Money - to think of America and New York City, is to think of money. No other single object has been such a driving force for power and prestige than money. The Museum of American Finance houses a collaborative history celebrating money and the American free-enterprise system. Walking into the brass and concrete entrance you will see several displays focused on the growth of American commerce and the spirit of entrepreneurship. Visitors have the opportunity to look at many of the economic issues that have faced America, including exhibits dedicated to the history of money and the stock market. Spring 2012 brings two new exhibits to the museum. “Checks & Balances” focuses on the presidential side of economic security and the issues each president has faced. The second exhibit is the credit crisis which focuses on the bottoming of the stock market in 2007 and displays the vast change that resulted in the American financial institution over the last few years. The Museum of American Finance, Manhattan, is a unique perspective into a hub of the United States. If you wish to understand more about money and the desire to better the economy, then definitely make a stop in here.

Manuscripts from the Bodleian Libraries. September 14, 2012 - February 3, 2013. Crossing Borders features a superb selection of over fifty Hebrew, Latin, and Arabic manuscripts from the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries, one of the world’s richest collections of manuscripts and printed books related to medieval European Jewish culture. The manuscripts, many of them exquisitely illuminated, illustrate the fertile exchanges among Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the fields of religion, art, science, and literature. Included is one of the Bodleian's greatest treasures: the magnificent Kennicott Bible. Many of the works in the exhibition are on view in the United States for the first time.
For thousands of years, the Jewish heritage has helped shape the world’s societies and changed the landscape of art, literature and culture. The Jewish Museum located in Manhattan has been built exclusively to take visitors on a journey across the world and through time. Housed within the illustrious Warburg mansion on New York’s famous Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum comprises over 27,000 separate items all dedicated to the Jewish culture from hundreds of years old pressings and paintings to the most recent digital and video displays. Visitors can be drawn to these numerous exhibitions and have a variety of guides explaining the significance of the work and how it applies to today’s society. Also included at the museum, is a uniquely comprehensive body of radio and television programs related to the Jewish experience which allows visitors to fully grasp the conceptual application of Jewish culture. Spring 2012 offers a very special installation by Barbara Bloom; the first in a projected series featuring contemporary artists interacting with collection works. The entire Jewish Museum experience is one that is eye-opening, heartfelt and allows the world to understand how the Jewish people have continued to thrive and produce through perseverance, dedication and a will to better the world around them.

Folk Art is an award-winning publication of the American Folk Art Museum. The editorial content is geared toward collectors, scholars, and the museum community interested in traditional and contemporary American folk and decorative arts. Folk Art is a membership benefit and delivered to a targeted national and international readership. In addition, Folk Art is sold at the two museum shops and on select newsstands throughout the country. Folk Art is a nonprofit magazine and is part of the educational programming of the American Folk Art Museum.

Just steps from the "Charging Bull" sculpture, Battery Park and The Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Foundation and walking distance from many favorite New York City attractions, lays the home of the greatest tribute to skyscrapers of NYC. Celebrating the great architectural history of the city and boasting many scale models this Manhattan museum houses a vast resource of information in print and via computers, chronicling the architecture, building styles and techniques used to create the great hub that is New York. Saturday mornings are all about family, with a rotating schedule of enticing events that families are sure to enjoy. Explore the principles of urbanism, architecture, and engineering through hands-on activities, a great way to get the family together to learn really intriguing facts and functions. The Skyscraper Museum also shares a building with the Ritz Carlton; so, after your fun-filled day you will surely want to stop by Crumbs Bake Shop and get yourself a taste of awesomeness offering a wide variety of flavors to satisfy any sweet tooth. The s'Mores cupcake will definitely leave you longing for s'more to take home and enjoy! Leave the area satisfied that you have learned most everything about the buildings that surround and captivate you.

What is more life-like than life itself? The Cooper-Hewitt Museum in Manhattan asks this very question and provides a look at both the contemporary and historic design that helped shape our nation and the world. As part of the Smithsonian, one can expect an immense amount of information available for patrons that walk into this New York City museum. The curators strive to generate a more educational understanding of design and seek to show perspectives often overlooked by more conventional wisdom. The beauty of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum is not just within the museum itself but in the numerous programs endorsed by them as well. Visitors may find themselves in the design center watching today’s architects and designers formulating plans for tomorrow. They may find themselves in one of the museum’s renovation programs such as the Summer 2012 project on the Carnegie Mansion. Visitors may even find themselves attending special travelling exhibits endorsed by the museum such as the special summer exhibition of “Graphic Design-Now In Production” featured on Governors Island. The Cooper-Hewitt Museum is a very special destination and a true cultural landmark for any New York City experience.

There are very few places in the world that showcase an abundance of African influence and culture quite like Harlem. In the midst of Harlem lies the Studio Museum which houses work influenced by the African heritage and sets forth a dynamic exchange of ideas and society for all who visit. Inside this multi-story loft, patrons will find not only African artwork and sculptures, but also a plethora of photographs, writings and film all dedicated to enhancing your awareness about the beauty and rich cultures of the African people. The Studio Museum takes this learning experience a step further by offering a wide variety of education and public programs. Some of these programs include guest lectures, dialogues, performance art pieces and interpretive interactive displays. In Spring 2012, the museum will be continuing its tradition of offering unique exhibitions by featuring “Shift” which is a group of autonomous installations broken down and enhanced for the advanced understanding of African influence. The Studio Museum is a fantastic place to visit while in Harlem for people of all heritages and allows you to better understand the power and depth of the African culture and its integration into America.

One of the most overlooked eras of art is the European 19th to early 20th century works of such artists as Alma-Tadema, Barye, Leighton, Merson, Navez, Picou, Troyon, and Vernet. The Dahesh Museum of Art was opened with the sole principle of bringing these incredible pieces of art to life. The genesis esperienced at this Manhattan museum expands knowledge and impacts the world with these forgotten treasures. Within its cozy and small interior lie several exhibitions that showcase these artists and promote the vision on which the museum was founded. As the museum is more geared towards the education on this lost period of art, patrons are able to enjoy in-depth analysis of the work as presented by the museum curators. In Spring and Summer 2012, the museum has continued to acquire new and unique pieces with special focus being drawn to a variety of oil on canvas works which are sure to open eyes and enchant minds to all who visit. The Dahesh Museum of Art is more than just another theater district tourist attraction; it is an added value experience of a lost era that Manhattan is proud to call its own.

Nothing has shaped the world quite the same as sports. On the heart of Broadway in Manhattan sits the illustrious National Sports Museum which is dedicated to featuring the celebration of sports and the impact it has had on our culture and our lives. Inside this technologically advanced structure is an amazing assortment of interactive exhibitions, in-depth retail areas and some of the finest dining in all of New York. The center attraction begins with the immersion theater which is a 360-degree display that shows a presentation on the history and progression of sports. As visitors continue on, they will find themselves in a variety of different exhibits dealing with every major sport imaginable. You will get to see a historical timeline of the individual sports as well as video presentations on what makes that sport so great. Another feature of the National Sports Museum is the exploration of the perfect athlete. The museum presents the mental, physical and psychological preparation that goes into becoming a great athlete. Through the science, the presentation and the sheer charisma that this building produces, the National Sports Museum is a landmark in New York and one of the single best experiences available to sports fans today.

Set against an absolutely stunning cascading waterfall and reflective pool sits Manhattan’s premier link between Japanese culture and the American people. The Japan Society is a hotbed of activity and display with the central message of establishing a comprehensive link between Japan and the United States. With a constantly rotating selection of exhibits and displays, the Japan Society is an always fresh experience that encourages multiple visits in order to fully grasp the underlining message. While there, visitors are also able to engage in a variety of other ways, including visits to the Japan Society library, special guest lectures from a variety of Japanese-American artists and influential people, hands-on workshops and special seminars dedicated to shaping the global leaders of tomorrow. Spring 2012 brings a look at the political application of the museum as they delve into Japan’s role with the United Nations, and the healing and rebuilding process facing Japan after their multiple catastrophes over the last several years. Summer 2012 continues with a concert by Japan superstar JERO with benefits from sales going towards the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. The Japan Society is an ever-growing hub of information and offers some of the most professional and informational materials in all of Japanese and New York culture.

A state of the art Fire Safety Learning Center located adjacent to Radio City Music Hall at Rockefeller Center in New York City.
At the Fire Zone you can learn about the power of fire. At the Fire Zone you can climb on a real fire truck, try on bunker gear, meet a firefighter, feel a "hot" door and learn to crawl through a smoke-filled hallway, even in the dark. At the Fire Zone you can learn to identify hazards in your home, and help your parents make an escape plan. At the Fire Zone you will have a first-hand experience in respecting fire and learn what to do in an emergency.

One of Manhattan’s most breathtaking displays is located at the Frick Collection. Before you even step foot inside the museum, you are greeted by the house built by Henry Clay Frick reflecting a sense of excellence and exuberance unlike anything else. The real treasures of the Frick Collection lie inside as the museum plays host to some of the most wonderful pieces of artwork every collected from the Gilded Age. Visitors can set out by themselves or join a guided tour in order to experience fully the vast treasure of wealth in the collection. Summer 2012 sees artists such as Renoir and Antico predominantly featured throughout the exhibits, capturing a sense of awe from all who gaze upon the work. The Frick Collection is also privy to a great many guest lecturers who specialize in this artwork and are sure to enlighten and inform those lucky enough to be in the room. An added attraction to the Frick Collection is the frequent concerts that are played on the grounds featuring classical ensembles. Manhattan’s Frick Collection is a symbol of culture that transcends generations and offers an opportunity for all New Yorkers to experience the true meaning of the word class.

Heralded by The New York Times as “an institution in its ascendancy”, El Museo del Barrio was founded in 1969 by artist Raphael Montañez Ortiz with the support of a group of Puerto Rican educators, artists, parents and community activists in East Harlem’s Spanish-speaking El Barrio. Since then, El Museo del Barrio has evolved into New York’s leading Latino cultural institution, having expanded its mission to represent the diversity of art and culture in all of the Caribbean and Latin America.
As the only museum in New York City that specializes in representing these cultures, El Museo del Barrio continues to have a significant impact on the cultural life of New York City and is now a major stop on Manhattan’s Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue. El Museo del Barrio thrives on the sustained excellence of its collections, exhibitions and public programming.

Bright displays and unique settings make the scene at Manhattan’s only contemporary art museum in the New Museum of Contemporary Art. This New York City Museum is distinctive, embodying traditional thought processes of those of contemporary artists in an impactful display much different than your traditional plate glass and roped off museum. The museum itself is open to the public with a vast variety of unique pieces and constantly has new things for visitors of all types to see. This Manhattan museum sports all kinds of exhibitions, ranging from sculptures, music and art of all sorts whether traditional or abstract. Contemporary Art is exploding with a creative variety that gives a little bit of something for all art lovers and art novices alike. Visitors under 18 can enter for free, and new exhibits continue to arrive in the Summer 2012. These new exhibits will be including work by Ellen Altfest, Phyllida Barlow, Tacita Dean, and other great talents from overseas. The New Museum of Contemporary Art promises to give a matchless and lasting memory for its visitors and expand our knowledge to a broad spectrum of creativity from around the world.

Home of the Miotte Foundation, is committed to an exploration of “art within a context.” This approach favors a program of exhibitions which reflect contemporary human experience across a broad spectrum of cultural, social, environmental and geographical contexts. CAM’s exhibitions, each supported by a rich series of related cultural events and educational programs, seek to support in both its artists and audiences a sense of creativity, community and cultural exchange.

The Museum of Chinese in America has the distinction of being one of the first museums to provide a link between the enriched Chinese culture and American society. Located in Manhattan, the Museum of Chinese in America strives to be a model amongst interactive museums and provides a cultural experience unlike many others in New York City. The museum itself curates and displays an expanded collection in a variety of innovative ways. Want to learn about the Chinese immigrants living in California? Why not watch it in a multimedia production available on the main floor. Want to bring a Chinese fieldtrip to school? Take advantage of the museum’s educational programs and curriculum. The museum also offers oral histories and firsthand accounts through its community workshops and projects giving visitors a strong sense of what the Chinese culture is all about. Spring 2012 continues in the traditions of innovative exhibits by featuring new displays focusing on the Tiananmen Square massacre, the history of Chinatown, and a walk through Chinese America in the Artists Talk series. The belief is that by increasing local and global dialogues, New Yorkers and Chinese alike will promote wellness and shape a better tomorrow. The Museum of Chinese in America is dedicated to doing just that.

Between two beautiful sculptures that tell the story of the Americas lies the entrance to the amazing architecture of the New York branch of the National Museum of the American Indian. A step inside and you will be astounded by the beautiful exhibits canvassed amid architecture that will keep you buzzing for years to come. Adjacent to Battery Park, this vast collection of years of artifacts, culture, and knowledge also boasts FREE admission! Of all the New York museums and cultural attractions, it is a great place to take your entire family. This is one of the Manhattan museums that features films for public viewing. It also provides great music and dance programs; talk about fun! For teachers, the museum even offers materials listed by region or tribe for use in the classroom. You really feel and experience the desire of the museum to reach out to everyone in an effort to get the huge collection of knowledge and information it contains out there. A good place for a field trip or a part of your family vacation that won’t break the bank, a visit to this museum really gives a sense of pride for the great land we call America.

Medieval Europe in New York? This implausible statement is very much a reality as you approach the Cloisters Museum branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This section of the museum has been built to resemble the architectural elements of the middle ages and takes you back in time. The museum itself is devoted to the art of the time period and offers a traditional museum experience by shares the faith of all the artists and artisans with work on display. The Cloisters is highly dedicated to maintaining its religious roots with the restoration of the Fuentiduena Chapel, featuring the most magnificent stain glass and hand crafted religious artifacts. The Cloisters has also been known to have a feel of a mini-city with their own restaurant and botanical garden designed to enhance the visiting pleasure. Summer 2012 continues with the traditions of bringing Europe to the masses, as more exhibits are on tap to make their way through the hallowed greatness that is the museum. If you are looking for a nice escape from city life and desire to feel transported into the world of yesteryear, then a trip to the Cloisters is highly recommended.

The Center for Jewish History is home to the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Sephardi Federation, the Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.
The collections at the Center constitute one of the most important resources for the documentation and exploration of the Jewish experience and include old and rare books, periodical collections, photos, memoirs, official decrees, personal letters, and contemporary publications about all aspects of Jewish identity. The art collections include posters, paintings, sculptures, archeological artifacts, historical textiles, and ceremonial objects.

Two beautiful lion sculptures perched on pedestals in all their majesty, greet you at the entrance of the Hispanic Society of America, upon walking up the grand stairs and into a world of vast history and culture. Amazingly enough, the admission at this Manhattan museum is free, in addition to the wealth of resources they provide for the curious mind. The vast collections here are unparalleled, with information on nearly every aspect of culture in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Boasting many archeological artifacts, paintings and sculptures, one will be awestruck at the beauty surrounding them. Just stepping inside this Manhattan museum provides great insight to the Spanish culture. Stop in and take a look at the wide variety of earthenware and porcelain artifacts from other museums. The collection of textiles is among the best in the world, with a fascinating selection of rare carpets that captivate and educate one in the history of each one-of-a-kind piece. If you are seeking to advance your understanding, gain a sense of self and your culture, or you if are simply desirous of surrounding yourself in the rich culture and beauty that abounds in this world, stop in for a spring or summer 2012 visit.

The Museum boasts habitat groups of African, Asian and North American mammals, the full-size model of a Blue Whale suspended in the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life (reopened in 2003), the 62-foot Haida carved and painted war canoe from the Pacific Northwest, and the "Star of India", the largest blue sapphire in the world. The circuit of an entire floor is devoted to vertebrate evolution, including the world-famous dinosaurs.
The Museum's anthropological collections are also outstanding: Halls of Asian Peoples and of Pacific Peoples, of Man in Africa, Native Americans in the United States collections, general Native American collections, and collections from Mexico and Central America.
The Hayden Planetarium, connected to the museum, is now part of the Rose Center for Earth and Space, housed in a glass cube containing the spherical Space Theater, designed by James Stewart Polshek. The Center was opened February 19, 2000. Source

Nothing says New York City more than a museum dedicated to what New York is all about. At the Museum of the City of New York, patrons are allowed to link the past, present and future of NYC through a variety of presentations and exhibits designed to show the timeline of what New York’s evolution. When stepping through its doors on Manhattan’s famous Museum Mile, you will notice that an extensive remodeling and expansion project is under way. Several floors of memorabilia ranging from photographs, prints, theater mementos, costumes, and more are displayed in such a way as to show the affluent history of New York and to instill a sense of grandeur the city represents. Through Summer2012, the museum is continuing to offer state-of-the-art exhibitions including demonstrations on the social and economic growth of NYC. Visitors are encouraged to look at the projects including “Capitol of Capitol” which deals directly with New York banks and their effect on the global economy and “From Farm to City” which showcases Staten Island and its change from rural farmland to an urban center. The Museum of the City of New York is a phenomenal experience and a treasured look at one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

Children, as much as anyone, need a place to go where they can experience the world and explore the possibilities of science, art and society. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan gives families an opportunity to not only have a fun-filled and interactive museum experience but also to help jumpstart their child’s education. Located on the upper west side, the museum features some of the most unique and diverse exhibits in New York City. Children may find themselves in the EatSleepPlay center which allows them to build healthier lifestyles by experiencing hands-on the various functions of the human body. The family can then go to a live performance from a variety of top flight Broadway artists that all have a positive and enhancing message. In Spring 2012 the Children’s Museum celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by looking at various artists and writers who have helped shape the Pacific Asian culture. These artists and writers will be presented in such a way that children will grasp the concepts behind the work and help further stimulate their own thirsts for knowledge and understanding. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a great time for the kid and the kid at heart and welcomes all families to their door.

In today’s society, it is very hard not to see the influence of Chinese culture and how it has shaped everything from medicine to our economy. The China Institute in Manhattan gives a deeper understanding of China through their programs in education, culture, business and art, and gives a strengthening of the global community by enhancing the knowledge of East and West. Inside the building, visitors will find more than your traditional artwork and instead find an education hub dedicated to all forms of communication and education supporting the understanding of China. While there, one has the opportunity to explore performing arts programs, lecture series, short courses, symposia, film screenings and workshops all revolving around China. Spring 2012 has a special focus on Chinese architecture and features a book signing for the novel “Chinese Architecture and the Beaux-Arts.” This event includes an in-depth lecture on this fascinating subject and is to be used as a catalyst to better understanding the development of Chinese architecture. The China Institute is one of New York’s best and only links to our neighbor to the east and should be a destination of anyone looking to expand their minds and better their understanding of the Chinese people.