The Skyscraper Museum | New York City Museums

As the name implies, The Skyscraper Museum in New York City celebrates modern skyscrapers. This institution educates visitors about contemporary architecture that now seems to dominate nearly all major cities worldwide. Quite naturally, the museum focuses heavily on iconic skyscrapers that define the legendary skyline of NYC.

History

Established in 1996, The Skyscraper Museum was relocated several times in its early years. In fact, the fledgeling organisation occupied four different buildings in a time span of only six years. Some of the museum's notable homes included the Bankers Trust Building, which is considered an excellent example of early Art Deco architecture in NYC. While using this property, the museum hosted the Building the Empire State exhibit for approximately a year. At the beginning of the 21st century, The Skyscraper Museum relocated into a former shop. However, the tragic events during the September 11th attacks eventually forced the organisation to find a new home. In 2004, the institution finally settled into a mixed-used skyscraper that overlooks the beautiful New York Harbor and Hudson River. Occupying the first level of a 38-level building, The Skyscraper Museum has about 5,000 square feet of gallery space. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is the architectural firm that's credited with designing the permanent home of the museum.

Exhibits

The permanent exhibit at The Skyscraper Museum includes the Manhattan Mini Models. This handcrafted wooden installation comprises realistic skyscrapers that actually line most of Manhattan. Hailing from Arizona, Michael Chesko was absolutely fascinated by the urban layout of the Big Apple. This artisan spent countless hours on the current miniature models that form the core collection of the museum. Fortunately, he was generous enough to donate the models to an organisation that celebrates the rich architecture of one of the world's greatest cities. The Skyscraper Museum also has some architectural models of other notable landmarks all over the world. Visitors might be particularly drawn to the World Trade Center installations that now pay tribute to the great skyscrapers that were destroyed on 9/11/2001. The museum has plenty of other educational presentations and resources on high-rise buildings in NYC and other major metropolitan areas worldwide. Guests might have some fun comparing the various technical specifications and other facts relating to modern skyscrapers. The temporary exhibits at The Skyscraper Museum usually focus on future projects that will likely transform the field of architecture and construction. In previous years, the museum has captured the excitement of events that lead to the erection of jaw-dropping landmarks in the Middle East and Asia.

Visiting The Skyscraper Museum

The Skyscraper Museum has a prime location in the The Battery City district of Lower Manhattan. This vibrant neighbourhood is primarily known for its luxurious residential properties and office buildings that support a thriving financial sector. The Battery City also boasts some of the best waterfront promenades in all of New York City. Wagner Park and South Cove Park overlook the scenic Hudson River and skyline of Jersey City, NJ. There are several NYC subway stations that are conveniently located within a few blocks of The Skyscraper Museum. Situated between The Battery and Bowling Green Park, the Bowling Green station gets service from the 4 and 5 lines. At the Rector Street station, you can ride the R and W trains. At Whitehall Street and South Ferry, transfers are available between the subway and Staten Island Ferry. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) buses make multiple stops near The Skyscraper Museum, particularly along Battery Place. Parking at the museum is not available, but you should be able to find some indoor garages in the areas between Wall Street and the World Trade Center.

Location: 39 Battery Place, New York, NY, 10280

Click here to visit The Skyscraper Museum official website.

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39 Battery Place