I really enjoyed the New York Historical Society Museum. All of the exhibits were great and very interesting. I especially liked the Tiffany lamp exhibit, the Asia Society Museum collaboration exhibit and the Oval Office exhibit. My favorite, though, was the Bill Graham exhibit. The music, provided by a device that the Museum provided was just great. It triggered songs as I proceeded thru the exhibit. The artwork (concert posters) and photos were awesome. Bill Graham was such a prolific concert promoter. The exhibit really details this and his great impact on the music world.

This is one of the citys best small museums. Theres a great exhibit going on now about Bill Graham and the Fillmores

The Bill Graham exhibit is outstanding ,brought back great memories of the 69’S and 70’s. Lots of posters from the eta and the audio tour ( complementary) work very well. Also on exhibit an unbelievable collection of Tiffany lamps .

Very interesting museum. The exhibit on Tiffany lamps was absolutely gorgeous. The ticket price is kinda salty for such a small museum, but its totally worth it if one of the temporary exhibits grabs your attention.

I might have given 5 stars if I had had more time to explore. We stopped in to see the gallery of Tiffany lamps which was definitely 5 stars. They are beautifully displayed and are real works of art.

They are now open for both indoor and outdoor exhibition. NYHS is the oldest museum in New York. Smaller than other museums but a great place to learn about history. Current outdoor exhibition is very touching. Make sure to plan your visit and get your tickets online beforehand.

New-York Historical Society is fantastic! Its a great place to visit to take pictures at night even if the rest is closed. My kids and I enjoyed taking selfie photos here. Great for wedding pictures or memory pictures. This is definitely a selfie stick kind of moment. Bring the folks that come to town. Totally recommend this place.

It may be a small museum but it has an amazing arts displayed everywhere! My favorite here are the lamps, they are so beautiful!

Yesterday I visited the New-York Historical Society Museum for the first time and along with my 9 year old son and my 11 year old niece, we a had an excellent experience, learning about the history of our State. We were delight to seehow New york was in the past and is now. How women fought, to give us today womens the right to vote, and make our voice count. We admire each and of the story about our city, and we are so thankful to live a better New York at the present moment. Tyanks to all who makes this possibke fir us today! God bless each and one of you all.

Excellent exhibit on the history of magic with Harry Potter as the incentive to get us in the door. The fascination was with JK Rowling’s draft scripts from some of her series. Shows such hard work and genius! The shocker was the extensive Tiffany exhibit that just amazed us in every way! The craftsmanship, color, designs and brilliance of these lights amazed my entire family. Wish we had more time.

Nice little museum. We went to see the Holiday Express exhibit by Richard Scarry. Its a fun and somewhat interactive exhibit. My little one really appreciated the trains! We also went downstairs to the childrens museum and got to play and explore a bit. It was a bit difficult to navigate as some elementary school children were visiting the exhibit and it was a bit crowded.

Great collection of historical artifacts about New York City. Some great paintings, sculpture, decorative art and an amazing collection of Tiffany lamps and glassware. Several stories. Its collection of artifacts about 911 is particularly moving.

Nice place

Went with kids to Harry Potter show. If you are thinking of bringing kids younger than 15 at the show, stay home. Although the show is well put together, its really an assembly of items related to alchemy, witchery, etc. and some papers and pictures from Rowlings archive. There are no hands-on things, or anything that would be of any interest to a child. Considering the price, timed-tickets, parking, etc. it was a disappointment as the Harry Potter brand is used to bring in families with young kids...but its not for them.

We went to the Harry Potter exhibit at the Historical Society and it did not disappoint. The museum is nice on its own but the Harry Potter exhibit was awesome. The exhibit ended in January but they have different exhibits all the time. There was a exhibit on the Tiffany chandelier’s which was very pretty.

Amazing museum with most beautiful collections.

I know the historical society not as a museum but as a place for research. And it is one of my two favorite places to do research in terms of a physical space (the other being the main reading room of the New York Public Library humanities collection on 5th Ave. now called the Schwarzman Building).

This museum has great visiting exhibits; the permanent collection is hit or miss. The cafe downstairs is good, as is the gift shop.

Great museum, totally overlook but worth it.

Their New exhibit on child author Richard Scarry is absolutely wonderful! You may visit this exhibit for free. Its in the lobby of the museum! Definitely worth the trip!

This is the museum of the prestigious New York Historical Society. They have a great standing exhibit of the history of the State and rotating exhibits of small aspects of that history. The art and sculpture displayed are amazing. Of particular interest are the many pieces to be seen nowhere else of the celebrated Hudson Valley School of painters. Very interesting exhibits. Worth a visit. I thoroughly enjoyed the following exhibits: Tiffany stained glass lamps and women photographers The restaurant is expensive.

I’ve been to the museum last Wednesday 15/1/20. The costumer service was AMAZING, congratulations for the highly qualified employees working there! Special mention to Malcom Prince, Visitor Experience Specialist, for his outstanding attention! Thank you so much for contributing to a fantastic day in New York! I’ll be back

A fairly weird selection of exhibitions. It’s a matter of taste. If you like lamps and silhouettes then this is the museum for you. I found the museum a little confusing and several exhibitions were underway and not open. So it might be better once everything is ready for viewing. It was a bit small and eccentric for the ticket price on this occasion for me.

They have nice exhibits, current there is a wonderful selection of Tiffany lamps, and they have shadow origami.

The knowledge is so important learn.

Pretty awesome little museum with unique exhibitions, service was excellent and it was better than I expected....worth the ticket price!

Very interesting exhibits throughout the museum, of interest and relevance to most people. We enjoyed learning the history of the Revolutionary War in New York (George Washington encamped there), the history of the Hudson River and the first environmental protection efforts, historic photos of Muhammad Ali, the garment industry, Tiffany lamps and jewelers, and The Stonewall. The museum is well air conditioned and there is a nice snack bar.

Ive only been to their shop and cafe- very peaceful and great for a break after going through the galleries. I love how neatly the goods are displayed and the employees are so helpful. Baked goods are delicious and surprisingly priced like a normal coffee shop!

What a great treat the new york historical society is! Such diverse exhibits which are always changing. Some of the permanent collection is always on display. From the George Washington portrait that is the basis of the George on your dollar bill to the gorgeous glowing glass of tiffany lamps to shows through the ages and bill Cunningham there really is something fir everyone. Pay what you want on Friday.

Do the theatre experience downstairs. A brilliant snapshot of the history of New York City. Everything else was kind of average to me, but the theatre made it.

Good place to visit and the kids can enjoy the exhibition too.

Just the lamps section is well worth it.

Family book club events are a great learning experience that happens once a month and includes a review of historical artifacts related to the topic. The children’s museum is also a lot of fun and hands on and the train exhibit was great hit with the kids

Beautiful museum. Takes about an hour to walk through the four floors.

Nice place. All the items were properly placed . Their collection was also amazing. The atmosphere was calm and positive. All the stuff was very interesting and unique.

I attended the Malcolm Gladwell interview on 1-13-20. What a missed opportunity for me and my daughter. If my eyes were closed I would not have known who was the guest and who was the moderator. The moderator seemed to be in a contest as to who was more intellectually gifted him or Gladwell.Tonight I am attending “Churchill and the Jews” hopefully the moderator knows his function.Best, Barry Erdos

Nice hand made

Disappointing exhibits. They seemed like they were created quickly and temporary. The stonewall exhibit was hard to follow how it all related to stonewall, and over-simplified. It is presented in a hallway and a small room. Having lived through most of the content, I didn’t feel like it represented the experience for a younger generation. I heard guys in their 20s asking reasonable questions that were not answered in the exhibit. I wish they spent more time, it seemed rushed. Pretty disappointed. The staff was really sweet and the space was opulent and clean

The new show about women’s suffrage is very well done. Excellent presentation. I also went into the tiffany rooms. Beautiful work there - mostly by women! The Restauant was booked, even the bar, but the food there is very good if you make a reservation. $$$ though. The coffee shop has some breads and coffees. It is just ok. The whole building is full of interesting things to see and experience. Worth a visit for sure. Just beside the natural history museum it is a nice contrast to the Disney feeling at the natural history museum - though of course that is a wonderful place to visit too.

A real museum with three floors. Great for children and family visit.

A wonderful small museum on CPW. Make sure you watch the film on the history of the city which is excellent. They usually have several exhibits in addition to their regular exhibits. It’s not the MET - wasn’t meant to be - but makes for a nice few hours alone or with others. Has a great attached coffee house. NYC has many wonderful large and small art institutions. If you visit from outside the city take some time to visit the neighborhoods around the museums. NYC is a city of neighborhoods. Each has a special history and ambiance. Many people spend their entire visit around Times Square and Broadway and don’t visit the other wonderful neighborhoods. TS is a tourist trap. Visit that area to see a play and then spend time like a local. It will make a huge difference in your attitude toward the city. It’s not an easy city. Its often crowded and chaotic but a random left turn will lead you to something wonderful. Overall, it’s a safe city. There are very few bad areas here so don’t worry. The city has about 55,000 law enforcement officers that keep the city moving on good and bad days.

Went here because I had to for a college course. Glass is oddly and notably clean sometimes I didnt know there was glass guarding an object! Give the custodians a raise!

Nice space. Runs exhibits and talks. Also hosts educator workshops and produces educational materials.

Nice museum. Only spent 1 hour here. $20

Absolutely worth a trip for locals and tourists alike. I am a born and bred New Yorker and only recently went to this museum. The curators created a really accessible, interesting and educational exhibit with videos and historical photos documentation. I ended up staying longer than expected. I came back a month later and had lunch at Storico, their cafe/restaurant, and had an delicious shashuka. I would highly recommend a visit, particularly if you happen to the in the UWS.

Was a nice visit to see Harry Potter history

My daughter and I went in for the Harry Potter exhibit. I loved the gift shop more than the exhibit itself as I feel there wasnt much content. However, it was very well put and the types of magic were separated by sections, which is very nice.

This was very much worth the visit. The Tiffany lamps exhibit was amazing. The docent in the Tiffany exhibit was extremely knowledgeable not only about that exhibit but other exhibits also. She made the museum come alive.

One the best and most consistently best curated museums about New York !!Beautiful from all floorsFantastic gift shop and restaurantGreat children’s programs

One of the Oldest Museums in AmericaLocated in the Upper West Side, this is New Yorks oldest museum, founded in 1804 where cultural and educational experiences await you. This museum gives you a detailed perspective on NYCs past. Exhibits are varied and cover all aspects of city life. The permanent exhibits on the fourth floor offer a glimpse of urban living, including vintage toys, furniture and clothing.P.S. On the day we visited the museum, found some of the tour guides to be very noisy and loud - unfortunately that distracted me from my museum experience.

Great museum, its a hidden gem in that its often overlooked compared to the Natural History Museum right next door. The films they show are incredibly well done and makes the visit well worth it! They are must-sees and I highly recommend them, definitely my favorite part! Its like getting a ticket to the movies and a museum at the same time. I came here on a weekday and it was also very peaceful compared to the touristy Nat next door. I had a free admissions pass I got from an event, but if not, I do think the price is very expensive, and if not for the free pass, I dont think I wouldve come here. There are museums that probably have better value, but if you do have the money to put up, or manage to grab a free ticket outside, I highly recommend checking out this museum! As a New Yorker, born and raised, it got me to really love and appreciate my home and the city I grew up in!

Very varied collection of artifacts relating to a wide range of topics. Has very well-made childrens history museum in the basement. Probably best for kids that can at least read a bit though. Changing special exhibition that not necessarily have to do with NYC, but are certainly quite interesting.

Wonderful museum and collection of items and paintings. Especially loved the Tiffany lamps. The kids floor was well curated also and a great place for little ones.

Great exhibits and free historical movies

I highly recommend the current exhibition, Hudson Rising. This is one of the most sophisticated, and yet completely accessible (and fun!) overviews of the relationship between New York City history and the Hudson River that Ive ever encountered. The curators are clearly experts who have worked hard to create a visual and experiential journey across time and riverscape that you wont forget. Im an educator and Ive recommended this exhibit to everyone I know who wants to have a great museum experience while learning alot at the same time. Thank you, NYHS, for this fantastic exhibit!

Pretty Disappointing. New Brighton MN has a better history museum than the pitiful, dirty, smelly city of New York.

George Washington’s Hudson Valley Encampment was spectacular

$1 admission Is ONLY AVAILABLEFRIDAY 6PM TO 8PMOTHER WISE YOU HAVE TO PAY $23 GENERAL ADMISSION

I give it only four stars because, while the front desk staff was friendly and helpful, and the exhibits great, at the end, one of the closing security guards was VERY rudely and VERY persistently SHOOING (practically pushing) us out the door at 5:55, even though 6:00 is official closing and we were still admiring something near the front doors on the first floor.The collection itself is great, and I have to go back as I did not have enough tie to see all of it, fairly extensive and interesting.

I decided to post my very first 300 word history, just so you can see how basic and, well...corny it can be. For this one, I wrote about the first thought popped in my head regarding Kindergarten. Here it is;Kindergarten - I was five years old when I started kindergarten, but with a September birthday, I turned six soon after. Mrs. Baker was round and wore dresses every day. The first day of school, a little girl in my class cried and cried. She cried every day for weeks. I was curious about her. I watched her come in with her mother. Outside the door, she didn’t shed a tear. But once her mother guided her inside our classroom door, the water works began. She cried all morning. When she wasn’t shriek-crying, she was sobbing, her shoulders raising and falling dramatically. I don’t remember tears, but I do remember that she had a hyper-productive snot gland. She stood there helplessly while Mrs. Baker tried to calm her. Every morning it was the same. Every morning, Mrs. Baker assured her mother that Miss Cries-a-lot just needed a little more time. Months passed. Suddenly one day the classroom was quiet. She was gone and I knew exactly where she was before Mrs. Baker even made the announcement. She was next door, in another teacher’s room. You see, that little crybaby didn’t cry because she missed her mommy. She cried because she wanted to be in the other kinder class – the one with more toys. That’s what she howled about every single day. But that’s not the story Mrs. Baker told. During circle time that morning, she announced that the little girl was now in the other classroom because there were too many kids in her class. I suspect that every single one of my classmates had the same thought…”move me…move me.”After circle time, all the kids were playing when I approached Mrs. Baker. “She really got to move because she cried, right?” I asked. She didn’t answer. “Go play,” she said.She would later tell my mother how smart I was. “She figured out exactly what happened.” She shared.It didn’t take a rocket scientist.Now its your turn. Open up a page on your word procesor and begin with Kindergarten. Write just a paragraph or two of the first memory that comes to mind. Tie it up quickly and stop.Then challenge yourself to add to it regularly. As a writer, I find it is a good warm-up to the writing I must get done on a particular day. Or you may want to use it if you are stuck for what to write. And in the mean time you are doing something even more amazing, you are taking something that is yours and yours alone- a memory- and recording it for generations to come. Good for you! Write Now, Karen

This is properly one of my favorite museum. Its small, manageable to get around and not too big. The art here is just amazing, I wish I had some skills like that. Staffs are friendly and knowledgeable. Overall great place to visit.

I was at the Harry Potter Exhibit yesterday and although I enjoyed the visit, the people working there ended up ruining the experience. I unfortunately had a 6:00 time slot and being a huge fan, took my time. I had no idea it was closing until someone walked through saying “yeah we are closing in four minutes”. And that was all the announcement that was made. after I rushed through the next room I wanted to take a picture quickly in front of the first book cover sign in the lobby while waiting for my family and the man who stopped me was so rude and made me feel stupid because “the museum is closed”. I asked for one picture and he was so condescending about it. It ended up ruining part of the experience for me after months of waiting. This exhibition mattered a lot to me and just because they don’t care doesn’t mean they should take it out on the people who do. It was a great museaum but being treated like that deters me from wanting to go back again in the future. “Making history matter” starts with the way we experience it.

My favorite kind of museum: small, manageable, and of the highest quality. Saw an exhibition of of American folk art in which every item was special - I could have spent hours in the single (large) room. Picassos huge curtain on the second floor is one of the few pieces that might be a standard tourist attraction - and its gorgeous - but its mostly the small things that count.

Museum covered some good elements of NY history. Pretty quick run through unless you read every single thing.May not be worth the price if you dont do some reading.Very informative exhibit on the battle of Brooklyn and various figures in American history.

Went in for a quick visit but stayed for 3h. Loved it!

I was not that impressed, but it was not a waste of time at the same time I probably wont go back. TWO stars because for the price they charge it is not much of a value for the buck. The story of NY show/movie was pretty good. We were done in about two hours, this place is directly across from Museum of Natural History,( now that is a museum worth going!)

This is no doubt a great museum, but the Fourth Floor galleries have now been closed for almost two years presumably for renovation. How long does it take to renovate one relatively small floor of a museum? Some of the best items of the collection are in the Fourth Floor galleries, and yet the public has no access to this space. As a not-for-profit institution which receives a tax benefit, this museum should reopen the Fourth Floor galleries with or without a renovation. With the Fourth Floor galleries open it is a 4 star museum, without it, at best, two stars.

This museum is really dynamic from its first floor interactive exhibits to its older historical paintings. Their current exhibit of the Swing era in NYC was engaging and I was happy to see the placards alongside the paintings delve into the artists materials and references for each painting. The attached restaurant also has gracious and helpful staff. My only downside was the inability to take photos, even in the entry way to exhibits like Swing Time.

Great teacher workshops and exhibits.

If youre looking for a bit of New York history theres no place you should visit first. Inexpensive easy to reach and right in the heart of Central Park. Friendly and informative staff. Youll be amazed at how much our past paved the way for the country we live in today. Enjoy

Most beautiful place to learn your history. Very existing experience.

​Visited on a Friday evening, when it is pay-as-you-want. The allotted two hours (6-8pm) was more than enough to see all four exhibits. The 18-minute film, New York Story, showing at the auditorium, told the citys colorful history, highlighting its humble beginnings and rise as a global city. There is a small gift shop by the entrance.

Visitors and New Yorkers alike will want to keep coming back. The absolute must see is the New York City movie. I have the privilege of living five minutes away, born here more than eighty years ago and this movie still makes me emotional. If you have young kids, the DiMenna Childrens museum on the lower level will make your visit even better.These posts stay up indefinitely, so even though it is now under restoration, the Luce exhibit of American artifacts, antique everything is a no miss if it is open.Lots of good eating, Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History a whole minute away for a slow walker.

Great place for the whole family. I enjoyed the current Picasso exhibit while my kids enjoy the childrens historical hands on tour of New York history. Dont miss the historical film, regardless of your status in relation to thw city you will appreciate it and will feel a part of the great metropolis!

This child-friendly museum captures slices of New York history in a fascinating way. Head to the top floor to see thousands of artifacts from NYC, or check out the amazing featured exhibits (Audubon, the current one, is incredible and surprisingly thorough).The highlight of the Museums collection is Thomas Coles five-painting series The Course of Empire. The current exhibition location isnt ideal, but its worth the price of admission to see these incredibly detailed Hudson River School paintings.

We went to the NYHS for the first time today. I cant believe it took us this long to discover it. The Childrens Museum was lovely. Its spring break in NYC and it wasnt crowded. You could give your children the freedom to look around and explore. They had scavenger hunts, bingo and sketching and all the staff there was wonderful!

Great museum. Easy to get to on the B and C train. Kids museum on the lower level. Had 3 or 4 galleries upstairs. We spent about 3 hours.

Nice little museum. I would appreciate more information on NYCs history and more NYC related artwork though.

It is beautiful museum.

Its a solid tourist destination!

There isnt a ton to see here and what is here is just alright. There is a nice downstairs with a library like feeling that is good to relax and read a couple of books with the kids but if you are looking for a day trip head next door to the American Museum of Natural History.See if you can find the Alice in Wonderland head they have random placed here. (it is a replica of the Alice statue in central park)

One of our favorite museums to visit very close to Sarabeths which we also love.

Hidden gem, they did a phenomenal job with the harry potter exhibit

Had trouble parking in this area. The Historical Society is on Central Park WEST also, the streets around here can be confusing.

I didnt know what to expect from the New York Historical Society; I must admit, the name doesnt inspire much. Dull name aside, the museum offers a bunch of interesting exhibits, featuring artwork ranging from the founding fathers era to the early twentieth century. Exhibits are beautifully curated and do a good job at engaging the audience. We really enjoyed our visit.

Fascinating

Excellent, unique museum experience with an awesome children’s museum in the lower level and plenty for all in the upper levels.

This is a great museum with a full sized film theater, rotating exhibits from all corners of the city/country (when I went there I saw the History of Computing sponsored by IBM and the classic batmobile) and a charming interactive kids museum in the basement (seems perfect for like 3-6 year olds).

My Son attends the Saturday Academy- History of Comics and Prep for the SAT.. great program!! excellent!! my son is really intrigued by it! and I am very pleased!! thank you for offering this!!!Hope to attend many more programs.

Permanent collection of art and historical objects relating to the history of New York. A changing selection of exhibits relating to anything from AIDS to immigration to beer. Recently renovated to include permanent objects such as the roof the Keith Harings Pop Shop and a short film start your visit. Lectures, walks and films provide an added experience on evenings and weekends.

Eclectic grab bag of stuff. Some rotating historical exhibits and some really fun stuff, including a gorgeous and massive collection of Tiffany lamps on the top floor.

Great exhibits!

Buy the 2 for $20 Groupon to save you and a friend $10 each off admission. Enjoyed the 20-minute film about New York City narrated by Alec Baldwin, the IBM exhibits, and the interactive touch-screen games in the basement level. Was disappointed that the fourth floor galleries were closed during my visit.

A variety of interesting and informative exhibits. The Sargents in the WW I exhibit are stunning.

When the best part of a museum experience is the gift shop, you know youve wasted $20.00.The permanent collection was closed when I visited on 2/26/16. There were a handful of items on display on the main floor, but nothing memorable. There were also two separate exhibits: New York and computers (yawn) and a toy collection and that was it, well except for the aforementioned gift shop (some interesting books on New York history).

In a city that boats the Met, MoMA, the Museum of Natural History and the Guggenheim, some of the smaller museums tend to be overlooked, particularly when that museum sits right next to the aformentioned Museum of Natural History. While it may not have the dinosaurs that reside across the street, or any post modern sculptures, the NY Historical Society does tell the story of the city, as well as America as a whole. Although it boats being one of the oldest museums in NYC, if not the entire country, it offers up history through a slick multi-visual package, effortlessly merging the physical with the digital, giving visitors the deeper story behind historical artifacts. Topped off with a slickly produced mini-documentary covering NY from colony to present day, this museum gives every day New Yorkers pride and out of towners a mix of admiration and jealousy

Im in two minds about this museum. I dont think Id recommend it to more casual visitors looking to learn about NY history. I think to get the most out of it youd need to have a specific interest in one of the exhibitions. I was hoping for more displays of artifacts in context like they have in the lobby.

There isnt enough about new York history and the magic exhibits seemed to be lacking. The space seems to be used poorly for what was offered.

I went to the New-York Historical Society on Saturday, April 7. Id purchased a ticket ($48) online to hear a talk by historians Annette Gordon-Reed and Carol Berkin, part of the NYHSs Bernard and Irene Schwartz Distinguished Speakers Series. I presented the confirmation Id printed at home at the admission desk and was told that I could go right in.Immediately after the talk, I went to the Society’s gift shop and purchased Ms. Gordon-Reed’s new book ($19.54) so that I could have it signed.Signed book in hand, I visited the upstairs galleries. I returned to the main floor and tried to visit the Vietnam War exhibition where I was stopped by a museum guard and told that I needed to have an admission sticker in order to visit the galleries. I told her that I’d purchased a lecture ticket. She told me that I still needed to purchase a general admission ticket.The ticket seller at the main desk confirmed that I needed to cough up another $21 to visit the galleries. When I balked, and explained that I’d bought a ticket for the lecture she told me that I could come back on Friday between 6:00pm and 8:00pm and pay whatever I’d like to pay. I live 200 miles from New York City; returning on a Friday between 6:00pm and 8:00pm isnt an option.I looked over the NYHSs website and the Winter/Spring booklet promoting programs and exhibitions. If the society mentions that a lecture ticket doesn’t provide admission to the exhibits, its not in a prominent spot. They say that ticket sales are final, that the program is subject to change, and that late comers may not be seated. They dont say that admission to their events does not provide admission to the galleries. When I presented my ticket at the admission desk, no one warned me that Id still need a ticket to see the Societys exhibits.I shared this experience with an old friend who reminded me that the NYHS charged her $50 a day to use its collection while doing her masters thesis research in the late 1970s.Times may have changed in the last 40 years, but when it comes to extracting money from the public, the society hasnt changed very much at all.

Would like to come back when renovations are done. Think the price should be $10 when you can very easily go across the street for the museum of natural history for a little bit more.