New York, NY

Skyscraper Museum
DESCRIPTION: Formerly a 1929 banking hall; insightful exhibits describe the complex relationship between location, architecture, market conditions, rent and height that lead to skyscrapers; if you are in to this sort of thing, you’ll also find construction records of New York’s most famous skyscrapers
ADMISSION: $5 adults, $2.50 students and seniors
DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Sun Noon-6p
ADDRESS: 39 Battery Place  MAP

TRANSIT: near 4 & 5 subway lines
PHONE: 212-968-1961
WEBSITE: http://www.skyscraper.org

Museum of Modern Art
DESCRIPTION: If you are looking the best works by the biggest names, Eureka; the "Met" was founded in 1929 as an educational institution, it is dedicated to being the foremost museum of modern art in the world; they preserve and interpret a permanent collection of architectural design, drawings, film, painting and photography; that reflects the vitality of the many diverse areas of contemporary art; the architecture of the place is as important as the art it shows – take some time to just relax at any of a dozen places

ADMISSION: $10 adults, $6 students
DAYS & HOURS: Sat-Thu 10:30a–5:30p, Fri 10:30a–8p
ADDRESS: 11 West 53 Street  MAP

TRANSIT: at E & V subway lines
PHONE: 212-708-9400
WEBSITE: http://www.moma.org

New Museum of Contemporary Art
DESCRIPTION: An important museum that fills the gaps left open by the Museum of Modern Art -- the works of emerging artists and their extensive, diverse portfolio; this innovative museum includes the city’s first program dedicated to the exhibition and exploration of digital art, experimental video and sound works

ADMISSION: Adults $12, Seniors $10, Students: $8, Age 18 and under FREE

DAYS & HOURS: Wed, Sat-Sun Noon-6p, Thu-Fri Noon-9p
ADDRESS: 235 Bowery street  MAP

TRANSIT: near F & V subway lines
PHONE: 212-219-1222
WEBSITE: http://www.newmuseum.org

Paley Center for Media
DESCRIPTION: The parent museum to a duplicate in Los Angeles; look inside a moving time capsule; choose from hundreds of classic variety shows, commercials, historic newscasts, and music programs from a personal display monitor; relive old memories and younger times
ADMISSION: Adults $10, Students $8

DAYS & HOURS: Tue, Wed, Fri-Sun Noon-6p
ADDRESS: 25 West 52nd Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near E & V subway lines

PHONE: 212-621-6800
WEBSITE: http://www.mtr.org

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
DESCRIPTION: Once you enter, curiosity takes over as you see the likenesses of Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Will Smith, Biggie Smalls, Oprah, Usher, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Tyra Banks, Daniel Craig and others – soon you’ll catch yourself wondering who looks most real and you’ll see next; the intricate detail in the figures ranges from good (when the representing historical figures for whom photos were the only basis available) to astounding, particularly Beyonce' and Johnny Depp who modeled for wax museum staff enabling them to capture over 200 personal measurements; a new wax figure these days costs $500,000 to make

ADMISSION: online (best) prices are Adult $28, Senior $25.60, Children $22.40

DAYS & HOURS: daily at 10a

ADDRESS: 234 West 42nd Street  MAP

TRANSIT: at 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R, S, W subways lines

PHONE: 800-246-8872

WEBSITE: http://www.nycwax.com

Museum of the City of New York
DESCRIPTION: A 1932 Georgian-style structure serves as the museum home; it may be best to begin your visit by viewing the film called “Timescapes: A Multimedia Film Portrait of New York, 1609-Today”, first showing at 10:15a and last showing at 4:15p; the history of New York is also told through period rooms, costumes, decorative arts, photographs, theatre banners, paintings and 10,000 toys used by New Yorkers
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 10a-5p
ADMISSION: Adults $9, Seniors & Students $5, Families $20, ages 12 and under Free; Free admission on Sundays between 10a-Noon
ADDRESS: 1220 Fifth Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near 6 subway line
PHONE: 212-534-1672
WEBSITE: http://www.mcny.org

Metropolitan Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1870, it has risen from its distinguised location on the edge of Central Park to become one of the world’s largest museums with the breadth and depth of exhibits matched only by the great art museums of Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, London and Paris; curatorial departments at this encyclopedic museum include American Decorative Art, American Paintings and Sculture, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Arms & Armor, Arts of Africa, Ocenia and the Americas, Asian Art, The Cloisters, The Costume Institute, Drawings & Prints, Islamic Art, Greek & Roman Art, Medieval Art, Modern Art, Musical INtruments, Photographs, European Paintings, Eurpean Sculture, a Textile Center,  and a definitive Egyptian gallery has temple recreations and real mummies; presents more than 30 exhibitions each year, representing a wide range of artists, eras, and cultures; families also enroll kids in art prgrams and the gift shop is remarkable

ADMISSION: Adults $20, Age 65+ $15, Students $10, Age 11 and under Free
DAYS & HOURS: Sun, Tue-Thu 9:30a-5p, Fri-Sat 9:30a-8:45p
ADDRESS: 1000 5th Avenue  MAP

TRANSIT: near 4, 5 & 6 subway lines
PHONE: 212-535-7710‎
WEBSITE: http://www.metmuseum.org

Guggenheim Museum
DESCRIPTION: A Frank Lloyd Wright design for the wealthy magnate, Solomon R. Guggenheim; the lauded architect was asked to design a non-traditional building to house Guggenheim's Museum of Non-Objective Paintings; controversial when designed and constructed, Guggenheim and Wright died before the building's 1959 completion; the building is flooded with light as the architect intended; art by Kalinsky, especially his composition 8, makes the trip worthwhile; numerous eye-catching pieces by Picasso and Modigliane are on hand; visitors can experience special exhibitions of contemporary art, lectures by artists and critics, performances and film screenings, and classes; audio tours are free with paid admission
ADMISSION: Adults $18, Students and Seniors $15, Age 11 and under Free
DAYS & HOURS: Sat–Wed 10a–5:45p, Fri 10a–8p
ADDRESS: 1071 5th Avenue  MAP

TRANSIT: near 4, 5 & 6 subway lines
PHONE: 212-423-3615
WEBSITE: http://www.guggenheim.org

Whitney Museum of American Art
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1931 by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the museum is home to one of the nation’s best collections of 20th-century American art; the permanent collection consists of 12,000 works encompasses paintings, sculptures, multimedia installations, drawings, prints, and photographs; the galleries are ADA accessible
ADMISSION: Adults $17, Seniors & Students $13, Age 12 and enter Free; Pay-what-you-wish Fridays 6p–9p

DAYS & HOURS: Wed–Thu 11a–6p, Fri 1p–9p, 
Sat–Sun 11a–6p
ADDRESS: 945 Madison Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near 6 subway line
PHONE: 800-944-8639
WEBSITE: http://www.whitney.org

Museum of Arts & Design
DESCRIPTION: Founderd in 1942 and formerly known as the American Craft Museum with a narrower focus, this new museum collects and interprets objects in ceramic, glass, fiber metal and wood that honor innovation in art, craft and design; they also examine how decorative and design processes have changed through materials to enhance our lives; includes a 155-seat auditorium for lectures and 9th floor restaurant with sweeping views of Central Park; the Store are MAD is well-stocked with ceramic gifts
ADMISSION: Adults $15, Seniors & Students $12, Age 11 and enter Free

DAYS & HOURS: Fri-Wed 11a-6p, Thu 11a-8p
ADDRESS: 2 Columbus Circle  MAP

TRANSIT: near 1, A, B, C & D subway lines
PHONE: 212-299-7777
WEBSITE: http://www.madmuseum.org

Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1897 by Amy, Eleanor, and Sarah Hewitt—granddaughters of industrialist Peter Cooper—as part of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art; the museum has been a branch of the Smithsonian since 1967; Cooper-Hewitt is housed in the landmark Andrew Carnegie Mansion; today designers love to visit this Smithsonian Institution home to unique and mass-produced items; get inspiration for new product lines from their huge and diverse collection of decorative arts; the facility is a wondrously decorated, free-standing 1903 Georgian-style mansion with a short garden-like entrance
ADMISSION: Adults $15, Seniors & Students $10, Age 11 and enter Free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 10a–5p, 
Sat 10a–6p, 
Sun Noon–6p
ADDRESS: 2 East 91st Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near 4, 5 & 6 subway lines
PHONE: 212-849-8400
WEBSITE: http://www.cooperhewitt.org

Jewish Museum
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1904, the museum demonstrates how Jewish culture is reflected in art through 28,000 objects of different media, including Fine Arts, Judaica and broadcast media; a beautiful sculpture court was installed alongside the Mansion in 1959; a 1993 expansion added space for educational programs, public amenities, and a two-floor permanent exhibition called Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey

ADMISSION: Adults $12, Seniors $10, Students $7.50, Age 12 and enter Free; plus Free Saturdays 11a-5:45p

DAYS & HOURS: Sat-Wed 11a-5:45p, Thu 11a-8p galleries

ADDRESS: 1109 Fifth Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near 6 subway line
PHONE: 212-423-3200
WEBSITE: http://www.jewishmuseum.org

Museum of Jewish Heritage
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1997, the museum was created as a living memorial to those who perished during the Holocaust and to affirm the vibrant Jewish community in NYC today; a tiered pyramidal structure hosts the core collections and testimonies of survivors via photos, videos, and artifacts, of Jewish heritage from the late 19th century to present; the Morgenthau Wing hosts performances, classes, special exhibitions and events

ADMISSION: Adults $10, Seniors $7, Students $5, Age 12 and enter Free; plus Free Wednesdays 4p-8p
DAYS & HOURS: Sun-Tue & Thu 10a-5:45p, Wed 10a-8p, Fri 10a-5p, closes at 3p during the eve of Jewish holidays
ADDRESS: 36 Battery Place  MAP

TRANSIT: near 4 & 5 subway lines
PHONE: 212-968-1800
WEBSITE: http://www.mjhnyc.org

Tenement Museum
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1863 and inhabited until 1935, more than 7,000 people from 24 ethnic groups have lived here -- in fact, as many as 13 people lived in a 325 square foot apartment; although African Americans are not documented to have lived in this house, they did live next door at 95 Orchard Street and in this community since the 1700s; the museum was founded in 1984 to give people a sense for New York urban experience in the mid-1800s; walking tours available
ADMISSION: Adults $17, Seniors & Students $13, Age 12 and enter Free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sun 11a-6p
ADDRESS: 108 Orchard Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near F, J, M & Z subway lines
PHONE: 212-431-0233
WEBSITE: http://www.tenement.org

Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION: Housed in a 560,000-square-foot, Beaux-Arts building next to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, is one of the oldest and largest encyclopedic art museums in the country; its permanent collections include Ancient Egyptian masterpieces to contemporary art, and represent a wide range of cultures; one must see exhibit is more than 500 pieces of Egyptian art; the museum features notable West, Central, East African Art collections as well

ADMISSION: Adults $8, Students & Seniors $4, Age 11 and under Free
DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Fri 10a-5p, Sat 11a-6p, Sun 10a-5p
ADDRESS: 200 Eastern Parkway  MAP

TRANSIT: near 2 & 3 subway lines
PHONE: 718-638-5000
WEBSITE: http://www.brooklynmuseum.org

Queens, NY

Queens Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION: The building opened as New York City Building at the 1939 World’s Fair; in 1972, the north side of the New York City Building became the Queens Museum of Art; in 1994, the Museum undertook its first major renovation and upgrade; today it presents exhibitions of contemporary art and photography, including African American artists, throughout the year; also contains one of New York’s best-loved permanent exhibitions, the Panorama of New York City, a meticulously rendered model of all five boroughs that encompasses an entire gallery; in 2010, he QMA will doubling to 100,000 square feet with more interesting architecture inside and out

ADMISSION: Adults $5, Seniors and Children $2.50; age 4 and under enter Free

DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Fri 10a–5p, Sat–Sun Noon–5p
ADDRESS: Flushing Meadows Corona Park  MAP

TRANSIT: near the 7 subway line
PHONE: 718-592-9700
WEBSITE: http://www.queensmuseum.org

Newark, NJ

Newark Museum
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1909 and now the largest museum in New Jersey, it features 80 galleries of world-class collections of American, Asian, African, Contemporary, Decorative and Classical art; standouts include a stunning array of ivory jewelry from the Congo, silver pendants from Niger, and beadwork from South Africa; includes a planetarium and cafe

ADMISSION: Adults $10, Seniors, students and Children $6; Planetarium entrance $3
DAYS & HOURS: Mon, Tue & Thu 12a-8:30p, Wed, Fri-Sun 12a-5p
ADDRESS: 49 Washington Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near the Washington Park Light Rail Station
PHONE: 973-596-6550
WEBSITE: http://www.newarkmuseum.org

New Jersey Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: This society dates back to 1845 so it displays many original documents of historical significance to all citizens of New Jersey; hosts a lecture series on the contributions of New Jersey’s African Americans; you can also conduct significant Genealogical Research within its library

ADMISSION: $4

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-5p
ADDRESS: 52 Park Place  MAP

TRANSIT: near the NJPAC Center Street Light Rail Station
PHONE: 973-596-8500
WEBSITE: http://www.jerseyhistory.org