Museum Mile - New York City Article

Museum Mile NYC

Museum Mile is anchored on the south end by The Metropolitan Museum of Art at 82nd St and on the north end by The Africa Center at 110th St. In between are Neue Galerie New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, National Academy Museum & School of Fine Arts, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, The Jewish Museum, Museum of the City of New York and El Museo del Barrio.

The Met is one of the largest museums in the U.S. and features more than 2 million objects in 17 curatorial departments. The Met is one of the most-visited museums in the world and offers so much to experience that you can spend an entire day here…or more! Over 5,000 years of art from every corner of the world come to life in an exciting and interactive venue.

El Museo de Barrio highlights Latin American and Caribbean art with a special focus on Puerto Rican art and specifically Puerto Rican artists from New York City. For a thorough look at all that makes New York the fabulous city it is, the Museumof the City of New York has a collection of photos, costumes, paintings, military, police and fire artifacts and even a theatre collection highlighting the golden age of Broadway.

The Jewish Museum is the leading museum of Jewish heritage in the U.S. and features contemporary and historic artifacts in a wide variety of media. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is home to collections and exhibitions of design and decorative arts. The National Academy Museum and School, also known as the “National Academy’” is a museum, school and a professional honorary organization dedicated to promoting the
fine arts in the U.S.

The second newest member of Museum Mile is the Neue Galerie. This museum of twentieth-century German and Austrian art was established in 2001. Opening soon, the Africa Center will be the Mile’s newest addition. Here the emphasis will be pn increasing public awareness and appreciation of African art and culture.

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum highlights Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, modern and contemporary art. The building’s spiral design was somewhat controversial amongst artists and curators when it first opened as the continuous ramp and shallow display areas were unlike any other gallery at the time. The Guggenheim’s non-traditional design has influenced many modern galleries since its opening in 1959.

Each June, during the Museum Mile Festival, free admission os offered and the museums extend their normal hours into the evening. Outdoor activities such as face painting, chalk drawing, along with live music are also on the agenda as Fifth Avenue is closed to traffic for NYC’s biggest block party!

A visit to Museum Mile is an exciting and essential NYC experience. The combination of tree-lined sidewalks, Central Park and the quiet environs of the Upper East Side only enhance an already rewarding stroll through some of the world’s best and most treasured museums.

For more information please visit:
museummilefestival.org
nycgo.com/venues/museum-mile-upper-east-side