The Skyscraper Museum is one of those small, relatively out of the way museums that a lot of people pass by without noticing. This a great shame because it is one of New Yorks best (and smallest) museums. It is highly informative with great exhibits and friendly staff. I spent 2 hours slowly wandering around the ground and first floor, taking in all this museum had to offer. It is well worth a visit and you will learn some fascinating and even surprising facts.

This is a small but relatively inexpensive ($5- $2.50 for students and seniors) architecture museum in Lower Manhattan. The museum is on the ground and first floor of a building . Its a little hard to find as there does not seem to be a sign on the street for the museum. Its across from the Battery Park Esplanade and next to the Museum of Jewish Heritage.The Skyscraper Museum focuses, as the name suggests, on skyscrapers, large buildings and urban infrastructure in general.The museums core exhibit is on super large buildings in various parts of the country . Their is a mural with the largest skyscrapers in the world- both already built and planned- each represented in a separate magnet so you can compare their sizes. Its a great visual aid to show kids their relative size .A recently opened exhibit is on building density.It explains how population density in various apartment complexes and buildings is calculated and what it means for quality of life. On the surface, this doesnt sound interesting at all but I found it fascinating as to how density equates to quality of life.An hour or two is all that is needed at the museum. A trip there , especially if you are near Lower Manhattan is highly recommended,

I would recommend this museum for architecture and building nerds only! Not really much of a must-visit New York attraction... Lots of reading and some cool models. Great section on the World Trade Center. Nonetheless it is cheap and small museum that does not take too much time out of a day.

I went with my professor Nicolas Bloom and hes had a huge hand in this housing exhibition. Hes so knowledgeable and gave a fantastic tour!! The architectural models were made by NYIT students and they look amazing. This is a small museum but its packed of good content!

A small, but beautiful and interesting museum. This is the world of skyscrapers. You get to know a lot of the history of tall buildings.

This is a small boutique museum near Battery Park on west side downtown NYC. The museum has some Great photographs of the early days of NYC’s buildings, as well as original photographs of WTC being built with background information, has a few scale models and a bookstore. The museum is fairly new as well as the building so it has a new modern look. The best thing about it is the monthly Children`s class about architecture and buildings. They work with the kids to build models of buildings & structures and learn about what is involved in the process of the construction. You can also get a annual membership that range from $35.00 to $1,000.00.

Great little place! The front desk and staff was very welcoming to my family and myself.. I really enjoyed the exhibit there was a lot of information on housing density that I didn’t even know and learned about..overall myself will be back with the family for future visits!

Very interest information for architects, engineers, and students. Also for those who likes tall buildings. The models and photos of 9/11 World Trade Center are great. Remember to make a reservation on line. Its a small exhibition . After you can enjoy Battery Park and the views of part of NY Skyline.

It’s very small museum about tall building around the nyc and the world.Most of them are pictures on the wall or tv. Lots of information but if you are not in the mood to read all those articles, it will be overwhelming.The front desk staff were very friendly.

Coming from a construction background I loved it. They went in depth to show you how a skyscraper is actually constructed

The tenement exhibit was great. The rest was alright. Maybe a little dated. Its hard for museums with contemporary material to keep up.Wish there was a stronger focus on history and tech of small buildings; less focus on whatever is the tallest building right now, and the World Trade Centers (the older building complex). I believe the history of the Trade Centers is important, but there are places that focus just on that with far more resources that (understandably) do a better job....But definitely worth a visit for the rotating exhibit.

Small but very informative and interesting museum if youre into architecture and how New York City looked like at different times. The fee was cheap too.

Very interesting museum which had a good selection of books in the store. The panoramic images of how the citys skyline has changed over more than 100 years was fascinating. Free for military!

Among the 12 museums i visited in NYC it was in the top 3. If you are into architerture and/or urbanistics and high-rise buildings, this is not just a must-see but a tremendously rich exhibition.

Its a tiny museum but makes it job done. You learn stuff about skyscrapers and 9/11. The time o spent here was about an hour and I read everything and touched everything I could. Good for the price!Recommended

Small but informative, a good choice if you have minutes before or after visiting the statue of liberty.

Me and my son had so much fun in this museum. As soon as we got in building entrance, the staff from the front desk treat it us so nice and friendly. We just had the opportunity to go to the second floor, but there was so much see and appreciate. It was so exciting to view videos and pictures of all those tall building from the past as well of the ones that we have in the present. Great experience. I recommend it to you all.

A small museum packed with information on some of NYCs most iconic buildings. If youre interested in architecture and history, worth a trip.

Informative museum, reasonably priced, and helpful staff.

Not sure what history of NYCHA has to so with skyscrapers? Overall a good presentation of history of building in NYC. No so much nationwide.

Simple small museum, about 20-30 minutes. It’s really more an urban planning museum. If you are really into an historical look at residential urban density, this is your place.

Like most others have said, this is a pretty small museum. There are a few cool scale models, but mostly pictures (posters) of tall buildings. There are some informative articles / information on population density and construction techniques. Also, the front desk people were very friendly, so it would appear they have solved that problem that other reviewers have mentioned in the past. Use your NYC library card to get a free Cultural Pass!

Interesting but very small place.

Great place for kids and adults to learn the history of the NYC skyline

Super cool museum in BPC! The curator-led tour was awesome, and the exhibits were unique and interesting!

Very nice place, it gives you information about engineering of sky scapper building in new York as well as from rest of world. Decent place, not crowded.

It was nice but I think it needs more videos and interactive exhibits.

It is like a city planning place. You can see how New York grew up and became an amazing world capital. Also, German architecture structure and Renaissence have a big impact on the city, we can see that step by step.

Its a great museum for people Totally worth coming here if youre interested in skyscrapers and their structures and history.

Interesting. Small museum. Lots to read and learn. Not good for young kids.

Well, its not very busy.... But really could of made the experience better, odd layout. Just go to keep the security guard company.

Unbelievable...small but so informative about NYC and other major cities. Current exhibit is about densification...

Really cute museum. You could really learn a lot from this museum

A decent, 10-minute activity, but it is quite petite. Theres some interesting stuff, but otherwise its pretty quick. $5/pp

Quiet place but interesting exhibit. Theres a student discount but even without it, its still affordable. Totally worth coming here if youre interested in skyscrapers and their structures and history.

Nice place.

Pretty boring, the place basically has you reading a bunch of text with some photos nearby. Most interesting exhibit was a couple of fridge magnets. Cant believe they make people pay for this. At least its cheap...

The Skyscraper Museum is located in New York City, USA and is the only museum in the world today. It opened on May 1, 1997. As its name suggests, the museum focuses on high-rise building design, product technology, construction location, and real estate investment to explore the history and future of skyscrapers. The museums mirrored stainless steel ceiling and ground visuals make the space very spacious. Carol Willis, founder of the Skyscraper Museum, is also a professor of urban planning at Columbia University and an architectural historian. Really amazing place.

Nothing much there. Very small. I thought I would learn the names and history of the skyscrapers in New York but it was very little information.

Its a nice collection of the history of skyscrapers in New York, BUT the woman who runs it is EXTREMELY RUDE. We walked in and asked for two student tickets and automatically she had an attitude with us like we were automatically supposed to pull out our cards. Then when we went to buy a model afterwards I set down my card in front of her and her reaction was dont do that to me put it in my hand like I will do for you and when my partner pointed out that she has seemed very angry ever since we walked in she said very forcefully Im not angry youre giving me attitude when we were doing nothing but being as polite as we could be given the situation. Then when she was still yelling at him he asked for the manager because it was simply outrageous she said I am the manager theres no one above me so you can just get out. I really dont recommend going here go somewhere where people will treat you like youre an actual human. It is no wonder the place was empty who would want to go to a place with service such as this? Steer clear.

Is a small museum but still cool!

Really good insight into modern architecture. Leart so much

Its a great museum for people that enjoy the housing history of manhattan and skyscrapers

Good museum, fair price!

20-30 minute visit to learn about NYC architecture in the 20th century. Some nice historical panoramic photos of the changing city skyline.

Fascinating insights. Interesting to find out about Chicago as well as New York.

My son & I recently visited this hidden gem in NYC. Its small and doesnt take much time to go through, but it is packed with so much information! Loved seeing the history of the skyscrapers. And the hostess up front was really friendly. I would definitely call this a not-to-miss place to visit!

Small but very nice museum. If you are a person who at least familiar with engineering and understand what challenges can be faced while trying to reach the skies - you will get lots of answers about how these challenges were overcome and also feel how this technology was developing through ages. Otherwise - save your time and visit something fancy.

Very small but was a cool experience. Was extremely hard to find for some reason. They also offer seminars for the kids but you have to book it early.

Lots of things to learn about the things that surround us in New York.

Ive been here several times and enjoyed every visit. The place is very small, but packed work a lot of information. There is a small permanent exhibit about the original World Trade Center and lower Manhattan. The admission fee is only $5, and the staff is incredibly friendly. I would give them a five off they were larger. They also have an amazing website that is worth checking out.

The skycraper musum was nice and small. The front staff had a little attitude which I found kind of disturbing. Overall the place was nice and clean. Its easy to go through everything. What I liked the most was that there was a lot of information. I was able to read everything and it help a lot with my project. They also have a lot of information on other countries large skycraper not only New York. I like how they also had electronic to see more pics and info about other countries skycraper. Nice job, just wish there were more space.

Small place that really does not have a whole lot to see. They have a few models and posters and old clippings that are interesting. Their exhibits are always changing. Some are better than others. WARNING: Their outdoor sign is very small. Im not even sure they have one. I walked past the place twice before I finally found it.

Cute little place! Bunch of cool history too - essentially tells and shows you how we got the modern skyscraper! Defintely recomend stopping by if youre in NYC!

Attended a book talk by Nicholas Adams, is was great!

Disappointing exhibits: much too dense and mostly a lot of reading. Fortunately the price is low.We did appreciate the friendly welcome at the entrance. They must have changed staff because the young woman at the desk was enthusiastic and cared about our opinion. Perhaps the special exhibits are better?

Nice small museum with a very interesting exhibition. Good museum, staff very unfriendly

Always an enjoyable experience. Cheap by NY standards, $5.00 per person. Easily spend an hour there. Very well researched exhibits. I Love architecture btw. The museum is modern and up to date with the rapidly changing scene of skyscrapers.

Very small museum, but definitely worth the visit if youre amused by the skyscraper world. It is very cheap and not crowded at all

A very nice museum. Very interesting with posters, archives from the 1930s,scaled displays and interactive demos. I learnt a few things going there. Thanks

What a mistake to walk in. The lady inside never looked at us, even when we asked about the museum. She was very rude for no reason.

Small museum, but very interesting detail about the history and political structure of lower Manhattan. You learn about important changes that have occurred in lower Manhattan over the past 100 years. You also get to see updated walking tour route for landmarks in the area. There is much more to learn about in this genre, and as this museum expands it will cover more details.

I really had a lot of fun and learned new things. It is is a really interesting place. Also great for school trips

(June 2018 update): My second visit was better than the last. The staff was more pleasant and attentive. They also now have special exhibitions to encourage visitors to come back. For a city that made skyscrapers famous, there should be a more comprehensive collection on display but I guess the size of the floor space is preventing them from expanding. Time for them to move to a bigger location.(2016) ​Small museum chronicling the literal rise of New Yorks skyline. Lots of vintage photos showing the early skyscrapers and the architecture employed. Other modern skyscrapers in other countries are also highlighted. Lady staff at the reception was rude and not helpful.

Cool history on the city’s tenements and planned housing.

The Skyscraper Museum is an architecture museum located in Battery Park City, Manhattan, New York City and founded in 1996. As the name suggests, the museum focuses on high-rise buildings as products of technology, objects of design, sites of construction, investments in real estate, and places of work and residence. The Skyscraper Museum also celebrates the architectural heritage of New York and the forces and people who created New Yorks skyline. Before moving to the current and permanent location in Battery Park City in 2004, the museum was a nomadic institution, holding pop-up exhibitions in four temporary donated spaces around Lower Manhattan since 1996.

Small, but interesting museun, only $5 entry, and will take an hour to look round fully

Nice enough museum. Plenty about the history of skyscrapers and some information on others around the world. Not so much information on the building of them. Not a big museum but then its only $5 to get in.

Wasnt what I was expecting or wanted, alot of pictures and small scale model of New York, staff (cashier) wasnt so welcoming either

Cool museum. Small space. Interesting showcases. Unless your tour is guided, there isnt too much to it. However, a guided tour is amazing! Great area and easy to get to. Lots of lovely pictures and a small gift shop in the front.

I enjoyed exploring the history through pictures. Great field trip site for kids!

A hidden gem if you want to make sense of the citys iconic skyline

Cant access the full museum, my nephews are disappointed. Im too

Ever wonder how this stuff is built? Well nows your chance to really find out how NY started and where the history of these tall behemoths comes from. Its free, mostly a quiet place so you can really take your time and enjoy. If your not an architect or someone who has a love of history, it might be better to come by with a tour guide so you can really understand some of the aspects but if you like a challenge and a bit of knowledge in your cap, drop by anytime and feel the history of these giants

Just a tiny museum. Maybe it worth it to visit it if your are around and have a pass that includes this as well, but otherwise, I dont recommend.

Cool architectural models. Great selection of urban planning literature. Clean. Very small museum: only one room of exhibits. Then again its only $5.00. A must-see if youre into urban studies and city planning topics.

Good for 45 mins visit

The idea of a skyscraper museum would be nice in New York. However, this is definitely nothing like I would have imagined it.The staff at the entrance is very rude and she seemed extremely annoyed by having another visitor.The museum displays few (low quality) printed pictures that a good research on google would do much better. Definitely not worth, even for as low as 5USD.

Nice museum. Very informative tour.

Very condensed summary of the history of tall buildings around the world. Space is small but there are many interactive and fun exhibits.

For a small museum, it left a big impression! Well worth seeing!

Small but more interesting than expected. Worth a quick visit

Small museum, but interesting if youre interested in the development of New York City and looking for an hour to kill. As long as you dont set high expectations, youll be happy with what you get.We were underwhelmed by the content, but found it interesting to see the history of how Sky Scrapers took over lower Manhattan and how they ranked compared to the worlds tallest buildings over time.

This is a walk around self serve-Take a pamphlet kind of place. It tells about a few skyscrapers like Woolworth Building and Freedom Tower.I saw nothing about Empire State building or other world renown buildings.The museum is state of the art and clean so I give it Excellent but it needs more information.For something so far out of the way in Battery Park, I would have liked to learn more about architecture, designers, etc than see a few models.Next time I will cross the street to the Jewish Museum!

Helpful people with lots of pictures and models

About 4 rooms total but only $5 to enter. A nice little break.

Small, but fascinating and certainly worth the visit!

This is a really small museum that is only one floor. I went there on a Free museum day. When I was there, they had videos in black and white showing the times when fashion and clothes that were made in factories were wheeled out in these carts. There are also structures that show which are the tallest buildings in the world which was very neat. At the time I went, they also showed how the old World Trade Center was built, as well as a miniature version of the Freedom Tower, as well as the surrounding buildings in the area - very cool!

Such a nice little museum! A lot to see at a small fee. But! Such uninterested and uncommitted staff. The girl at the counter almost looked angry for us to enter the museum. And later when we where looking at the things in “her” shop, instead of answering any questions she called up someone on the phone on speaker and told him about her dreadful week with us beside looking at souvenirs. I did not buy anything, did not want to interrupt her phone call. Sad when they have such a nice little place. Three stars that easily could have been five.

Great learning experience. With and without machine humans have been able to build

NYC skyscraper history with photos and text. You can get the same information on the web. There are four or five interesting models. Worth it if on a free day otherwise Id take a pass.

Lots of interesting information at a small price.

I hope this is just the beginning, I could see this place soaring to great heights (please pardon the pun). Currently this museum is just one floor but it has some really cool scale models of skylines around the world from NYC to Shanghai. Theres a lot of interesting historical facts about New York buildings printed on the wall, but I was surprised not to see more artifacts. I also wish there was an interactive element to some of the exhibits. Its a good start, hoping they build on this.

Small but very inexpensive. I would have loved to see even more historic info, but it was interesting.

The place was actually not bad, some decent history and models, but the girl on the front was rude, and she closed the door in front of the another visitor face at 5.25 pm when the museum is opened until 6.00 pm!!! And when I tried to chose some book to buy she followed me all the way and threw some stuff on the table so loud, like she tried to kick me out of the museum!! Ive been leaving in USA for several years and Ive never seen the customer service in museum like this even if its 5$ admission fee!!(some national museums are free just to let you know) Better check wiki guys , save your nerves and time!

Interesting exhibit. Small museum but lovely place.

Cool place for kids.

Small but interesting museum

Visiting a scyscraper museum in a city like New York should be a must for everybody. However this museum should be difinitely improved and updated!

Small but worth the visit. Informative