New-York Historical Society
2 West 77th Street (corner of Central Park West)
Manhattan
(212) 873-3400

Summary: Head over to see 432 of the 435 original watercolors done by John James Audubon for his marvelous book Birds of America. Stay to admire the silver, furniture, maps, prints and other objects from New York's past.

The New-York Historical Society, which was formed in 1804, runs the oldest museum in the city and is the second-oldest historical society in the country (the oldest is the Massachusetts Historical Society). Its mission, quite simply, is to collect and preserve materials related to the history of New York.

The museum clearly aims to make New York City's history interesting, incorporating items from its extensive collection (which includes books, newspapers, maps, manuscripts, engravings, oil paintings, household utensils, needlework, shop signs, weathervanes, porcelain, silver, political cartoons and posters, photographs, architectural drawings... the list goes on and on) to show how art, politics, and specific personalities have impacted the city's history.

Who Will Like This Museum
History buffs with a particular interest in New York will certainly enjoy this place. And quite frankly, we believe that the Historical Society also offers something for everyone who has even a passing interest in art or history. Be warned though, that the Historical Society is in many respects what some people might call a "typical museum," meaning that its exhibits are static with little interactivity and that there are a lot of them.

A Little Advice Regarding Tours
We assumed that the museum tour (called a "Gallery Talk") would encompass the entire museum, giving us an overview of everything the Historical Society offers so that we could go back and spend time on the exhibitions that interested us most. Though we highly recommend taking a tour because our guide gave us a wonderful perspective on what we saw, be advised that the Gallery Talks cover only specific sections of the museum, and as it turned out, we had already seen most of what our tour guide discussed while we waited for the tour to begin. Therefore, we advise that you find out what exhibits will be covered on the tour before exploring the museum on your own.

What To See
The main attractions to this museum change, so if you want to know what the museum is offering, call ahead.

On permanent display is a small collection of paintings in the main hallway on the first floor, where you can see the popular painting by William Hobrook Beard called "The Bear Dance." And if you are a fan of either watercolors or wildlife, be sure to see the collection of John James Audubon's watercolors.

We've also really enjoyed the "Kid City" exhibit -- a reproduction of the corner of West 82nd Street and Broadway as it looked in 1901. Kids can open doors, shop in stores, and more to learn about what New York's past was like.

Those who are fascinated with New York history should consider a visit to the Museum of the City of New York, which is part of New York's Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue, and which offers a look at New York's past through comprehensive exhibits, films and walking tours.

When To Go
While weekends tend to be busier than weekdays, we have not found crowds to be a problem on our visits to the Historical Society. You may, however, want to schedule your visit carefully if you plan to use the library, since the library is only open Wednesday through Friday.

How To Get There
To get to the Historical Society by subway, take the 1 or the 9 to 79th Street. Walk down Amsterdam Avenue until you reach 77th Street, then walk east towards Central Park until you come to the museum. You can also get to the Historical Society by taking the C train to 81st Street and walking down Central Park West until you reach the museum, located on 2 West 77th Street.

by Andrew Roche

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