American Museum of Natural History

W 79th St at Central Park W, New York, NY 10024-5102 212-769-5100

Description: UPPER WEST SIDE. One of the world's largest natural history museums with over 36 million specimens and exhibits, the American Museum of Natural History educates and entertains visitors, keeping them busy for quite some time. Forty-two separate exhibit halls display a variety of interactive and hands-on collections, including dinosaurs galore. The Cosmic Collisions show, narrated by Robert Redford, at the Rose Center for Earth and Space is a must! TRAIN: A, C, B, D to 81st St
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Forbes Magazine Galleries

62 5th Ave, corner of 12th St, New York, NY 10011 212-206-5548

Description: WEST VILLAGE. Among the hundreds of museums in Manhattan, this one rates as one of the absolute best! It's filled with fascinating items from the Forbes family collection. Faberge eggs, toy soldiers and boats, original Monopoly game sets and items from US Presidents line the walls. Definitely an "off-the-beaten-track" kind of place. Some items are for sale at the front security desk. Group tours require reservations made at least one month in advance.
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Fraunces Tavern Museum

54 Pearl St, New York, NY 10004-2429 212-425-1778

Description: The listed Georgian-style yellow brick house (1719) would be worth checking out even if it weren't the site of one of our nation's most legendary pieces of oratory. In December of 1793, George Washington gave his famous "farewell to the troops speech" at this quaint little tavern. The Fraunces was also the site of the launching of the New York Tea Party and the founding of the New York City Yacht Club. After you dine at the restaurant downstairs, be sure to find your way upstairs and check out the interesting pieces of American history on display in the Fraunces Museum. TRAIN: 2, 3 to Fulton St or Wall St
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Lower East Side Tenement Museum

108 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002-3106 212-431-0233

Description: LOWER EAST SIDE. The historic gateway to America, Manhattan's Lower East Side is home to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. In the 19th century, millions of European immigrants poured into New York Harbor. A tour of the Tenement at 97 Orchard Street illustrates the way of life for many of these new arrivals. All tours begin and end at 108 Orchard Street. Tours are offered daily with the first tour beginning at 10:15 and the last tour beginning at 5 pm. The Neighborhood Walking Tour lasts 90 munites; all others are 60 minutes. TRAIN: F to Delancey
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Museum of the City of New York

1220 5th Ave, at 103rd St, New York, NY 10029-5221 212-534-1672

Description: HARLEM. The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) was established in 1923 with the mission to collect, preserve and present pieces related to the original culture and history of New York City. This museum houses such varied media as paintings, costumes, prints, photographs and sculptures depicting the history of the great city. On the main floor, you'll find an American Express kiosk that sells tickets to most of New York's main attractions, including tickets to the MCNY itself. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6 to 103rd St
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New-York Historical Society

170 Central Park W, New York, NY 10024 212-873-3400

Description: UPPER WEST SIDE. Overlooking the western rim of Central Park, this neoclassical structure guards some of the oldest artifacts associated with the city of New York. Among the over 40,000 pieces in the museum's Henry Luce III Center are original paintings from the Hudson River school, John James Audubon watercolors, over 800 sculptures, 132 Tiffany lamps, furniture and silver. Also there is the popular Slavery In New York exhibit. Meanwhile, Great Hall hosts a variety of temporary early American exhibits each year. TRAIN: B, C to Central Park W
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South Street Seaport

Fulton & South Sts, Pier 17, New York, NY 10038-2101 212-732-7678

Description: FINANCIAL DISTRICT. The South Street Seaport, a neat collection of pedestrian malls, shops, cafés and galleries, offers visitors a glimpse into New York's maritime past. The district, located on the East River, spans over 10 blocks and includes structures that were once counting houses, warehouses and artisan shops. The South Street Seaport Museum boasts several original 19th century vessels among its unique collection. The District's visitor center is located at 12-14 Fulton Street. TRAIN: 2, 3, 4, 5 to Fulton St
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South Street Seaport Museum

12 Fulton St, Pier 16, New York, NY 10038 212-748-8600

Description: FINANCIAL DISTRICT. The South Street Seaport, a designated Historic District that spans over 10 blocks, boasts one of the area's best maritime museums. Among the museum's collection are historic ships like the "Lettie G. Howard," "Ambrose," and "Peking." Also on display are several special collection exhibits like Summer 2000's "Prints from Herman Melville's Collection of Art," taken from the writer's personal collection. TRAIN: 2, 3, 4, 5, J, Z, M to Fulton St: A, C to Broadway-Nassau
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The Cloisters

99 Margaret Corbin Dr, Fort Tryon Park, New York, NY 10040-7503 212-923-3700

Description: INWOOD. Home to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's medieval collection, this North Manhattan museum resembles an Old World monastery. Four reconstructed cloisters make up the complex, and each contains sculptures, fountains, and artwork donated by the Rockefeller families and others. A tour highlight includes the Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa Cloister, containing half of the original's Romanesque capitals and its beautiful rose marble fountain. The Trie-en-Bigorre Cloister, known as the Unicorn Tapestries Hall, is noteworthy for its exquisite 15th- and 16th-century tapestries. TRAIN: A to Dyckman St
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The Paley Center for Media

25 W 52nd St, between 5th And 6th Ave, New York, NY 10019-6104 212-621-6800

Description: MIDTOWN WEST. Founded by William S. Paley, this museum aims to preserve defining examples of the two mediums. More than 140,000 television and radio programs and advertisements are catalogued, all of which you can easily access with a library reservation made at the front desk. A daily schedule of programming is complemented by regular seminars featuring performers, directors, journalists, writers, and critics. Past programming has included an "I Love Lucy" tribute, "Celebrating 20 years of Nickelodeon," "What Gen X Watched," and a history of Super Bowl commercials.
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