History buffs will love this Upper West Side institution. Built in 1804, it's the oldest museum in New York City. In a nod to history, the museum kept the hyphen in its name—that’s how the city’s name was spelled back in the early 1800s. The New-York Historical Society features more than 1.6 million works that explore the history of the city and the country, including exhibits, art and historical artifacts. The Patricia D. Klingenstein Library has more than three million books, newspapers, maps, photographs and more from our nation’s founding through slavery and Reconstruction and beyond. The Gilder Lehrman Collection is also housed in the New-York Historical Society, where you can view signed copies of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Thirteenth Amendment and the Constitution. If all that history makes you hungry or thirsty, enjoy lunch or dinner at Storico, an Italian Starr restaurant, or grab a java at Parliament Espresso and Coffee Bar.
Don't miss the Center for Women's History, which was the first of its kind celebrating the women that helped shape America as we know it. Also catch the DiMenna Children's History for children ages 8 to 13, which features 350 years of New York and American history through interactive exhibits and digital games. The exhibits feature New York children who lived in the city from the late 17th through 20th centuries, including Alexander Hamilton.
What to know
The museum stays open late until 8pm on Fridays. On a budget? On Friday nights, entry is pay-as-you-wish from 5 to 8pm. During other hours, adult tickets cost $24, seniors $19 and students $13. Be prepared to wait in line during peak hours, as there’s no express pass offered here. To beat the crowds, visit on a weekday during working hours.