Museums offer us access to worlds beyond our own, from ancient Egyptian art to Van Gogh’s paintings and beyond. But you don’t have to travel across Spain or Egypt in order to experience some of the greatest museums available.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world’s premier art museums, should be on any art lover’s bucket list. Boasting over 280,000 items spanning prehistory artifacts to Old Masters masterpieces and contemporary American art – including prehistory artifacts! – this must-visit destination will not disappoint.
Pulitzer Arts Foundation
The Pulitzer Arts Foundation is a museum that serves as a sanctuary for art. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando, its modern concrete building creates an engaging dialogue with its artworks; while its spacious galleries host world-class art exhibitions as well as free cultural programs including music, literature, dance, wellness and discussions on art history.
The mission of the Pulitzer is far reaching, extending far beyond its exhibition spaces to its surrounding neighborhood and St. Louis itself – serving as an example for other museums to follow. Beyond gallery spaces, outdoor areas such as Park-Like, Spring Church and Tree Grove at the Pulitzer are available to the public and non-profit or educational groups hosting events including music classes, dance lessons or wellness programs.
TadaoAndo, winner of the Pritzker Prize for Architecture, designed the museum which opened in 2001 in St Louis’ Grand Center Arts District. His building includes expansive galleries for temporary exhibits as well as indoor and outdoor gathering areas for public gatherings as well as three permanent works of art installed within it. Drawing upon construction techniques that originated in Japan but are rarely employed here in America; his use of concrete as an element of nature was integral to creating this immersive museum experience.
Pulitzer’s expansive, light-filled galleries welcomed over 1.6 million visitors during its initial decade of operation. When the expanded building and new name were unveiled in 2015, architect Tadao Ando included below-grade galleries into his design without uprooting or disturbing any of the museum’s original floors.
The Pulitzer is situated on land that Indigenous people have been using and traveling through for millennia, and so recognizes its responsibility to act as careful stewards of this important territory. To this end, the museum is working towards deepening relationships with local tribes while expanding partnerships such as with Illini Confederacy, Osage Nation, Otoe-Missouria Tribe and others.
Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston boasts an expansive collection of paintings and sculptures from around the world, spanning ancient Near Eastern art through modern and contemporary works. Additionally, there is a library, archives and research center on site as well as easy public transport access – take the Old Town Trolley for an enjoyable sightseeing adventure to Beantown’s top museums and attractions!
The MFA boasts an outstanding collection of European and American art; one of the nation’s foremost collections of Indian and Himalayan art; one of America’s premier Asian collections; an impressive array of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces; noteworthy decorative arts objects from Elizabethan, Jacobean, Georgian, Victorian periods as well as unrivaled holdings of Faberge imperial jeweled objects and much more.
Since 1876, Tufts University Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) has been home to an acclaimed art school and an old public research university – serving as both. As the pioneer institution to form such a partnership between museum, school of art, and fine arts academy; today this unique collaboration still stands strong as part of Tufts University.
From its roots as a 19th-century tin mill to its current status as a major cultural destination, the MFA has been guided by various visionary leaders and supporters. Margaret Acheson Stuart was its founding director; an ardent collector who saw it as an educational resource for artists of all levels as well as students of all ages.
Since 1873, the Museum of Fine Arts has been at the forefront of innovative exhibitions and education programs. Their groundbreaking special exhibits have opened public eyes to diverse cultures and art movements – from Quilts of Gee’s Bend to Inverted Utopias: Avant-Garde Art in Latin America – cementing its status as an innovator of international art and culture.
Giuliano examines how the museum has changed under each director, showcasing their distinct styles. Additionally, he addresses pressing contemporary issues related to it such as its “Brahmin” roots as well as its growing orientation toward inclusivity and social justice.
Cooper Hewitt
Cooper Hewitt Museum of Historic and Contemporary Design can be found on New York City’s Museum Mile. After its three-year renovation that started in 2014, which transformed East 90th Street mansion into space that is 60% larger offering more gallery spaces to display both permanent and temporary exhibitions along with enhanced visitor experiences such as interactive immersive creative technologies, Cooper Hewitt has transformed itself into one of America’s premier design museums.
Renovation work undertaken under former director Bill Moggridge and completed under Caroline Baumann has instilled the museum with an atmosphere of participation and play. This approach extends to its digital platform as well, featuring an innovative interactive “pen” for visitors to “collect” objects in galleries. People can search the collection according to Crayola or CSS color criteria or specific materials before viewing them all in 3D.
In addition to digital tools, the newly renovated museum also places emphasis on teaching and learning. A series of workshops and master classes taught by experts in their respective fields provides students with an opportunity to study, explore and experiment with an aspect of its collections – something never before offered at such a museum!
One of the more captivating aspects of the new museum is a series of exhibits that examine design from its many angles. Collections range from decorative arts and fashion through built environment design, with special focus on craft traditions. One such show, entitled “Virtue in Vice,” provides an intriguing perspective on design’s relationship to seven deadly sins.
Cooper Hewitt staff understand that modern life requires a different approach to art and design, so they incorporate this knowledge into their programming, exhibitions, online resources, outreach initiatives, and outreach efforts – creating a museum that is an indispensable destination for anyone with an interest in design.
National September 11 Memorial & Museum
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum serves both as a tribute and as a place of learning about what happened on September 11, 2001 and their aftereffects. You’ll be able to explore this museum’s exhibits, first-person interviews, artifacts, first aid kits, interviews with witnesses as well as first responders – it can be both emotional and uplifting and well worth your time spending there.
The memorial and museum are located at the former Twin Towers site. Visitors can tour a pavilion designed by Snohetta that encases memorial footprints, while learning more about this tragic day through exhibits featuring multimedia presentations and personal narratives.
Visitors to the museum can also experience the “Wall of Faces,” which contains photos of each victim of 9/11 and 1993 World Trade Center bombings, honored through interactive touch screen tables and chambers that provide additional information such as photographs and personal accounts from friends and family members. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; though Friday and Saturday it closes an hour later due to Tribute in Light celebrations; during daytime hours however it closes temporarily for commemorative tribute services but remains open at night to be part of its Tribute in Light event observances.
The 9/11 museum is designed for visitors of all ages, though children under 10 should wait at least 10 years before visiting. As it’s meant to be educational, visiting will help your kids understand more fully how the event shaped history and their impactful significance. Parents should carefully assess if their child is ready for this experience before visiting. Weekends tend to draw the largest crowds, so weekday visits may be preferable as this will reduce crowding. You can save both time and hassle by purchasing tickets for museums online. At least two hours should be allotted, although many visitors tend to spend longer. You can save money and gain admission for free with a museum pass, which comes equipped with headphones to listen to audio recordings from exhibitions as well as accessing multimedia website features. With this unique and educational museum experience, learn about New York City skyscrapers like Brooklyn Bridge or One World Trade Center while learning their histories!