Must-Visit Museum for New York Travel: The New-York Historical Society

New York's first museum, the New-York Historical Society, was founded in 1804. It houses an astonishing collection of photographs, paintings, literary works, and other artistic exhibits, making it the ideal place to fully experience New York's culture and learn about America's rich history. Follow The New York Pass to explore this must-visit museum on your New York trip~

Image source: New-York Historical Society

Crossing the streets of Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History comes into view, and the New-York Historical Society is right next to it. This museum, nearly 70 years older than the Metropolitan Museum, holds four centuries of profound cultural history and boasts some of the most beloved artworks in New York and the entire United States.

The museum's 11 founders believed that New Yorkers needed to take decisive action to preserve eyewitness evidence of historical moments—"without the aid of original records and authentic documents, history is merely a perfect combination of clever conjectures and interesting language."

Image source: New-York Historical Society

Therefore, in addition to its ever-changing exhibitions, the New-York Historical Society has collected over 1.6 million works, including sculptures by Daniel Chester French, sketches, and various historical artifacts. One of the museum's most fascinating collections is its over 550 American board games, dating back as far as the 19th century.

Image source: New-York Historical Society

Image source: New-York Historical Society

The Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, located on the second floor of the museum, is one of the oldest and most distinguished libraries in the United States and one of only 20 libraries eligible for membership in the Independent Research Libraries Association. It houses over 3 million books, pamphlets, maps, newspapers, sheet music, manuscripts, prints, photographs, and architectural drawings, and continues to collect important research materials related to education, philanthropy, social services, and the history of New York and the United States.

Image source: New-York Historical Society

Image source: New-York Historical Society

The Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture, on the fourth floor, was completely redesigned in 2017, offering visitors an interactive exploration of the museum's collections.

Image source: New-York Historical Society

Every exhibit bears witness to America's rich history; let this ancient and all-encompassing museum illuminate your New York trip!

Museum address: 170 Central Park West (77th St), New York, NY 10024

Visiting hours: Friday 11 am – 8 pm, Saturday and Sunday 11 am – 5 pm; advance reservation required

Ticket price: $22, free with The New York Pass