The rich culture of New York City shines through its museums. Everyone knows about the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Guggenheim, but there are other small ones that fly under the tourist radar.
You can find low-cost, or even free, museums ranging in topics from LGBTQ Victorian photography to decades of America fashion. These alternative museums are a great way to explore New York on a budget.
1. El Museo del Barrio
This museum was created to preserve and showcase the art and culture of Puerto Ricans, and all Latin Americans in the U.S. El Museo del Barrio works to educate the public through bilingual activities, events, and festivals.
If you find yourself exploring El Barrio, or East Harlem, make sure to visit this institution while learning more about the rich cultural history in this neighborhood.
This museum is only $9 for adults and is open Thursday through Sunday.
2. Alice Austen House
If you’re a fan of photography, then you must visit the Alice Austen House. It’s $6 to get in, and $4 for students and seniors.
Alice Austen was an American photographer who sought to explore personal identity and inspire the public through photographs. She took over 7,000 photos of New York City while it evolved around the turn of the twentieth century.
It’s also a site of LGBTQ history, where you can see real-life snapshots of the community in New York. Alice spent 56 years with her loving partner, Gertrude Tate, 30 years of which was spent living together in the house that stands as the museum.
3. National Museum of the American Indian
Not only is the National Museum of the American Indian free, there’s a great interactive section if you’re traveling with kids.
If you’re interested in purchasing authentic native American merchandise, this is the place to go. You’ll find hundreds of native American art pieces from North, Central, and South America. Choose from a wide variety of art, literature, food, apparel, and jewelry. Learn the history of each object and why it was deemed important in the culture.
There are rotating galleries as well, so you never know what you’ll find while exploring the exhibits.
4. The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, or MFIT, is one of several fashion museums that include the Mode Museum and the Museo de la Moda.
As you walk through this free museum, you’ll learn about historic fashion, from the traditional corset to newer LGBTQ styles. The 50,000+ garments housed here span a timeline starting at the 18th century to present day.
5. Skyscraper Museum
Learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the New York City skyline at the Skyscraper Museum. If you love architecture, this is the destination for you! You’ll find everything there is to know about the city’s rich architectural heritage.
The permanent gallery is home to a 36-foot-long wall mural and explores the engineering innovations that allowed us to build up.
6. Dyckman Farmhouse Museum
The Dyckman Farmhouse is Manhattan’s last farmhouse, dating back to 1784 when Manhattan was all farmland. It was owned by the Dyckman family for almost a century before opening as a museum in 1916. The Dyckman Farmhouse allows you to step into a portal to the past and learn what farm life was like in the late 1700’s.
The half-acre it sits on is now a park built to serve the community and is an important part of the Inwood neighborhood. The gardens are free, and museum admission is $3.
What are your favorite museums in New York?
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