Also Visit NY State Arts
Three hundred years ago, when New York was Nieuw Amsterdam, no fewer than 18 different languages were spoken in the city. In 1865, snakes and tigers roamed the streets of Manhattan after P. T. Barnum's famous "museum" caught fire. Following its gala opening, the Empire State Building was dubbed the "Empty State Building" because it attracted so few renters. SoHo was almost replaced by a superhighway. The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor almost didn't materialize due to lack of funding!
The Museum of the City of New York explores these and other areas of New York history and culture through its collections, housed in a five-story Georgian Colonial building near the top of Fifth Avenue's Museum Mile. Any child who ever wondered why New York City is called "The Big Apple" or how the New York Knicks got their name will find the answers here—and have fun in the process! In addition, the museum's famous collections of dolls and Broadway costumes are sure to appeal to many kids.
See more at NYC ARTS
Perform: A History of New York Theater and Broadway
Ongoing Using costumes, photographs and props, this exhibition explores New York's history of stage performances.
Ongoing The toys of New Yorkers of many eras are on display.
Timescapes: A Multi-Media Portrait of New York
Ongoing This 25-minute media presentation on multiple screens grants a view into the history of New York City. With narration by Stanley Tucci, the screens turns back time, allowing audiences to see how the city has changed as it has made its way from a Dutch port town to one of the busiest metropolises in the world.