★★★★★ 5.0
Discover
The New York Historical
The year is 1635, and a man named Thomas Hall steps off a ship in Virginia as an indentured servant... but this same man would eventually own the very ground you're standing on through one of Manhattan's most dramatic real estate stories. In 1667, Hall became part of a five-man consortium that received a massive 1,300-acre royal land grant stretching from 34th Street to 120th Street. His lot seven became this exact spot at 170 Central Park West. That granite facade you see was designed by York & Sawyer and completed in 1908, making this New York's oldest museum building still in operation. But here's what most visitors miss - those bronze sculptures of Lincoln and Frederick Douglass weren't placed randomly. Lincoln faces Central Park West while Douglass guards West 77th Street, positioned precisely where two millionaire mansions once stood before being demolished in 1937 to expand the museum. Inside, three million historical items span four centuries, but the real insider secret? Construction crews are currently building the 80,000-square-foot Tang Wing behind you, designed by Robert A.M. Stern and set to open in 2026. From indentured servant's land to America's memory keeper - that's quite the transformation.
Did You Know?
- Founded in 1804 by prominent New Yorkers led by John Pintard, The New York Historical (originally the New-York Historical Society) is not just New York City’s oldest museum, but also the first museum established in the city—predating even the Metropolitan Museum of Art by nearly 70 years. Its founding meeting included Mayor DeWitt Clinton, and the Society played a key role in preserving the city’s history during a time of rapid growth and change.
- The museum’s current home, opened in 1908 on Central Park West, is a striking example of Beaux-Arts architecture with a classic Roman eclectic style, featuring grand facades and ornate interiors. The building itself is a designated New York City landmark and underwent a major renovation in 2011, adding modern amenities and an interactive children’s museum while preserving its historic charm. The museum’s fourth floor was also renovated in 2017 to better display its vast collections.
- Among its most significant exhibitions was the two-year 'Slavery in New York' exhibit (2005–2007), the Society’s largest theme exhibition in 200 years and the first to directly address the city’s deep involvement in the history of slavery. The exhibition included original artworks inspired by the museum’s collections and was a landmark in public historical education, sparking citywide conversations about New York’s complex past. The museum also houses the Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture, a permanent collection of 40,000 artifacts that includes everything from children’s toys to Tiffany lamps, offering a tangible connection to everyday life across centuries.