New-York Historical Society

I’ve heard excellent things about this museum so I stopped by and immediately did some shopping for my six year old train-​enthusiast goddaughter at the gift shop. I was able to briefly view the beautiful moving train display but the employees near the restroom were surprisingly rude (even as a paying customer) so unfortunately it deterred my family from visiting the exhibits and our experience stopped there. Hope customer service improves for other families that add this stop to their NYC itinerary.

I had never thought about visiting this museum, the oldest in the city, until I found out they would have the Batmobile on display. No, not the super-​charged, tank-​like prototype in «The Dark Knight» trilogy but the tricked-​out ’55 Lincoln Futura that was used in the 1966 TV series starring Adam West (photo:
). How cool is that. It’s part of the Superheroes in Gotham exhibition that runs until next month where they’re showcasing blow-​ups of vintage comic book covers to illustrate how New York City gave birth to the golden era of the superhero comic book (photo:
).
However, the museum turns out to be much more than that since it focuses primarily on the history of the city and the state. There’s a worthwhile twenty-​minute multimedia film on a continuous loop about the history of New York City in the main theater. Moreover, a constant rotation of special installations like the recent Al Hirschfeld collection makes the $ 20 admission a worthy investment, especially since it doesn’t attract the crowds that congregate at the nearly Museum of Natural History. Catch it before the Batmobile drives into the sunset… na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na Batman!

Where else can you see the Batmobile from the 1960s Batman TV series, intricate model railroads from pre-​war Germany, Edison’s patent application for the lightbulb, the 1948 IBM SSEC, and the Picasso tempera that used to adorn The Four Seasons restaurant — all in the same hour?
The permanent collection and special exhibits are well organized. Definitely recommend the free afternoon guided tour as well — docent Michael Wolf who led our tour was infectiously enthusiastic about New York history and added a lot of historical context and color to the cool objects in NYHS’ collections.
Try to check out the Silicon City and Superheroes of Gotham exhibits in the next couple months before they’re gone. It’ll be the easiest New Year’s resolution to check off your list.

Before coming here I thought that this was a museum about the history of New York. It is actually much more than that and way bigger than I imagined. It does contain many exhibits and artifacts thoughout New York’s history but is actually more a museum of American history. They have things from throughout the nation’s history like George Washington, the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, slavery, and much more. There is an interactive children’s section too.

Triumvirate of interesting-​sounding exhibits on our visit — superheroes, silicon city, & trains. We had free corporate entry, but use the Unilocal check-​in special if you’re not there on a Friday night /​you’re not as fortunate (and beware it’s a deceptively small place for $ 20, especially if the 4^th floor is closed).
Love the compulsory NY flavor at NY’s oldest museum
, with New York-​centric exhibitions (6 to 8 p.m.).

The New York Historical Society is a class act and represents NY at it’s best. Housed in a beautiful prewar mansion on Central Park West, it presents interesting and important aspects of NY through permanent and rotating exhibits.
«Superheroes of Gotham» is a small but fabulous exhibit, introducing the origin and evolution of our great superheros.
Starting with the introduction of Superman in 1938, then Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America, Spiderman, we see first addition comics, original superhero uniforms, hear radio broadcasts, see clips from TV shows and movies over the years, see photos and other cool stuff (like the original Batmobile and… Cat Woman !. meow!)
We learn about the creators of these Superheros and what it took to bring them into our life and into our American culture.
So… I know what you’re thinking… Well Mike, this is all well and good but… What does all these Superheros have to do with New York?!?
Well, for that you will have to go see for yourself, see if you are a good enough cyber slueth too figure it out, or if you’re really interested and stuck, message me and I’ll connect the dots for you. ;-D

The New-​York Historical Society (N-​YHS) is located in a block-​long building just south of the American Museum of Natural History at 77^th Street facing Central Park. The Society dates back to 1804, and despite for a time being NYC’s only museum, for much of its history it led a quiet existence, known primarily to scholars for its extensive library and special collections, as well as for holdings of fine art, including European and American paintings, especially from the Hudson River School, and works on paper, most notably the complete 434 original watercolors for John James Audubon’s Birds of America, bought from his widow in 1863. Since a financial and leadership crisis in the 1980’s (which culminated in drastic cutbacks and the selling off of most of their European paintings in the early 1990’s) the N-​YHS has acquired a much more outgoing personality.
Today the N-​YHS features exhibition programs tackling both City and national issues, a fine dining restaurant, and myriad events for children and adults (although there are some of us who still miss the quirks of their original auditorium in the building they’ve occupied since 1938). In 1994 businessmen Richard Gilder and Lewis L. Lehrman founded the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History whose priceless collection of 60,000 documents from colonial times to the present is now on deposit at the N-​YHS, where the Institute also conducts extensive public programs. The Society’s top floor permanent collection display is currently closed for (yet another) renovation, but there is still much to see. The range of their holdings is suggested by their current holiday display of model trains from their extensive selection which is itself part of their major collection of historical children’s toys, just one of their many strengths – Tiffany art glass lamps, most of which will be back on display in another year, are another!

I met up with folks from my Meetup group last Friday at 6:30 p.m. to visit the museum. It’s free admission from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Fridays. You do however need a ticket to go beyond the information desk – the guard that was close to the Batmobile let me know that real quick as I was trying to take pictures of it. I went to get my ticket and the cashier told me that while it is free, I can donate whatever I wanted. I made my donation, got my ticket and went on the visit the exhibits. Unfortunately, the third and fourth floor exhibits were closed due to renovations and from what I was told, those are the best ones – figures! There were only two exhibits on the second floor (the Superheroes in Gotham and Picasso’s le tricorne) and they also have toy trains and planes in the lobby area from the Jerni Collection. Also, I saw a sign stating that photography is prohibited in the exhibits. However, the guard in the superheroes exhibit let one person take pictures with flash (it would be hard not to notice the flash) and only after I looked at the guard with a confused look did he tell the person to stop. About 10 minutes later, I heard him tell someone who just walked in and was about to take a photo that it wasn’t allowed. It would have been fair if he was consistent and told everyone trying to take photos that it was prohibited. Personally, I’m glad I came on Friday because it’s not worth $ 20 to see half of an already small museum. I’ve definitely have experienced better especially living in the DC area where we have many museums at our fingertips.

I have been next door. I have to tell you, that this place is as good as it gets. Interactive displays, knowledge in the most of entertaining ways. Whoever curated and whoever led the renovation of the physical structure surely deserve recognition. The staff was excellent: friendly and experienced.
Despite it’s relatively small size, this museum and research library actually has a strong appeal. I dare you to walk in and not be drawn in and engaged in activity. I should also add that I am not a history buff but this museum definitely got me excited. Painting, audiovisual displays, seasonal displays (the Gotham in the City and their Holiday train exhibit), and interactive kiosks are among a number of the sights I enjoyed.
The Museum store is a nice touch to finish off your trip and so worth finding a memento to take home. Plus while I was there I joined and won a raffle for one of their January events on Civil Rights. Definitely worth a return visit.

After several visits I believe I have the permanent collection memorized. I love to go when they have a special exhibit. I often go with friends or relatives visiting from out of town.
The renovation is beautiful. If you are a fan of design and architecture it’s a must see. If you enjoy an educational experience you will certainly learn a lot. I always leave with a lot of information. I may not always remember it all but it is fascinating at the time. i get excited sharing my new found knowledge with friends and family. Like they care!
One things for sure, I take a lot of pictures! I love the sculptures and paintings. At times it is difficult to take a photo through the glass enclosure. I’m still learning.
If you have the time and interest on a cold Winter day, this is the place to go for a day of history and learning. You can also find a place to eat close by in the neighborhood. I found the food at the historical society restaurant was not enticing me to try it. I like to work up an appetite looking at everything then go elsewhere to eat!
I’ve never been disappointed in the special exhibits. I am sure I will return.

I just do not have a hankering for city or country-​based museums so perhaps that bias colors my opinion of this place. The actual explanations of how the city came to be, the gilded-​era millionaires and their horse and buggies in addition to the layout of the city just did not do it for me.
However, I am giving this place four stars because their presentation of special exhibits is stunning. Last year I saw «The Armory Show at 100» and it was a glorious display of what happens when art and history more directly intersect as the exhibit was celebrating the 100 year anniversary of when the 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art was in New York and how that exhibition’s works permanently changed the American art scene with its then avant-​garde American and European works.
Unsuprisingly, the paintings by Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky and Rosseau were clear stand outs while some of the works contained in the exhibit were deemed scandalousin 1913, which is funny considering that 100 years later a lot of the men featured in the exhibition are lauded as geniuses. I would definitely return for a special art-​related exhibition, otherwise the $ 20 seems steep for a view of history that does not particularly interest me.

Even when I lived in NYC, I wasn’t a regular visitor to the Historical Society. That changed a bit when they turned their fourth floor into a visual archive akin to an organized attic. It was a lot of fun.
I was disappointed that the fourth floor is currently closed for renovation but I came to see Pablo Picasso’s 20-​foot by 20-​foot tempera on stage curtain painting, Le Tricorne, from 1919. This hung at the Four Seasons Restaurant for decades and was supposedly so brittle and fragile in 2014 that relocation and restoration was especially difficult. In spite of its large size, it still looks fragile in the second floor gallery. I was afraid to breathe near this piece.
Without the fourth floor, though, my visit was short. With so much square footage temporary closed, for once I thought the hefty admission price was asking a bit much. Oh, well.

I visited the museum on a Friday evening when it is ‘pay as you wish’ after 6pm. The permanent collection is currently closed, so I got around everything in a couple of hours. I still enjoyed the many exhibits that were on show.
The film, New York Story is definitely worth seeing in the theatre and runs approx 18 mins long and is a good introduction to the history of the city.
I particular enjoyed the Hirschfeld exhibition through the decades and enjoyed seeing his work. The photography exhibit about Selma was also very good.
I feel that this is the type of museum you can visit over and over and see something different every time. If you have children, the children’s museum looked lots of fun, which a lot if interactive exhibits and a library.

I seriously enjoyed my visit here because of the exhibits. The exhibits are so informative. The pictures are nostalgic, historical, and integral history lesson as my staff and I educate our students about the auspicious history of our wonderful city.
We scheduled a tour guide, however the guide cancelled the day before via email and we were on our own, which was not cool because junior high school students should not be left to their own devises. The security staff complained that our students were loud, but one of guards was extremely loud and obnoxious in his feedback. I had to complain to security company’s supervisor so that individual be reprimanded immediately. The staff and management was apologetic, but the mood was ruined.
However this experience was saved when we visited the gift shop and met a magnanimous sales associate Mr. Mulvey-​Reyes. He was informative, friendly, and professional. He was a joy to deal with, he was passionate about his job and the history of our spectacular city.
Please, please, please visit the civil right exhibit, the pictures were breath taking.

Amazing!
We visited another of of NYC’s museum treasures yesterday. We spent a lot of time in three large exhibits on the Chinese American experience, James Audobon’s drawings of birds, and a fascinating look at the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and American Jews.
Lincoln had both a personal fondness and a humanitarian principle involved, and the display traces his life and death touching base on this theme throughout. If you love history, and want to learn more about one of America’s epic legends, you really should see this one. You can pick up a hand held device that plays tracks explaining the exhibit, based on numbered markers throughout the rooms. One of the last displays was excerpts of four eulogies given by American Rabbis after Lincoln’s death. That was beautiful.
The museum has a 9 – 11 display on the first floor– a backdrop of dozens of photos behind a shiny red but mangled door of a fire engine.
Be sure to check out the multi-​screen movie on the history of NYC, it was wonderful, and ended with Jay Z’s «Empire State of Mind» as the lights go on.

*the fourth floor is currently closed.
*very interesting exhibit on Chinese-​American Exclusion/​Inclusion. There is also a wall with short summaries of important Asians who shaped NYC today.
*the New York Story short film was to the point and explained how NY became what it is today in about 18 minutes.
*other cool things you’ll find here includes black and white photographs of Martin Luther King, Jr., tons of detailed drawings of birds, and a huge exhibit on Abraham Lincoln.
*don’t forget to check out the children’s lower floor. Even though it is definitely geared for kids, it looked like a cute, colorful mini library.
*my favorite were the Tiffany lamps!

Visiting The New York Historical Society, I couldn’t help but feel déjà vu, as this place has a lot in common with its East Side sibling located across Central Park, the Museum of the City of New York.
The biggest difference here is price: adult prices at the Historical Society are $ 19, compared to $ 14 at the Museum of the City of New York. The MCNY, however, also includes admission to the Museo del Barrio (which I don’t recommend by itself, but that’s the topic of another review).
With the exception of the Chinese American Exclusion/​Inclusion exhibit, I really couldn’t tell the two places apart (except MCNY has better views of Central Park). I’ll echo fellow Unilocalers in saying that it was an informative experience incorporating comics, props, and historical photographs, but it is only a temporary exhibit sadly.
While the Historical Society’s permanent collection is rich, it is small and does not justify the steep admission price.

My boyfriend and I tried to visit the Museum of Natural History in an insane hail storm, only to find the entry line wrapped along the corner and rude tourists cutting the line at their leisure. Tired of the constant assault from the hail, we decided to enter this museum instead: cute entryway, no line. Decently priced tickets ($ 19 for adults, but $ 16 if you check in on Unilocal and use the offer!), and a free coat check.
The museum is much smaller than other museums in nyc, but the exhibits are very well done, very eye catching and interactive. The Chinese American exhibit was exceptionally well done with popup figurines that you could control and short descriptions that provided a lot of rich detail. The Chinese Exclusion act is not something that’s covered in depth in most high school curriculums so it was a great way for me to learn more about this!
The other exhibit that really stood out to me was the photography exhibit about the march on Washington. Stunning photographs about an important part of our nation’s history.
There is also a large hall full of paintings in ornate frames that showcase different parts of NYS both geographically and historically.
The main floor has some really interesting artifacts from Alexander Hamilton and George Washington as well as others.
Overall, there is quite a bit to see, the staff is super nice, and the exhibits are extremely well designed and maintained. Family friendly too, but not too many kids when I was there.

I came here specifically for two things: Chinese-​American Exclusion/​Inclusion 中國 and «New York Story» short film.
While this museum’s adjacent neighbor– American Museum of Natural History is always bombarded with long lines to enter the building, however, NY Historical Society’s admission line moves very quickly and yes, indeed, American Museum of Natural History’s prominent presence can be intimidating to overshadow a smaller museum. Again, as power of one I did not have to wait an eternity for admittance! With the winter season plus combined holidays there is a toy train exhibit where children and adults are immerse with toy train models. I personally like to see replicate train models from actual existing or retired trains powered by either coal, steam locomotives, diesel electric, but sadly there were none (i.e. Union Pacific Rail Road). The Chinese-​American Exclusion/​Inclusion is a very informative and well organized exhibit depicting the struggles, hardships of entering America to start a new life with particular focus on the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, a severe restriction of immigration from China which prevents all naturalization of Chinese immigrants. Visitors are fully immerse to see and feel our grief, discrimination, injustice endured being Chinese and what it means to become an American. It was all personal to me, a very emotional moving experience where I can totally relate that tears were spewing non-​stop. This exhibit also contain the Chinese captivity in Angel Island 1910 – 1940 where Chinese immigrants were detained and interrogated as an immigration station in San Francisco Bay, California. Chinese prisoners inscribed poems written in Traditional Chinese on Angel Island’s prison walls while detained for three decades. There is even an audio transcript of an immigration interrogation with an officer, immigrant responding in Cantonese plus translator. There is also a brief inscription of Chinese’s major contribution to the building of the U.S. Transcontinental Rail Road and the rising presence of «Chinatowns» in major U.S. metropolitan cities of San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. It is a history lesson in itself since most NYC Board of Education schools do not instill the importance of Chinese contribution to U.S. This museum is also equipped with interactive computerized screen tour guides. There are several life-​size portraits of notable Chinese Americans as Margaret Chin, NYC Councilmember; Kelly Zen-​Yie Tsai, spoken word poet; Jeff Yang, writer and journalist, Pearl S. Buck, writer and novelist, but of course, neglecting to include Michelle Kwan, figure skater two-​time Olympic medalist; Steven Chu, 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics, U.S. Secretary of Energy 2009; Amy Tan, author of «The Joy Luck Club»; Yo-​Yo Ma 馬友友, cellist; Jeremy Lin 林書豪, basketball player, et al. I highly recommend a visit to «Chinese American Exclusion /​Inclusion» to be well informed as we Chinese have our struggles, hardships but we are no different than Lo Fan white America with our personal stories of rise and success in pursuit of the American Dream. CHINESE 中國 presence is worldwide!
Moving forward. The other areas or floors of NY Historical Society was not interesting after Chinese-​American Exclusion/​Inclusion because it was primary white American history, plus the added wreak havoc by children running amok drained my interest for the rest of the museum. The lower level is an interactive children museum and library which can be crowded and extremely noisy with children screaming and running amok. «New York Story» is a 18 minute short film narrated montage similar to Museum of City of New York’s «Timescapes» but not very informative in respect to the formation of city, settlement by Dutch, British seizing, opening of the Erie Canal and images of September 11, 2001. However, the sound effects of Robert H. Smith Auditorium is theater quality and I really like how the different screens move up and down to retract and expand from 25 feet to 73 feet in width. I really like how the screen panels are synchronized to the images displayed revealing one large screen in the rear. At the end of this short film when the lights are turned on Jay-Z’s «Empire State Of Mind» song is playing overhead who later is joined by Alicia Keys.
Notes: Photography is permitted (without flash). Friday nights from 6 PM to 8 PM admission price is «pay as you wish.» The Unilocal mobile application check-​in offer for their Beer exhibit expired, ergo admission tickets are set at regular price, no discounts (on all levels: adult, student rate, seniors).

So glad I discovered this place! My bf and I went on Friday night because it was pay-​what-​you-​wish. I paid a pretty low amount and received no judgmental looks from the museum worker, which I totally appreciated (I’m looking at you, MOMA. Trying to make me feel bad).
I went primarily for the Chinese-​American Exclusion/​Inclusion exhibit. It was definitely above and beyond what I had expected. It was much bigger than I would have thought and had a lot of variety in the displays (interactive dioramas, photos, life-​sized replicas, a timeline shown through a comic strip, etc). I would recommend it – it took me an almost an hour to go through it.
There were also other exhibits like an Annie Leibowitz photography one (which I didn’t really «get» but it was very interesting) and some other awesome paintings and lots of model trains. I also spent a bunch of time in the museum shop… it’s not too big, but it was quite cheap compared to other museum shops I’ve been in. A good place for little trinkets or postcards.
All in all, I would definitely return in a few months when some new exhibits are up. There was lots to see. However, I’d probably only come on a pay-​what-​you-​wish night.

La New Nork Historical Société est une organisation culturelle américaine située à New York et dédiée à l’histoire de la ville et des étas-​unis. Elle comprend un musée et une bibliothèque dans un bâtiment néoclassique à l’angle de la 77e Rue et de Central Park West à Manhattan, face a Central Park.
La New-​York Historical Society fut fondée en 1804 et est la plus ancien musée new-​yorkais. Le musée comprend plus de 1.6 millions objets historiques et œuvres d’art qui documentent l’histoire des États-​Unis et de New York. Les collections de sa bibliothèque s’élèvent à un nombre total de 3 millions de livres, cartes, périodiques, manuscrits, photographies et dessins d’architecture.
C’est un grand bâtiment avec un grand hall et de grandes salles d’expositions, à la sortie il y a une belle boutique avec des objets des années 40, il y a aussi une belle cafétéria très cosy avec des plats légers.