Super Bowl Week in NYC: 5 Must-See Museums, 5 Should-See Museums

PHOTO: Photo of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Fifth Avenue Entrance. (courtesy MTA)

Culture.

Or as we here in New York like to say, cult-cha. NYC is teeming with it thanks to an assortment of some of the greatest museums in the world.

So while you’re here for the Super Bowl, take advantage of what New York has to offer. Here are five museums that are already likely on your ‘to-do’ list, and five more that you should try to get to if you have the time.

ON THE LIST

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. New York is blessed to have two major museums on each side of Central Park. On the west side is the Museum of Natural History and the adjacent planetarium, arguably one of the most preeminent scientific museums in the world. If that sounds boring to the kids, wait until they see the 600 dinosaur fossils upstairs.

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART. On the other side of Central Park is the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with its grand and unmistakable concrete steps leading up to the doors. It’s an iconic place to sit and have lunch and people watch – uh, you know, if it wasn’t 9 degrees outside. Inside, however, are more than 2 million works of art, the most famous of which might be the painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware.

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART. Contrary to popular belief, this is actually a very family-friendly venue. There are myriad things to do with the kids and, of course, MoMA is one of the leading museums in the world for a wonderfully eclectic collection of modern art in several different disciplines.

GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM. When the Guggenheim first started going up on the Upper West Side in the late 1950s, there was a natural angst of ‘What the heck is this?’ But New Yorkers have come to love the funky design of the outside of the building – not to mention the impressionist, post-impressionist and early modern work found inside.

WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART. If old-school is not your thing, this one will be. The Whitney has a decided concentration of 20th Century American art, be in painting, sculpture, even film. And that’s just the permanent collection. Wait til you see what they have when they pull out some exhibitions.

NEXT IN LINE

MUSEUM OF SEX. OK, lets get this out of the way right now. Yes, it exists. No, it’s not for the kids. Yes its nickname is MoSEX. Yes, it’s quite fascinating. The museum, built in 2002, is “dedicated to the exploration of the history, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality.”

ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRATION MUSEUM. It’s not just the Statue of Liberty, folks. This is where tens of millions of immigrants – likely your relatives – began life in the USA. Ellis Island is open to visitors while the National Park Service continues to make repairs after Hurricane Sandy. Although some areas are restricted, visitors can stop in the American Family Immigration History Center to research their family immigration records and explore the Great Hall.

THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA. Formerly known as the Museum of Television & Radio, this is a pop culture junkie’s heaven. The museum is dedicated to audio-visual artifacts with a collection of more than 50,000 TV and radio shows. If you want to see newscasts of historical events, or a sporting event, or when Fonzie jumped the shark on “Happy Days,” this is the place to come.

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE. In the same vein as above, this museum – a short subway ride away in Astoria, Queens – caters to movie aficianados especially. The museum is dedicated to the impact that film, television and digital media have had on culture and society.

THE ELEVATOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Talk about off the beaten path. This is not only one of the tiniest museums in New York, but certainly one of the quirkiest. Located in Long Island City, Queens and founded by a man who worked in the industry, this is a tribute to all things elevator. Note that to visit is by appointment only.

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