The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Overview

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the Americas, housing over 2 million works spanning 5,000 years of human creativity across 17 curatorial departments and 2 million square feet of gallery space.

Highlights

• Temple of Dendur: An entire ancient Egyptian temple (c. 15 BC) reassembled inside a dramatic glass-walled gallery overlooking Central Park.
• European Paintings: 2,500 paintings including instant masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Monet, and Van Gogh.
• The Rooftop Garden: A seasonal outdoor sculpture exhibition space on the museum's roof offering spectacular views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.

History

Founded in 1870 by a group of American citizens seeking to create a world-class museum. The current Beaux-Arts building on Fifth Avenue was designed by Richard Morris Hunt and has been expanded continuously, now covering four city blocks.

Visitor Tips

• Pay What You Wish: New York State residents and students from NY, NJ, and CT pay what they wish. All others pay a fixed admission that is valid for three consecutive days.
• Prioritize: The museum is overwhelming. Pick 2–3 departments and explore them deeply rather than trying to see everything.
• Duration: 3–4 hours.