Want to get out and do something, but don’t feel like spending alot of money? Go check out a museum! NYC has tons of museums to explore, and many offer special events to give New Yorkers and visitors something to do and increase cultural awareness. One of my favorite things to do especially as the weather starts getting cooler is wandering museum galleries. The following is a small list of museums in NYC that offer special events and free admission.
The New Museum of contemporary art is located at 235 Bowery at Prince Street between Stanton and Rivington Streets. Free admission is being offered from October 5th – October 22nd due to the installation of the upcoming building wide exhibition “Carsten Holler: Experience” After that museum admission is free on Thursdays from 7-9pm
Hours of Operation:
- Monday-Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 11am -6pm
- Thursday: 11am – 9pm
- Friday – Sunday: 11am – 6pm
The American Folk Art Museum has being relocated to 2 Lincoln Square, Columbus Ave and 66th Street. Admission to the Museum is always free. Check out their calender to learn more about free music fridays, live music on Wednesdays and more!
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Saturday: Noon – 7:30pm
- Sunday: Noon – 6pm
The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is located at 11 W 53rd Street between Sixth and Fifth Ave. The museum is free every Friday night from 4-8:30pm sponsored by Target Free Friday Nights.
Hours of Operation:
- Sunday – Monday: 10:30am – 5:30pm
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday – Thursday: 10:30am – 5:30pm
- Friday: 10:30am – 8pm
- Saturday: 10:30am – 5:30pm
The Rubin Museum of Art is located at 150 W. 17th Street between Sixth and Seventh Ave. Gallery admission is free every Friday from 6-10pm and the cafe because the K2 Lounge, live music is played at 7pm , and films are shown at 9:30pm. Contemporary artists also lead informal talks in the the galleries beginning at 6:15pm. Check the K2 Lounge schedule here for additional information.
Hours of Operation:
- Monday: 11am -5pm
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 11am – 7pm
- Thursday: 11am – 5pm
- Friday: 11am – 10pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 11am – 6pm
The Museum at FIT is a division of the Fashion Institute of Technology and is located at W 27th Street between . The museum receives 10, 000 visitors annually and admission is always free to the public.
Hours of Operation:
- Sunday – Monday, and Holidays: Closed
- Tuesday – Friday: Noon to 8pm
- Saturday: 10am – 5pm
National Museum of the American Indian is located at 1 Bowling Green, which is near Battery Park in downtown Manhattan. The museum is always free to visitors. It is a federal buidling so you’ll have to go through security to enter, but the line moves pretty quickly. At least it did during my visit last December.
Hours of Operation:
- Sunday – Wednesday: 10am – 5pm
- Thursday: 10am – 8pm
- Friday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Brooklyn Museum is located at 200 Eastern Parkway. They are most popular for their Target sponsored first Saturday nights. Every month they have a different theme and provide live music, a dance party with a dj, drinks and snacks, arts and crafts, artist talks, a film, and a curator talk. The event is fun to attend with family, friends, and/or a way to meet to people. I have been to the last 2 events and had a great time. Everything is free. Certain events do require tickets, and they become available at 5pm. Get there early because the line gets long. Next month’s event is already listed, so check it out and make plans to attend.
Hours of Operation:
- Monday-Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 11am – 6pm
- Thursday: 11am – 10pm
- Friday – Sunday: 11am – 6pm
- First Saturday of Every Month: 11am – 11pm
El Museo is located at 1230 Fifth Ave @ 104th Street. Free admission is offered every third Saturday of each month and every Wednesday from 6pm-9pm.
Hours of Operation:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 11am – 6pm
- Wednesday: 11am -9pm
- Friday-Saturday: 11am -6pm
- Sunday: 1-5pm
Many museums in NYC are suggested donation and/or have pay-what-you -can options available on certain days. Be sure to check the website before you head out.
So far, since I’ve lived here I’ve been to the MOMA, the Whitney, the MET, the Museum of Natural History, and to the National Museum of the American Indian. My favorite by far is the MOMA, but I also love exploring the MET and the Museum of Natural History. They are both such large museums that I can never see everything in one day.
What museums have you been to which one is your favorite?
Love, agirltravels
A Girl Travels 