Museums offer a wonderful learning experience for children and adults alike. Museums can also be a wonderful way to keep everyone entertained while on vacation. Best of all, they can also be a form of free entertainment.
While visiting New York City, you will see a number of museums, but not all of them offer free access. Thankfully, there are ways for finding free museums in NYC.
Museums That Are Free Daily
There are a number of museums that are free every day of the week in NYC. It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting during the weekend or the middle of the week. It also doesn’t matter if it’s a holiday. However, you need to remember that free attractions can be crowded so be prepared to arrive early, especially when visiting during the weekend or a holiday. Here are just a few museums that are always free to visit in NYC:
Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
The museum features a number of exhibits that revolve around fashion. Some of the exhibits are permanent while others may change from time to time, which means there is always something new to see. The museum is located at 7th Avenue on 27th Street.
National Museum of the American Indian
If you’d like to delve a bit deeper in the past of New York City, what better place to start than a museum devoted to the Natives of the land? The museum is located in the Smithsonian Institution at 1 Bowling Green, George Gustave Heye Center.
Sony Wonder Technology Lab
Another great museum that is always free is the Sony Wonder Technology Lab. This museum features four stories worth of exhibits, but you must reserve your tickets due to the museums popularity. The museum is located at 550 Madison Ave. at 56th St.
American Folk Art Museum
Last, but not least, the American Folk Art Museum features some of the most beautiful folk art exhibits in the country. Exhibits are always changing so you can visit the museum any time you’re in the area and see something new. The museum is located at 2 Lincoln Square Columbus Avenue at 66th Street.
Museums That Are Free on Certain Days
There are also a number of museums that offer free admission on certain days of the week. This is a great way to see some of the best museums without having to pay. However, it is recommended to get your tickets well in advance.
Staten Island Museum
If you’d like to visit the Statue of Liberty, you should also consider visiting the Staten Island Museum, which is free on Tuesdays from noon to 2PM. The museum is located at 5 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island.
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art offers many great exhibits and is free to visit on Fridays from 4PM to 8PM. The museum is located at 11 West 53 Street.
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is free every first Saturday of the month from 5PM to 11PM. The museum offers a large selection of art from around the world and is located at 200 Eastern Parkway.
These are just a few museums that are free daily and free certain days of the week. Be sure to research any museums you want to visit too see if they offer any free days before visiting. Remember that some museums will require getting tickets well in advance.
About the Author: Carrol Petruska loves to travel and especially loves exploring all of New York City’s fabulous museums. When she’s not vacation planning, you can often find Carrol caring for her 5 children or curled up with a good book.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Ed Schipul.