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Museums

The Museum of Modern Art

4.6 · 59,509 reviews
Intellectual and intellectually rigorous with high-traffic periods.
The Museum of Modern Art, 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, United States
Interesting facts
1

MoMA’s collection includes the original set of 176 emoji created by Shigetaka Kurita in 1999.

2

The museum holds the first helicopter ever acquired by a museum collection, the Bell 47D1.

3

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden was designed by architect Philip Johnson and completed in 1953.

4

The museum’s film department was established in 1935, making it one of the oldest film archives in the United States.

5

MoMA famously exhibited the 'Machine Art' exhibition in 1934, which treated industrial ball bearings and propellers as high art.

Overview

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Midtown Manhattan houses one of the world's most influential collections of modern and contemporary art. The collection includes approximately 200,000 works, ranging from painting and sculpture to architecture, film, and digital media. Notable highlights include Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Salvador Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory, and Claude Monet’s large-scale Water Lilies. The museum underwent a major expansion by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in 2019, which added 47,000 square feet of gallery space. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden serves as an outdoor gallery integrated into the museum's layout. MoMA's film archive preserves over 30,000 films and features daily screenings in its dedicated theaters. The design collection spans industrial objects, including iconic examples of graphic design and furniture. The institution was the first museum to devote itself exclusively to the modern era when it opened in 1929.

Photo spot

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, particularly for shots of the sculptures set against the backdrop of Midtown skyscrapers.

Insider tips

Download the free MoMA audio guide app to your phone before arrival to use with your own headphones.

Check the daily film schedule upon entry, as tickets are often included with museum admission.

Visit the second-floor contemporary galleries first, as they are often less crowded than the famous Impressionist galleries on the fifth floor.

What to avoid

Attempting to see every single gallery in one visit; the collection is vast and best experienced by selecting specific movements or artists.

Good to know

Open daily; occasionally closes for special events or private functions.

Etiquette

Large backpacks and umbrellas must be checked at the coat check; photography is allowed for personal use without flash or tripods.

Plan your visit
Typical visit
3-4 hours
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings shortly after opening to avoid the heavy weekend foot traffic.
Address
The Museum of Modern Art, 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, United States
Website
40.761, -73.978
Get directions
Details
Key exhibitsThe Starry Night, The Persistence of Memory, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Water Lilies
Collection focusModernism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Contemporary Design

Frequently asked

Plan for about 3-4 hours to see the highlights.

The best time to visit is Weekday mornings shortly after opening to avoid the heavy weekend foot traffic..

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, particularly for shots of the sculptures set against the backdrop of Midtown skyscrapers.

Close by you'll find Rockefeller Center, Top of The Rock, Empire State Building.