New York’s History at the Museum of the City of New York

Almost every city or town has a historical museum of some kind. New York City just has to be different. It has not, not two, not three, but SIX such museums. Each of the five boroughs has an official historical society, and then there is the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY).

Gate to the Conservancy Garden in Central Park

The museum was founded in 1923 as a somewhat more populist historical resource than the New York Historical Society was at the time. The MCNY was originally housed in Gracie Mansion, the city-owned home of New York’s mayors. Its mission was and is to provide a look at both the historic and current lives of residents of the city. In 1926 New York started planning a permanent home, and donated land along the east side of Central Park, between 103rd and 104th street. In 1932 MCNY opened in its Georgian styled building, and over the past 100 years its collection has grown to over 750,000 objects.

The MCNY has several ongoing exhibitions that explore aspects of the city’s history. Timescapes is a 28-minute long video presentation that explores the history of the city. Activist New York offers a voice to the many political movements that have been a part of New York life since the city was founded. The Stetthiemer Dollhouse: In a New Light is a wonderful display of large dollhouse created during the period between the world wars. The house has been recently refurbished and provides a wonderful insight into both the idea of collecting miniatures and grandeur of the 5th Avenue mansions of that era.

There are also excellent special exhibits. Changing the Face of Democracy (through July 20, 2025) is a tribute to Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) on the 100th anniversary of her birth. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to serve in the House of Representatives of the United States. She was also the first Black woman to run for the nomination of a major political party. She was a leading progressive voice in Congress, helping to establish the WIC program to provide food for poor families, fighting for the Equal Rights Amendment, and for guaranteeing the civil rights for all. She also was one of the first elected politicians to take a stand against the war in Vietnam.

Shirley Chisholm and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. by Fred McDarrah
Shirley Chisholm on the National Mall during a protest against the war in Vietnam
Shirley Chisholm by Richard Avedon
Portrait by Sherman Beck

Also on display is Art Deco City: New York Post Cards from the collection of Leonard A Lauder (through Feb 17, 2025). The 1930’s was the era of Art Deco design, and New York was at its center. From the architecture of the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, to the new Marine Terminal at the Glenn H. Curtis (now Laguardia) airport, to the design of the 1939 World’s Fair, Art Deco filled the city. It was beautifully captured in the many postcards produced during this time period. The drawings and photographs provide a great historical record of the era.

Views of the Chrysler Building
Celebrating the Normandie ocean liner

Marine Terminal by Harris Field
The George Washington Bridge

Finally, I highly recommend going to see You Are Here (through Oct 5, 2025). This video presentation is a celebration of New York as one of the most filmed cities in the world. For over 100 years film makers have used NYC as a backdrop for their stories. You Are Here uses over 1000 cinematic clips to show the many ways the city has been presented.

Nuts and Bolts

  • The Museum of the City of New York is located at 1220 5th Ave. it is open 7 days a week – 10 AM – 5 PM M-F and 10 AM – 6 PM on Sa-Su.
  • The entrance fees are: Adults $23/ Seniors $18/ Students $14/ Under 18 free. New York State residents can pay what they want at all times, and Wednesday is free for all visitors.
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Admin
15 days ago

Nice! Especially enjoyed the Art Deco displays.

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