitions are location on the main floor, such as the Art and Design Graduating Student Exhibition every May, which also fills the lower level gallery and lobbies across campus.
7 Avenue at 27th St, New York, NY 10001
Flickr / Paul Gorbould
A collection of European paintings and other major works of art sum up the Frick Collection. Nestled in the Upper East side adjacent Central Park, the collection also includes fine bronze sculptures, eighteenth-century French furniture and porcelain, nineteenth-century works on paper, Limoges enamels, and other notable works.
1 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021
Flickr / jon mannion
For all of the non-mathematicians out there, this museum is the coolest thing that ever happened to math.
Yelp / Liana L.
MothMath is geared toward changing the public’s perception of math. Their fun programs and exhibits have been created to arouse curiosity and bring a greater understanding to Mathematics. By featuring bright, colorful, hands-on activities designed for a diverse audience, it is fun for all, even if you never took Calculus.
11 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010
Facebook / Lewis H. Latimer House Museum
Once home to the prolific African American inventor, Lewis H. Latimer, from 1903 until his death in 1928, this museum honors Latimer’s work and achievements.
Along with his own inventions, Latimer also worked as a draftsman with Alexander Bell and Tom Edison. The museum houses an exhibit on Latimer’s life and his career achievements.
34-41 137th Street, Flushing, NY 11354
Yelp / Dylan M.
Mmuseumm’s content is as interesting as its spelling. Their collections come from across the world and are collectively random, unique, and thought provoking — all at the same time. Here’s what they currently have on display: Isis currency, fake U.S. fast food franchises of Iran, personal objects of immigration, Donald Trump products, and other interesting collections on display.
4 Cortlandt Alley in lower Manhattan, New York City
Hopefully these museums piqued your interest and make it on your New York City itinerary! While The Met and MoMa shouldn’t be missed, these 9 unique attractions will add an extra layer of culture to your experience!
For more travel tips, check out Aaron’s 9 Things To Avoid When You Visit NYC!
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