New York City is an epicenter of art and culture, housing some of the most prestigious museums in the world. Institutions like the Met, MoMA, American Museum of Natural History, and Guggenheim are globally recognized icons that draw throngs of visitors, locals and tourists alike. However, their popularity often leads to overwhelming crowds and long wait times.
If you are seeking a fresh perspective on what New York City has to offer, I want to highlight some unique, lesser-known museums worth visiting!
Noguchi Museum
The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum is an excellent museum to explore, especially in the spring. Founded in 1985 by Isamu Noguchi, it was the first museum in the United States to be established, designed, and installed by a living artist to showcase their work. The museum holds the largest collection of Noguchi’s works in the world, featuring indoor galleries that segue into a serene outdoor sculpture garden. Consistent with Noguchi’s belief that art should be experiential, his works are displayed without barriers, encouraging visitors to engage with them and form personal connections. His recent exhibition, Against Time, features sculptures that Noguchi considered significant breakthroughs in his artistic career, creating a lasting legacy after his death. His stage designs for the Martha Graham Dance Theater and The Sacred Rocks of Kukaniloko are particularly noteworthy, displaying intricate details and thoughtful craftsmanship. While most of the exhibits are indoors, the outdoor sculpture garden epitomizes tranquility and is especially beautiful in the spring and summer.
Open Wed–Sun 11am–6pm.
Tickets: adults $16, students $6, free on First Fridays.
AKC Museum of the Dog
If you’re as obsessed with dogs as I am, the AKC Museum of the Dog is a must-visit! Located next to Grand Central Station, this museum preserves and celebrates the role of dogs in our society through various art collections that explore the bond between humans and canines. Founded in 1982, the AKC Museum of the Dog combines fine art with high-tech displays in a rotating selection of exhibits created from its impressive 1,700-piece collection and 4,000-volume library. Its permanent collection includes a mix of traditional paintings, photographs, and ceramic and bronze sculptures, making it a personal highlight. The museum also hosts many events, such as competitions where you can vote for your favorite art piece and scavenger hunts for kids. While dogs aren’t allowed on most days, there are two Fridays each month when you can bring your furry friend (during limited time windows), so be sure to look out for those dates! I’ve done this with my dog, and it is an incredible experience you won’t find at any other museum!
Open Wed–Sun 11am–6pm.
Tickets: adults $15, students $10 (free for members & children 2 and under). If you bring your dog on “furry days,” their ticket is $5.
The Frick Collection
Often overshadowed by larger institutions, The Frick Collection is a true hidden gem located in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Housed in the former residence of industrialist Henry Clay Frick, the museum is home to his personal art collection, which spans from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century. The Frick Collection is particularly renowned for its remarkable array of European paintings, including masterpieces by artists such as Giovanni Bellini, Francisco Goya, and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. In addition to paintings, the museum also features an impressive selection of decorative arts and period furniture that reflect the opulence of the era, offering a glimpse into the artistry of craftsmanship from centuries past. I highly recommend reserving tickets in advance to ensure entry and using the audio guide for insightful commentary as you explore the collection’s treasures. Some specific pieces from the permanent collection that are worth exploring include Girl Interrupted at Her Music, Hercules and the Hydra, Adam and Eve, and Pair of Lions. The museum will reopen on April 17, so it’s the perfect opportunity to discover or revisit this cultural landmark!
Reopens April 17.
Open Wed–Sun 11am–6pm, with extended Friday hours until 9pm.
Tickets: adults $30, students $17, free for members and ages 10–18.
MOAT
The Museum of Art and Technology (MOAT) at Mercer Labs truly pushes the boundaries of what a museum experience can be. Located in the financial district and led by artist Roy Nachum, MOAT’s exhibitions offer interactive experiences, listening encounters, and immersive installations that blend art with cutting-edge technology to transform our relationship and engagement with both. There are two permanent exhibitions: Limitless and After Dark. Limitless includes fifteen visual and interactive spaces combining technology, nature, and memories to evoke feelings of wonder and exploration. After Dark guides visitors through a large warehouse space involving a darker, more introspective journey that explores perception, subconsciousness, uncertainty, and the unknown. This museum is great to visit with a large group of friends to take advantage of discounts!
Open Mon–Wed 11am–8pm, Thu–Fri 11am–12am, & Sat–Sun 10am–12am.
Tickets: adults $52, students $46, groups of 4 get a 10% discount, & groups of 10 get a 20% discount.
Tenement Museum
The Tenement Museum tells the stories of immigrant, migrant, and refugee families who lived in the Lower East Side between the 1860s and 1930s, revealing how they shaped our city and history. Located on Orchard Street, the museum opened in 1988 and explores the uniquely American story of immigration through tours of two tenement apartments that were shut down and abandoned fifty years before the museum’s opening. Apartment tours, which usually take sixty to seventy-five minutes, allow visitors to go with a tour guide through recreated apartments that follow the story of one or multiple families as they make their way through turbulent times in the U.S. and seek to build a good life for themselves. The museum also offers Walking Tours, where you can walk through neighborhoods on the Lower East Side to learn about forgotten spaces, and Food Experiences, where you can explore over 150 years of history through the stories of the food that immigrant and migrant communities brought with them. The Tenement Museum is a hidden gem, and I highly recommend visiting multiple times to experience all the tours they offer!
Open every day 10am–6pm.
Tickets: $30 for Apartment and Walking Tours (free for members) & $55 for Food Experiences (50% off for members).
The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
If you are a fashion lover, you must visit the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), located on the Lower West Side. The museum hosts exhibitions, programs, and publications aimed at educating visitors and highlighting the cultural significance of dress and fashion throughout history. Founded in 1969, the Museum at the FIT has an impressive permanent collection of over 50,000 garments and accessories, dating from the eighteenth century to the present. This collection features remarkable designs from renowned fashion houses such as Balenciaga, Chanel, and Dior. Something unique about the museum is its showcase of works by up-and-coming designers—namely, the students at FIT. Be sure to check out the lower level during your visit, as it features rotating exhibitions that change every six months. The current exhibit, Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities (open until April 20), provides a unique perspective on the connection between cabinets of curiosities and fashion. It is also worth visiting the Fashion and Textile History Gallery on the main floor. This gallery offers historical context on a rotating selection of approximately 200 historically and artistically significant objects from the museum’s permanent collection. This museum, entirely dedicated to fashion, is truly one-of-a-kind and worth a visit!
Open Wed–Fri 12pm–8pm & Sat–Sun 10am–5pm.
Admission is free for everyone.