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If you haven't heard, America is turning the big 2-5-0 this summer and celebrations are already underway throughout the city. And fittingly, the New York Historical—the oldest museum in New York and one of the earliest cultural institutions in the United States as a whole—is leading the charge in commemorating this historic moment with the unveiling of a brand-new wing that will serve "as a beacon for democracy education, a powerhouse of inclusive history, and a home for history enthusiasts of all backgrounds and perspectives."
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Today, June 18, the uptown museum opens its doors to the Tang Wing for American Democracy after three years and $175 million in renovations, a 71,000-square-foot expansion designed by RAMSA (Robert A.M. Stern Architects) that not only adds gallery space to the UWS campus but also immersive classrooms, a state-of-the-art conservation studio, a sculpture garden and a roof deck with views of Central Park West and beyond.
The Stuart and Jane Weitzman Shoe Museum, a permanent gallery, ushers you into the landmark building's new wing, showcasing more than 100 pairs of historic shoes, from the suffragettes of the 19th-century to the Beyoncés of now. From there, the first-floor main gallery uses its triple-height ceilings to display a variety of artifacts and artworks via its inaugural exhibition, "Democracy Matters" (June 18-November 1), including fragments of the equestrian statue of George III toppled in 1776.
Upstairs, you'll find a pair of classrooms dedicated to the Chang Chavkin Academy for American Democracy, a fully immersive learning community "designed to inspire a lifelong passion for civic engagement in young people." Sixth-grade students from around New York will be able to spend four days at the Museum, exploring its collections and learning about the origins of democracy.
Further up, the American LGBTQ+ Museum is slated to open on the fourth floor in 2028; in the meantime, there's a lively "Queer Joy" exhibition with a wall-spanning timeline of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement on view. That inclusivity extends to other new 250 anniversary-themed exhibits, including "Revolutionary Women" (on view through October 25) and "House Made of Dawn: Art by Native Americans 1880 to Now" (on display through August 16).
And don't forget to poke around the building's basement level, which is now home to a new conservation studio where a dedicated team of museum and library conservators restore and preserve rare papers, paintings, textiles and other historical objects.
And, of course, there isn't an opening without an opening party—there will be expanded hours, live performances, summer socials and even a rare printing of the Declaration of Independence on view during the first few weeks of the wing's debut. (You can check out the full schedule of programming here.)
“The opening of the Tang Wing for American Democracy marks a defining milestone for New York’s first museum as we commemorate the nation’s semiquincentennial,” said Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO, The New York Historical. “This inaugural program invites the public to engage with the ongoing evolution of our democracy through exhibitions, live music, and family friendly activities. We’re thrilled to offer our visitors expanded hours and pay-as-you-wish admission during this moment of reflection and commemoration of our nation’s continuing story.”
