< Exploring New York City

Upper East Side

One of New York City’s most upscale areas, the Upper East Side is home to some of its greatest museums, several on a compact strip of Fifth Avenue known as Museum Mile. The huge Metropolitan Museum of Art (the “Met”) showcases superb Greek and Roman sculpture, while the Guggenheim is housed in a stunning Frank Lloyd Wright building. The Met borders Central Park, which allows for run-abouts in between sights.

Grand staircase inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Highlights

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Visit this grand museum and be amazed by its vast collection of art, sculpture, textiles, armor, and more (see Metropolitan Museum of Art).

The Frick Collection

Wander around the magnificent mansion that houses this stunning collection, and marvel at the paintings, sculptures, and other works exhibited here (see The Frick Collection).

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Take a good look at Frank Lloyd Wright’s most celebrated architectural creation and then visit its galleries to view the excellent modern art collected by its founder (see Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum).

Jewish Museum

Discover an impressive assortment of paintings, sculptures, photographs, and archaeological artifacts as well as Jewish-related films in the Jewish Museum.

El Museo del Barrio

Savor the art and folklore of Latin America and the Caribbean and explore their influence on modern New York from pre-Columbian times to today, at El Museo del Barrio.

---

The Best of Upper East Side

Temple of Dendur in the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Art, architecture, lavish residences, and leafy avenues define the Upper East Side, which is the most affluent area of the city. Families will enjoy many of the museums here, from the impressive Metropolitan Museum of Art to the fascinating Museum of the City of New York. Along the western edge of the neighborhood lies lush Central Park, a great place to kick back with a picnic and cool off in the spray from stately fountains.

Art aficionado

This area has the highest concentration of art in the city. Peruse one of the world’s greatest collections of European paintings, as well as ancient Egyptian temples and sculptures, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. For an overview of contemporary art, walk along the circular ramps of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. The Whitney Museum of American Art features the city’s premier collection of work by American artists, including Jackson Pollock and Georgia O’Keefe. Finally, sample the lifestyle of New York’s elite among the antique furnishings and Old Masters at The Frick Collection.

The facade of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, an architectural landmark

Multicultural mishmash

New York’s diverse cultures are showcased in several Upper East Side museums, including El Museo del Barrio, which offers a peek into Latino culture – from the Taino Indians, who were the first settlers in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, to contemporary Mexican and Nuyorican art. The renowned Jewish Museum, housed in a French Gothic chateau on Fifth Avenue, documents the evolution of Jewish culture over the centuries. The Metropolitan Museum of Art features elegant ceramics and calligraphy from Asia, plus vibrant masks and jewelry from Africa and Oceania. It’s also possible follow the rich timeline of European culture here, by viewing paintings that span the continent, from Spain to Scandinavia.

Floor mosaic in the Jewish Museum

Seasonal contrasts

Each season reveals a unique aspect of the Upper East Side. In spring, Central Park comes alive with flowers and butterflies. In summer, the museums’ outdoor bars and restaurants open – including the rooftop sculpture garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where patrons can enjoy a drink under the starry night sky. During warm weather, many museums also feature fun outdoor concerts and later openings on Fridays. In the fall and winter, galleries and museums often unveil new exhibits, while the whole neighborhood becomes a snowy wonderland, with plenty of outdoor spaces for kids to build snowmen and go sledding.

History buff

For a fascinating insight into the history of the city and its residents, visit the Museum of the City of New York, set in a grand Neo-Georgian building. Many of the other Upper East Side museums, from The Frick Collection to El Museo del Barrio, also feature a rich array of historical artifacts, both from New York and around the globe. Central Park has a variety of historical treasures too, including the Obelisk, which is the oldest man-made structure in the park.

< Upper East Side

Metropolitan Museum of Art and Around

Engelhard Court, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Easy to reach by subway and very walkable, the neighborhood around the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a mix of museums, eateries, and quiet streets lined with upscale residences – it also includes the eastern section of Central Park. It is busiest on weekends, when tourists and locals arrive in droves to visit the museums. The crowds generally thin out during the week, especially in the late morning and mid-afternoon.

1. Metropolitan Museum of Art

2. Whitney Museum of American Art

3. The Frick Collection

4. Asia Society

Magnolia tree in the garden, The Frick Collection

1. Metropolitan Museum of Art

Paintings, sculptures, and more

An Egyptian statue next to the Temple of Dendur

The treasures of the Met span thousands of years, embracing more than 2 million works of art from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Far East, as well as the classical and ancient worlds. The main entrance ushers visitors into the impressive Neo-Classical Great Hall. From here, the Grand Staircase leads to the museum’s greatest attraction, the European Paintings galleries. The most popular exhibit with kids is the dramatic stone Temple of Dendur, from ancient Egypt.

Key Features

1. Egyptian Art An astounding 36,000 exhibits make up this collection. Among them is the Temple of Dendur, a 15th-century BC temple that is lit up at night. It was moved here from Egypt, piece by piece, during the construction of the Aswan Dam in 1965. Also on display are splendid jewelry and tomb figures, including the jolly blue hippo that has become the museum’s mascot.

2. The American Wing Winslow Homer, widely considered to be one of the greatest American painters of the 19th century, began his career as a commercial printmaker, and then took up painting. He worked with both watercolors and oils. This work, The Studio (1867), is a prime example of his oil paintings.

3. Arms and Armor The lavishly engraved wheellock of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (1519–56) was the first self-igniting pistol. It can be viewed in this wing.

4. Medieval Art This brightly colored stained-glass panel, titled Angels Swinging Censers, features flying angels set against an intricate background. It dates to around 1170 and was created for the Collegiate Church of Saint-Étienne in Troyes, France.

5. European Sculpture and Decorative Arts A 50,000-object collection is on view here, including striking statues by Rodin, French and Flemish tapestries, and period rooms such as the 18th-century Boiserie from the Hotel de Cabris, France, which features carved and gilded paneling.

6. Modern Art Since its foundation in 1870, the museum has been acquiring contemporary art, but it was not until 1987 that a permanent home for 20th-century art was built – the Lila Acheson Wallace Wing. The collection includes famous works such as I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold by Charles Demuth.

7. Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas The best items in this collection include pre-Columbian gold, bronze sculptures, ceramics, and drums from Peru, such as this richly painted example featuring a serpent and killer whales.

8. Roman Art The Badminton Sarcophagus (AD 260–70) features the wine god Dionysus seated on a panther surrounded by devotees, the horned god Pan, and four youths representing winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Left The Studio (1867), Winslow Homer Middle European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Collection Right Medieval stained-glass panel

1. European Paintings Within the European galleries is an amazing array of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including 34 Monets and 18 Cézannes. The favorite theme of French artist Edgar Degas was ballet, as evidenced by his many beautiful paintings of dancers, including Rehearsal on the Stage (1874), showing lithe young girls on stage.

2. Modern Art The Met’s Modern Art collection is not the largest in New York, but it is considered to be one of the finest assemblages of European and American art from the 1900s onward. It includes Picasso’s Portrait of Gertrude Stein (1906) and The Blind Man’s Meal (1903), from his Blue Period. One entire section is devoted to the massive abstract works of Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock as well as Andy Warhol’s Mao (1972), a silk-screen portrait of the Chinese leader.

3. Drawings, Prints, and Photographs This section includes photographs, historic advertisements, and illustrated books, and is especially rich in Italian and French art of the 15th to the 19th centuries. Featured below is Lady Lilith (1867) by English painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

4. Musical Instruments Among the museum’s many historical musical instruments is a guitar (1937) that belonged to Andres Segovia (1893–1987), a guitarist from Andalucia, Spain, who is widely considered one of the finest classical guitarists of the 20th century.

5. The American Wing This section includes early Impressionist works such as The Cup of Tea (1880–81) by Mary Cassatt. Depictions of daily life, especially of women, were a signature of this artist.

6. Asian Art These galleries showcase Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Southeast Asian sculpture, paintings, textiles, and ceramics.

7. The Cantor Roof Garden The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden (open: May–Oct) showcases sculpture, which changes regularly. The garden also offers a fine opportunity to enjoy a drink with a great view of Central Park and the surrounding skyline.

Left The Cup of Tea (1880–81), Mary Cassat Middle Picture of a Concert of European Music; Ôshû Kangengaku Gassô no zu (1889), Toyohara Chikanobu Right Cai Guo-Qiang’s Move Along, Nothing to See Here on the Cantor Roof Garden

Kids’ Corner

Find out more…

1. One of the most exciting galleries at the museum is the Egyptian art collection, which features everything from sparkling gold jewelry to the famous Temple of Dendur. Can you find out the name of the blue hippo?
2. In the Ancient Greek and Roman Art section, look for the Badminton Sarcophagus, which features carvings of the god Dionysus seated on a panther and surrounded by various figures including four young men. What do they represent?

3. 

   Find the sculpture by Edgar Degas of The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer. Do you know the name of the pose she is holding?
4. The museum does not just have paintings and sculptures, but also an amazing collection of musical instruments, including the world’s oldest piano. Can you find out when it was made?

5. 

   Paul Cézanne made a series of famous paintings of apples. Look for them, and see if you can identify all the different colors of the apples.

Guns blazing

Wheellock sounds like a funny word, but if you split it into two – wheel lock – it makes sense. The wheellock was the world’s first self-igniting pistol. It worked using a rotating steel wheel providing ignition.

Impressive feat

The stone blocks of the Temple of Dendur weigh more than 800 tons (726 tonnes) in total. They were packed into 661 crates and then shipped to the US.

Snarling mouths and intense eyes

The Oceanic art collection has a vibrant display of items from the islands of the Pacific Ocean. Look at the impressive carved masks, some of which were constructed out of materials such as tree bark, shells, beeswax, and even human hair.

Natural talent

Vincent van Gogh was a largely self-taught artist, with little formal training. He had an amazing memory, which helped him create many of his striking paintings from recall.

Post-Impressionist genius

A technique that artist Paul Cézanne used was to observe very closely everything around him, from apples and flowerpots to tablecloths and stools, so that he understood them as their basic shapes: spheres, cubes, cylinders, and cones. The objects in his paintings are based on these simple shapes.

2. Whitney Museum of American Art

Wild and zany art

Family art workshop at the Whitney Museum of American Art

The Whitney Museum of American Art features a superb collection of 20th- and 21st-century works by American artists. It houses more than 18,000 paintings, sculptures, photographs, and films by almost 2,800 artists including Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, and Robert Rauschenberg. Also look out for Joseph Stella’s Brooklyn Bridge, and Jasper Johns’s Three Flags.

Without a doubt, though, the Whitney is most famous for its Biennial, which was first held in 1932 and continues to take place between March and June in even-numbered years. It is designed to give a provocative overview of what is happening in contemporary American art. The Biennial often features unusual works such as artist Alex Hubbard’s Annotated Plans for an Evacuation (2009), where he continually changes the appearance of a used Ford car, from balancing a water jug on the engine to spraypainting the windows.

Kids’ Corner

Find out more…

At the Whitney Museum, have a look at the famous painting Early Sunday Morning by Edward Hopper. Do you know which street in New York he modeled his painting on?

Ahead of its time

The Whitney Museum of American Art was originally located in founder Gertrude Whitney’s own studio in the West Village. She offered her collection of 700 works to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1929, but they declined the gift because they saw it as too “modern.” So she decided to open her own museum, in 1931.

3. The Frick Collection

Period furniture, paintings, and sculptures

Paintings and 18th-century furniture, Fragonard Room at The Frick Collection

As more and more condos and highrises sprout up across the city, it is easy to forget about New York’s magnificent mansions of yesteryear. Touring the splendid home of American industrialist Henry Clay Frick (1849–1919) offers a glimpse into old New York.

The mansion sits on Fifth Avenue, fronted by a leafy garden with magnolia trees. Inside, Frick’s impressive collection is beautifully displayed in 16 galleries, and includes 18th-century French furniture, Chinese porcelain vases, gilded clocks and pocket watches from the 16th to the 18th centuries, plus paintings by masters such as El Greco, Goya, Degas, Rembrandt, Velàzquez, and Vermeer. The mansion’s sky-lit Garden Court has a gurgling fountain and is a great place to relax.

Kids’ Corner

Find out more…

At the Frick, find the collection of old clocks and pocket watches. Do you know which century pocket watches were invented, and when people stopped using them?

Fabulous frick

Henry Frick made his money as a Pittsburgh industrialist, but his true love was art. During his lifetime he acquired every type imaginable: sculptures, drawings, prints, furniture, enamels, rugs, silver, and 131 paintings.

4. Asia Society

Colorful traditions and Oriental treasures

Chinese porcelain and ceramics on display at the Asia Society

Discover the vibrant arts and culture of Asia at this elegant museum, founded by John D. Rockefeller III in 1956. The museum provides a beautiful visual overview of Asian art, from Japan to Iran. Particularly striking is the personal collection of Rockefeller and his wife. Although it only encompasses 300 objects, it is considered one of the most notable Asian art collections in the US, and includes delicate Chinese ceramics from the Song and Ming periods (960–1279 and 1368–1644) and a copper Bodhisattva statue, inlaid with precious stones, from Nepal. Equally fascinating are the museum’s other cultural offerings, including Asian films – keep an eye out for screenings of lively Bollywood movies – and dance performances, concerts, and theater.

Kids’ Corner

Find out more…

The Asia Society explores the history of Asia, including famous inventions, such as kites. Where did kites originate?

< Upper East Side

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Around

Mosaic detail inside the Jewish Museum

It is hard to miss the Guggenheim Museum, with its distinctive spiral architecture rising elegantly over Fifth Avenue. The surrounding area is an inviting blend of colorful boutiques, leafy residential streets, restaurants, and cafés. The biggest draw for kids, of course, is Central Park, which lies a short walk from the museum, and abounds with outdoor activities. The fragrant Conservatory Garden is perfect for a stroll among flowers and fountains. It is best to negotiate this area on foot, but for quick hops between sights, taxis are readily available.

1. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

2. Jewish Museum

3. Museum of the City of New York

4. El Museo del Barrio

Scrutinizing the art at El Museo del Barrio

1. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Splendid architecture and inspiring art

The museum’s spiraling walkway

Housed in what looks like a giant inverted spiral shell, the Guggenheim Museum is as famous for its building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1950s, as for its stunning collection of art by painters such as Kandinsky, Picasso, and Chagall. To explore both, head to the top via an elevator, then walk down the continuous spiraling ramp for temporary exhibitions on one side and dizzying glimpses of the ground floor on the other.

Permanent Collection

1. Tower

2. Great Rotunda

3. Small Rotunda

• Before the Mirror (1876) Edouard Manet captures a 19th-century courtesan viewing herself in the mirror.

• Yellow Cow (1911) Franz Marc loved animals, as can be seen in this painting of a joyfully cavorting cow.

• Paris Through the Window (1913) Marc Chagall depicts Paris as an illuminated cityscape with mysterious figures.

Gallery guide

The Guggenheim showcases its permanent and temporary exhibits across all its spaces. The Great Rotunda is often the site of celebrated temporary shows in addition to displaying parts of the permanent collection, while smaller galleries also feature works from the permanent collection, which ranges from splendid Impressionist pieces to contemporary paintings.

Left Yellow Cow (1911), Franz Marc Middle Before the Mirror (1876), Edouard Manet Right Paris Through the Window (1913), Marc Chagall

Kids’ Corner

Look out for…

1. As you walk around Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous spiral building, what sea creature are you reminded of?
2. Look at Marc Chagall’s famous painting Paris Through the Window. What famous building do you see depicted in the painting? Also, can you spot the heart?

3. 

   Observe the exterior and interior of the Guggenheim Museum building. What shapes can you see?

In a stroke

Look closely at Picasso’s famous painting Woman with Yellow Hair. He used continuous, fluid lines in many parts of the painting, most notably on the woman’s face, from forehead to chin.

A deserving home

Frank Lloyd Wright initially resisted building the Guggenheim in New York. He wrote, “I can think of several more desirable places in the world to build this great museum, but we will have to try New York.” To Wright, the city was overbuilt, but in the end it became the ideal showcase for the museum.

2. Jewish Museum

Jewish art from around the world

Children’s art project in full swing at the Jewish Museum

New York City, with its rich Jewish heritage, is a fitting home for the renowned Jewish Museum. The museum came into being in 1904, and moved to its current location, a lovely French Gothic chateau on Fifth Avenue, in 1947, putting it in the middle of Manhattan’s famed “museum mile.” In addition to its collection of more than 28,000 pieces, from paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts to photographs and archaeological artifacts, the museum houses classrooms, an auditorium, and an inviting café.

The central exhibit, Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey, explores the myriad ways in which Jewish culture has evolved over the centuries. The museum also co-hosts the well-known Jewish Film Festival in January, show-casing a range of movies on the Jewish experience.

In Archaeology Zone, kids can dress up in period costumes and try their hand at being an archaeologist by exploring methods used to conserve artifacts after a dig.

Kids’ Corner

Find out more…

During Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light, a special lamp is lit. The Jewish Museum has a version featuring eight candleholders. Can you find it?

Jewish heritage

The Jewish Museum has artworks and other objects from around the world, spanning 4,000 years. Each tells a story about what it means to be Jewish.

3. Museum of the City of New York

All about NYC

Grand facade of the Museum of the City of New York

The small but appealing Museum of the City of New York, housed in a 1930 Neo-Georgian building, features an eclectic mix of exhibits, including the New York Toy Stories, with dollhouses and sports equipment from the early 19th century. There are a number of exhibitions ranging from the city’s history to fashion, photography and fine art, while the Trade exhibit focuses on New York’s role as a port from the 17th century. Northside galleries will be closed for renovation until 2015.

Kids’ Corner

Find out more…

In the Museum of the City of New York you can find out everything about the city’s history, including the first people to settle here. Do you know who they were?

4. El Museo del Barrio

Latin American art and culture

A family walking past El Museo del Barrio on Fifth Avenue

Reflecting the heritage of its neighborhood, Spanish Harlem, El Museo del Barrio opened here in 1969. It covers over 800 years of Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American art and culture. Walk through a colorful visual timeline, beginning with pre-Columbian objects of the Taino people, who first settled in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Ancient artifacts include carved amulets of small figurines, said to bring luck or protection to their owners.

Also on display are modern art and photography, with many pieces revealing the powerful connection between Latino artists and their adopted New York home. Look out for Roger Cabán’s 1970 photographs of New York street scenes, featuring sidewalk vendors and barber shops. The Nexus New York exhibit showcases the pioneering Caribbean and Latin American artists who helped shape the avant-garde movement in the 1920s and 1930s, and includes vibrant works by Mexican muralists such as Diego Rivera and paintings by Frida Kahlo.

Kids’ Corner

Find out more…

Look for Mexican artist Diego Rivera’s paintings at El Museo del Barrio. What kind of work was he most famous for creating?

On the menu

At El Museo del Barrio’s café, you can sample lots of delicious Latino cuisine, including: empanadas (a type of pastry stuffed with different ingredients, from chicken to ground beef). The menu also features sopa de platáno verde (green plantain soup) from the Dominican Republic, almondegas (meatballs) from Brazil, drizzled with guava sauce, and aguacate relleno con ensalada de atún (avocado filled with tuna salad) from Bolivia.