Information
Landmark: New York Historical SocietyCity: New York
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
New York Historical Society, New York, USA New York, North America
Overview
Founded in 1804, the New York Historical Society-now officially called The New York Historical-is the city’s oldest museum, its stone facade still watching over the bustle of Central Park West.It’s a leading institution devoted to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the history of New York, the United States, and the wider world, bringing it to life through vivid collections, engaging exhibitions, and hands-on educational programs.The museum sits at 170 Central Park West, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side at 77th Street, right across from the green expanse of Central Park.Completed in 1908, the building stands as a vivid example of Roman Eclectic style, with York & Sawyer’s design marked by bold arches and rich stonework.Tall columns rise along the façade, flanked by intricate stone carvings, while a broad, graceful doorway welcomes visitors-a scene that speaks to the museum’s enduring place in the city’s cultural life.The NYHS building sits right next to the American Museum of Natural History, where the buzz of visitors and the scent of coffee from the corner café make this stretch of the city a lively cultural hub.The New York Historical Society houses more than 1.6 million items-paintings, worn leather-bound manuscripts, artifacts, and documents-that bring to life the political, cultural, and social history of New York and the nation.One highlight is the Hudson River School collection-an extensive gathering of 19th‑century American landscapes, where rolling hills and wide, glassy water celebrate the untouched beauty of the valley and its wild edges.Artists such as Frederic Edwin Church, Thomas Cole, and Asher B. Durand paint sweeping skies and rugged hills you can almost feel underfoot.Durand has someone speaking for them.At the NYHS, you’ll find more than a hundred Tiffany lamps and glass works, many shaped by Clara Driscoll and her all‑female crew, the “Tiffany Girls,” their colors glowing like jewels in the light.Together, they showcase the skill and beauty at the heart of American decorative arts.These historical artifacts span the breadth of American history, from George Washington’s own camp bed-still creased from the Revolutionary War-to Civil War draft wheels, early restaurant menus, and items tied to slavery and emancipation.At the museum’s Center for Women’s History, exhibitions and programs shine a light on women’s vital role in shaping America’s history, culture, and politics, often bringing overlooked stories-like a suffragist’s worn leather journal-into focus.The New-York Historical Society is leading the charge to create the American LGBTQ+ Museum, which will open its doors in 2026 with exhibits rich in stories and artifacts.It’ll be the nation’s first museum devoted solely to sharing the stories and celebrating the contributions of LGBTQ+ Americans, from historic marches to love letters tucked in desk drawers.The Patricia D., her white hull sunlit and gleaming, drifted quietly in the harbor.The Klingenstein Library ranks among the country’s top history collections, holding more than 10 million treasures-manuscripts, maps, photographs, newspapers, and rare books, some with pages that still smell faintly of aged paper.It helps fuel scholarly research and broaden public understanding, covering everything from New York’s bustling past to military campaigns and far beyond.The museum keeps its galleries lively with rotating shows alongside its permanent collection, weaving historical stories that echo in today’s social debates and cultural conversations-like the quiet power of a handwritten protest sign from decades past.You’ll find everything from sweeping art retrospectives to focused shows on immigration, civil rights, and the grit of growing cities.Inside the NYHS, the DiMenna Children’s History Museum invites kids ages 8 to 13 to dig into history through interactive, hands-on activities-like trying on a colonial hat-that make the past feel vivid and easy to grasp.The NYHS hosts lectures, panels, film nights, and hands-on workshops that draw professors, curious students, and everyday visitors eager for stories of history, vivid culture, and the arts.The New-York Historical Society pours its energy into education, offering school programs that include hands-on workshops, guided tours, and visits designed to fit K–12 curricula-imagine students poring over centuries-old maps in a sunlit gallery.The Citizenship Project offers free American history and civics classes to legal immigrants getting ready for U. S. citizenship, from the Bill of Rights to the sound of a gavel in court.Public programs offer events that dive into American history from many angles, with voices like renowned historians, bestselling authors, and cultural leaders bringing the past vividly to life.We’re open Tuesday through Thursday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays until 8 p.m. for extended hours, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The doors stay shut on Mondays.Admission prices are $24 for adults, $19 for seniors, teachers, and active military, $13 for students, and $6 for kids ages 5 to 13; children under five get in free, and so do members.On Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m., you can pay whatever you want-drop a dollar in the jar or more if you feel like it.Accessibility: The museum welcomes visitors in wheelchairs and provides helpful services, from ramps at the entrance to assistance for those with other disabilities.Amenities Dining: At Storico, you can linger over lunch, savor dinner, or enjoy a weekend brunch, all from a seasonal menu rich with fresh New American flavors.Parliament Espresso and Coffee Bar pours fresh coffee, serves pastries warm from the oven, and offers light bites all day long.The museum shop sells books, exhibition catalogs, quirky educational toys, and one-of-a-kind gifts inspired by its collections-like a scarf patterned with ancient maps.Hop on the B or C train and ride to 81st Street-Museum of Natural History, where you’ll step out right across from the entrance.Hop on the 1 train and ride it up to 79th Street, where the smell of roasted peanuts drifts in from a nearby cart.Take the M10 bus to 77th Street, right where it meets Central Park West.Take the M79 to 81st Street, right by the trees along Central Park West.On foot, the museum sits just a short stroll from Central Park and the Upper West Side, so you can easily wander over from nearby blocks where the scent of coffee drifts out of corner cafés.The New-York Historical Society brings the past to life, linking visitors to the bustling streets of old New York, the nation’s story, and the wider sweep of the American experience.With its sprawling collections, lively exhibitions, hands-on learning programs, and a warm welcome to all, it’s a place where you can explore, pause to think, and join in the celebration of culture.Inside its grand old halls, you’ll find art, history, and sharp social commentary woven together, making it a museum every history lover and curious traveler should see.
