7 Great Museums to Explore with Kids in New York City

Natasha Schlesinger, the founder of Artmuse, lives in New York City and is an expert in teaching children to appreciate art. Here are seven of her favorite smaller New York museums to explore with kids. What a fun and interesting list!

7 New York City Museums that Kids Will Love

The National Museum of the American Indian

Come all the way downtown, view the Statue of Liberty from the shore and enter a majestic building that served as the customs house in its earlier life. The museum is a quiet oasis of spacious galleries and hidden treasures from the Native American world, especially in its’ circular gallery. Ages 4 and up.

Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden

This 19th-century house museum served as New York’s country hotel in its past. Highlights include the period environment, great kids’ tours and holiday decorations in the traditional style. The docents will bring out a whole gamut of touchable objects. Ages 6-10.

The Guggenheim Museum of Art

Although this is a well-known institution, it never gets boring to visit: No matter what the exhibit, the building itself is a work of art to navigate and ascend in its spiral form. Kids love to run up the ramp. Ages 3 and up.

The Luce Center

Part of the New York Historical Society, these galleries house thousands of objects that were made in or belonged to people living in New York in the past three centuries. One can find items as small as children’s toys and war memorabilia, and as large as the only 18th-century “Cinderella” carriage on view in the U.S. Ages 5-9.

The Rubin Museum of Art

This is the best teaching museum in New York, and Buddhist art is often overlooked. Watch an artist-in-residence at work and grab a magnifying glass for a closer look. This museum really wants to educate young and old and welcomes visitors with open arms. Ages 5 and up.

The Museum of Arts and Design

This newest incarnation of the Lollipop Building is a fantastic venue to see innovative art and design.  Unexpected works made from ordinary materials and interactive open studios where visitors can watch artists at work will surely ignite kids’ imagination. Ages 4 and up.

The Jewish Museum

Archaeology Zone: Discovering Treasures from Playgrounds to Palaces is a special interactive exhibit for children that allows kids to imagine life in ancient Israel. They can play dress-up, create art and even experience an archaeological dig. Ages 3-6.

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