New York City can be an expensive place to visit but did you know that there are places like free museums in NYC that can help you stretch your dollar while still being able to experience what the Big Apple has to offer?
The free museums in New York City cover a variety of different subjects and topics. So, the likelihood is that you will be able to find one that piques your interest.
Some of these NYC museums are free all the time while others may only be free at specific times. It is best to check ahead of your visit as things do change from time to time.
The free admission for these museums also often cover the main permanent galleries and does not apply to special exhibitions and events.
Some of them are pay-as-you-wish, so you can decide what you can afford to pay for entry.
We’ve also included some additional attractions that are also free to enter into the list.
Let’s get into the list of free museums to visit in NYC.
Free Museums in New York City
African Burial Ground Memorial Site
The African Burial Ground National Monument is a historic site located in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. Discovered in 1991, it is the oldest and largest known excavated burial ground in North America for free and enslaved Africans. It serves as a memorial and tribute to those buried in the area during the 17th and 18th centuries. Access to the visitor center and the outdoor memorial is free of charge.
Where:
African Burial Ground National Monument
290 Broadway
1st Floor
New York 10007
Visit the African Burial Ground website.
American Folk Art Museum
Founded in 1961, the American Folk Art Museum is decided to the collection, exhibition and preservation of American Folk Art. In its collection are a range of folk art traditions that include quilts, weather vanes, trade signs and much more.
Where:
American Folk Art Museum
2 Lincoln Square
Columbus Avenue at West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023
Visit the American Folk Art Museum website.
BRIC House
BRIC House in Brooklyn is a multidisciplinary arts and media institution that aims to foster creativity and cultural exchange. It offers a wide range of programming, including performances, film screenings, music concerts, and community events. It also hold visual art exhibitions that are free to visit.
Where:
647 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Visit the BRIC House website.
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
The Bronx Museum of the Arts is a contemporary art museum located in the South Bronx, New York City. The museum’s permanent collection includes over 2,000 works of art. It has an emphasis on artwork that reflects the experiences and perspectives of artists of African, Asian, and Latin American descent. Admission to The Bronx Museum is always free.
Where:
1040 Grand Concourse
The Bronx, NY 10456
Visit The Bronx Museum website.
Federal Hall National Memorial
Federal Hall National Memorial is a historic building located in New York City, specifically at 26 Wall Street in the Financial District of Manhattan. The site holds significant historical importance as it was the location of several key events in American history including George Washington taking the oath of office as the United States’ first President, and it was also home to the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch offices.
Where:
26 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
Visit the Federal Hall National Memorial website.
General Grant National Memorial
Few may know that President Ulysses S. Grant is laid to rest in New York City. Those who do may want to pay a vis to this General Grant National Memorial. The mausoleum has two sacrophagi, one for General Grant and the other for his wife Julia Dent Grant.
Where:
Riverside Park, near the intersection of Riverside Drive and West 122nd Street
Visit the General Grant National Memorial website.
Hamilton Grange
The historic home of Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the first Secretary of the Treasury, is free to enter. The museum was once Hamilton’s country estate and the countryside was eventually swallowed up by the grown of the city.
Where:
Saint Nicholas Park in Manhattan
414 West 141st Street, between Convent Avenue and St. Nicholas Avenue
Visit the Hamilton Grange website.
The Harbor Defense Museum
The Harbor Defense Museum is the only Army Museum in New York City. It has a collection of artifacts from the American Revolution to World War II. It is dedicated to showcasing the history of the harbor defense system that protected New York City. Admission to this Brooklyn museum is free.
Where:
230 Sheridan Loop
Brooklyn, NY 11252
Visit The Harbor Defense Museum website.
MoMA PS1
MoMA PS1, or otherwise known as the MoMA PS1 Contemporary Art Center, is an exhibition space and cultural institution located in Long Island City, Queens, New York City. Housed in a former public school is it free for New York City and New York State residents.
Where:
22-25 Jackson Avenue
Queens, NY 11101
Visit the MoMA PS1 website
Museum of Chinese in America
Since its founding in 1980, the Museum of Chinese in America or MOCA has celebrated the living history of the Chinese experience in America by preserving and presenting the 200-year history, heritage, culture, and diverse experiences of American communities of Chinese descent. Admission to the museum is free.
Where: 215 Centre Street
New York, NY 10013
Visit the Museum of Chinese in America website
Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
Part of the Fashion Institute of Technology, the prestigious college specializing in art, design, business, and technology related to the fashion industry, Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s mission is to collect, preserve, document, and exhibit fashion and textiles, providing educational and cultural experiences for visitors.
Where: 227 West 27th Street
New York City 10001-5992
Visit the museum’s website.
National Museum of the American Indian
National Museum of the American Indian focuses on preserving, studying, and exhibiting the culture, history, and art of Native American peoples. The museum also has the imagiNATIONS Activity Center, an interactive, family-friendly area that provides visitors a lively space to explore scientific principles behind Native innovations and technologies.
Where: Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House
One Bowling Green
New York, NY 10004
Visit the National Museum of the American Indian website.
New York Transit Museum Annex & Store, Grand Central Terminal
The Gallery Annex & Store in Grand Central offers changing exhibitions and educational programming to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret the cultural, social and technological history of public transportation in the New York metropolitan region.
Where:
Shuttle Passage at Grand Central Terminal
89E 42 Street, New York, NY 10017
Visit the New York Transit Museum Annex website.
Queens County Farm Museum
Queens County Farm Museum dates back to 1697 and occupies New York City’s largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland. The farm is one of the longest continuously farmed sites in New York State. The site includes historic farm buildings, a greenhouse complex, livestock, farm vehicles and implements, planting fields, an orchard, and an herb garden. It is free to the public, except for special ticketed admission days and group visits.
Where:
73-50 Little Neck Parkway
Floral Park, NY 11004
Visit the Queens County Farm Museum website.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
The Center is a cultural institution focused on African American, African Diaspora and African experiences. It also holds exhibitions and guided tours.
Where:
515 Malcolm X Boulevard (135th St and Malcolm X Blvd)
New York, NY 10037
Visit the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture website.
Socrates Sculpture Park
Socrates Sculpture Park is a community engaged New York City waterfront park dedicated to supporting artists in the production and presentation of public art.
Where:
32-01 Vernon Boulevard / Long Island City, NY 11106
Visit the Socrates Sculpture Park website.
Free at Times
Here are some museums that offer free admission at specific times. If you are able to adjust your schedule to suit these times, you can enter in without having to pay.
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Free Admission Monday tickets will be available on the website each Monday beginning at 7 am ET and are first come, first serve. Last entrance is 5.30 pm.
Museum at Eldridge Street Synagogue
The Museum at Eldridge Street offers free admission (with valid ID) to IDNYC cardholders, children under 5, federally disabled visitors, plus attendant, active duty military personnel and their families, SNAP benefits recipients with EBT card or WIC card, Cool Culture families, Culture Pass (reserve ticket first through culturepass.nyc), Members of Museums Council of New York and Press.
‘Pay What You Wish’ admission is offered Mondays & Fridays.
Museum of Jewish Heritage
Admission to the Museum is free on Thursdays between 4 – 8 PM. You will need to reserve your advance free admission.
Museum of the Moving Image
Free general admission is offered every Thursday, 2 pm to 6 pm. (no reservations required).
New Museum
Pay what you wish for admission to the New Museum from 7 pm to 9 pm every Thursday. Timed tickets required.
The Morgan Library and Museum
Free Friday programs take place 5 pm to 7 pm every Friday. Reservations are required. Tickets are available one week in advance.
Rubin Museum of Art
Museum admission is free with a ticket reservation every Friday night from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. during K2 Friday Nights.
Website
Neue Galerie
On the First Friday of every month, the museum is open late and offers free admission from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Children under 12 are not admitted during First Fridays.
The Noguchi Museum
Admission is free on the first Friday of every month. Tickets are released on the Friday two weeks before each date, at 12 pm ET.
The Jewish Museum
Free admission to The Jewish Museum on Saturdays is made possible by Mildred and George Weissman, and other generous donors.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Pay what you wish on Saturday, 6 pm to 8 pm.
