The Best NYC Museums You've Never Heard Of
There are museums with such outsized influence that they have become prerequisites to any cultural understanding of New York City. The sheer gravitational pull of Manhattan’s Museum Mile, and the instant name recognition of such heavyweights as The Met, MoMA, the Natural History Museum, and the Guggenheim dominate the itineraries of most first-time visitors. We aren’t arguing against these must-visit institutions; we’re huge fans of them. However, throughout our time in NYC, we’ve discovered other, lesser-known institutions that are absolutely worth your time and attention. Here are our favorite NYC museums you have likely never heard of and why you should visit them.
Hispanic Society Museum and Library
Portrait of a Little Girl by Diego Velázquez
The Hispanic Society Museum and Library was founded in 1904 by Archer Milton Huntington, the sole heir to a wealthy industrialist and railway magnate. Huntington is arguably America’s greatest philanthropist, and his influence stretches not only across the country but also across the Atlantic. You may not know the name Huntington in the way you know the names Rockefeller, Astor, or Morgan, but that’s probably because his generosity often came, intentionally, without his name attached to it.
The Hispanic Society Museum and Library is devoted to the study of the art and culture of Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the Philippines. The scope of the collection is unparalleled outside of Spain and includes works from such masters as El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, and Sorolla.
Why you should visit
Sorolla’s Vision of Spain Gallery
The museum was closed for five years for significant renovations, and since its reopening in 2023, still only a small portion of its massive collection is on view. But the trek to Washington Heights is still well worth it, if for no other reason than to view Joaquin Sorolla’s Vision of Spain Gallery. Anyone who’s visited the Sorolla Museum in Madrid may write the Hispanic Society Museum and Library’s collection off, but that would be a mistake. The museum commissioned the series in the early 1900s and built the room specifically to house the paintings. The intimate, 360-degree presentation of the 14 larger-than-life artworks allows you to experience Sorolla’s mastery of light and color in a whole new way.
Pro Tip: On Fridays and Saturdays at 2:00 pm, the museum offers a tour with Museum Educators which highlights the Hispanic Society’s history and collection. The tours are free (as is admission to the museum), but reservations are required.
Location: 3741 Broadway
Society of Illustrators
The Society of Illustrators was founded in 1901 by nine artists and one businessman. It grew to prominence during the Golden Age of Illustration, a period prior to the widespread use of journalistic photography in print media, and through public relations efforts during The Great War and World War II. The permanent home of the society, located at 63rd and Lexington, was acquired in 1939 and the museum was established in 1981.
The Society of Illustrators is the oldest nonprofit organization that promotes the art of illustration, holding year-round themed exhibits, art education programs and annual juried competitions. In the past, we’ve had the privilege of attending exhibits from such heavyweights as Ralph Steadman, and events with the iconic New Yorker illustrators. The Society reminds us how illustrations have enhanced our favorite books, posters, ads, and invites us to take a closer look.
Why you should visit
In addition to those year-round themed exhibits, the society’s Permanent Collection houses 2,500 pieces that are periodically displayed at the location. And, of course, there’s the MoCCA Gallery, which offers curated exhibits of comic and cartoon art. If those aren’t sufficient reasons to visit, grab a drink at the 128 Bar on the third floor and marvel at Norman Rockwell’s “The Dover Coach”, a large-scale oil painting hanging above the bar that the artist donated in 1939.
Location: 128 E 63rd St
Poster House
Posters date back to antiquity and have followed along with the advancements of printing techniques into the modern era, from public notices to advertisements, wartime propaganda to your favorite films. Poster House is the first museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to posters, and is a perfect fit for a city with historical ties to the innovative graphic design and the advertising industry. The museum was founded in 2015 and resides at 23rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in the neighborhood of Chelsea.
Poster House explores the impact, culture, and design of posters in both a historical context and in contemporary visual communication. Thoughtful exhibitions in the past have delved into the intriguing art of Blaxploitation movie posters and a curated collection of posters from the 2017 Women’s March.
Why you should visit
Poster House boasts a collection of more than 10,000 posters and visitors will find incredible exhibits highlighting various themes and subjects throughout the institution's robust programming each year. Yet another reason to visit is the fantastic Museum Shop, which sells vintage and contemporary posters, prints, and books. Looking for that unique poster or print to frame and hang above your couch or dining table? Well, you’ll find something worthy of your abode here.
Pro Tip: Admission is free on Fridays.
Location: 119 W 23rd St
Morgan Library and Museum
What would eventually become the Morgan Library and Museum did not have humble roots. It was originally the private library of financier, investment banker, and philanthropist, J. Pierpont Morgan, who dominated American finance and industrial consolidation during the turn of the 20th century. The structure, located next door to what was once Morgan’s private residence at Madison Avenue and 36th Street, was designed by Charles McKim and completed around 1906. Morgan’s son turned it into a public institution in 1924, 11 years after his death. Over the years, the nearby residence and grounds were merged with the library forming a “campus”, which includes a Madison Avenue entrance point, an expanded exhibition hall, a restaurant, shop, a reading room and a garden court.
During a lifetime of collecting, Morgan amassed a collection of 350,000 objects, such as literary and historical manuscripts, early printed books, and rare drawings and prints. Through continued acquisitions and generous gifts, the collection continues to grow to this very day.
Why you should visit
The West Room Vault at the Morgan Library and Museum
First and foremost, the yearly programming–exhibits, concerts, talks and more–are all top-notch. We still marvel at the Ernest Hemingway: Between Two Wars exhibit which featured an incredible collection of private correspondence between the author and his contemporaries, such as Gertrude Stein and F. Scott Fitzgerald, among others. That experience continued to bring us back over the years. But the library building itself, established in an Italian Renaissance style, with an interior that includes a large tapestry, stained glass windows and stunning painted ceilings surrounding walls of books, elevates it to one of our must-visit destinations for Book Lovers in New York City.
Location: 225 Madison Ave
Noguchi Museum
The Noguchi Museum, named for internationally-renowned American artist Isamu Noguchi, was a matter of providence. It was located across the street from Noguchi’s residence, and the artist’s intentions–to acquire the perfect studio space to display his life’s work–were clear from the moment he purchased the 1920’s industrial building. Noguchi moved to what is now Astoria, Queens because of the skilled artisan shops and suppliers of stones and metals residing there.
The museum incorporates Noguchi’s notions of cohesive elements of nature and design. The lower level is dedicated to the artist's many works–sculptures, drawings, models, and designs–and many curated by the artist himself. The upper level draws a contrast by showcasing temporary exhibits showcasing artists’ works that speak to the design ideas and aesthetics Noguchi advanced, as well as the artist’s enduring influence and contemporary relevance.
Why you should visit
Sculpture Garden at Noguchi Museum
By juxtaposing a serene outdoor sculpture garden with an open, industrial, minimalist interior gallery, the Noguchi Museum features the largest collection of the artist’s works while simultaneously offering one of the most intimate experiences with them. The gift shop is also worth a visit, if only to covet Noguchi’s oft-copied Akari Light Sculptures. You can purchase them through the museum, along with other mementos and publications.
Location: 9-01 33rd Rd
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem
A historical Night Club Map of Harlem on display at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem
Founded in 1996, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem is dedicated to making Jazz accessible to everyone, while also preserving and celebrating its legacy in Harlem. Jazz played a role in such paramount historical movements as the Harlem Renaissance, but also remains an essential part of contemporary music and culture.
So much more than a museum, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem is an institution with deep ties to, and collaboration with, the community. It offers cutting-edge exhibitions, performances, workshops, and year-round educational programs, including over 100 free or highly subsidized workshops. Contributing to this creative vision, outreach and curation are the world-renowned, multi-award winning Artistic Directors, Jon Batiste and Christian McBride.
Why you should visit
The museum is an intimate space, with a modest collection of memorabilia and artifacts. The photos and recordings offer an informative and thoroughly accessible 100-year history of Jazz, with occasional features on the current Artist in Residence. To enhance your experience, make sure you time your visit with one of their regularly scheduled live performances.
Pro Tip: Admission is by donation, with a suggested donation of $20. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own wired headphones to use at the listening stations, though pairs are available for purchase at the museum.
Location: 58 W 129th St Ground Floor, 2203
Conclusion
Though NYC’s iconic museums justifiably draw attention and devotion, these off-the-radar museums can equally inspire your imaginations and offer truly enriching experiences. Lesser-known museums provide a level of insight and intimacy to art, history and culture that larger institutions cannot match. Whether you’re a local looking to try something new or a first-time visitor looking for something off the beaten path, we encourage you to go beyond what you might find at the top of the pages in your search results. You may find that the discoveries you make end up being the highlight of your adventures in New York City.
