The Museum of Modern Art

About The Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art sits on West 53rd Street in midtown Manhattan, a few minutes' walk from Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center. Founded in 1929, it was one of the first museums built around modern and contemporary work rather than older art, and its collection has grown to cover painting, sculpture, photography, design, film, and architecture from the late 19th century to the present day. If you know a single thing about the museum before arriving, it's probably that Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night hangs here, usually with a small crowd in front of it.

The galleries span several floors, and the collection rotates, so the exact lineup changes between visits. On any given day you might see Monet's large Water Lilies panels, Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, work by Matisse, Warhol, and Pollock, plus Dali's The Persistence of Memory and Frida Kahlo portraits. Beyond the painting galleries there's a strong design and architecture section, a photography collection, and film screenings. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, open to the galleries, is a good place to slow down between floors.

Most visits run two to three hours, though you could easily spend longer if film or design is your thing. The museum is centrally located and pairs well with a wider day in midtown. Entry is paid and timed tickets are standard, so booking ahead for a specific slot is the simplest way to avoid the ticket line, especially on weekends and holidays when the lobby gets busy. Bag storage and a cloakroom are available if you're carrying luggage or heavy coats.