Virtual Visits to NYC Museums

Written by Susan Lanier-Graham

April 6, 2020

Bring Travel Home | Destinations | New York | North America | Travel | Travel Tips | United States

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I love New York City and I’m a bit heartbroken by the tragedy right now in the city. But in the spirit of the Big Apple, there are great NYC museums offering online virtual tours. This is a great way to spend some “shelter-in-place” time and to supplement what the kids are learning while studying at home. Here are a few of my favorite virtual visits to NYC museums.

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American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History is a massive collection of scientific, educational, and cultural exhibits. It includes the Hayden Planetarium and a massive research division. The Museum has so many incredible online resources that you could lose a few days just on this website.

For those teaching kids, there’s a science website for kids and a full curriculum collection that includes activities and articles. There are a number of online courses through Khan Academy and Coursera.

Even if you don’t have kids, you might want to take a virtual tour of the museum. You can see inside the museum with a virtual tour, explore some of the exhibits, or check out lectures and videos with SciCafe.

Take a virtual tour of the American Museum of Natural History. Photo by WikimediaImages via Pixabay

The Frick Collection

Since I was a little girl, I have found European art fascinating. The Frick Collection contains some of my favorites, from 17th-century Dutch masters and 18-century French art to beautiful Limoges enamels. Now, you can see some of these online through Google Arts & Culture. Be sure you scroll down after checking out the exhibits to take a virtual walk through the museum.

The Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim is fascinating both for its collection and its building. As a Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiast, I find the building to be simply breathtaking. The collections put this over the top. Right now, you can take a virtual tour of the museum, explore the collection, listen to live-stream broadcasts from inside the museum with staff members, and check out interviews with some of the Guggenheim artists. You can access all of this through the Guggenheim’s website. There are also some specific exhibits available on Google Arts & Culture from the Guggenheim.

Take a virtual tour of the Guggenheim Museum. Photo by Kai Pilger via Pixabay

The Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan celebrates modern and contemporary art. While you can’t visit the midtown Manhattan location, you can explore online. You can take a virtual tour of the Sophie Taeuber-arp exhibit. If you want to jump in even more, how about an online art course? I’m looking for fun new things to learn, so I’ll be checking these out. Right now, MoMA has classes available online, all free, through Coursera.

A branch of MoMA is The Cloisters Museum and Gardens, which explores medieval European art and architecture. You can use Google Arts & Culture to take a virtual tour and see a few of the artifacts.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has three sites in New York City and each one offers so many amazing “wow moments”. The Met shares art from around the world and right now you can experience this national treasure online. You can explore so many different exhibits. I adore the history of fashion, so I enjoyed the Coco Chanel and Christian Dior exhibits. I also thought the Art of Music through Time was phenomenal.

Take a virtual tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. Photo by anielbaez0 via Pixabay

I look forward to my next real visit to New York City. However, in the meantime, I am enjoying my virtual visits to these NYC museums. I hope you enjoy these national treasures as well.

While nothing is a substitute for the real thing, many great NYC museums offer virtual tours for those times when you cannot travel. Here are a few of my favorite virtual visits to NYC museums to enjoy from the comfort and safety of your own home.

Written by Susan Lanier-Graham

Founder and publisher Susan Lanier-Graham is an award-winning travel writer and author of more than 75 books. For more than three decades, she has explored the world in search of unforgettable “wow moments,” from the jungles of Thailand and the temples of Egypt to wine regions, coastlines, and hidden gems closer to home. Her work blends immersive storytelling with practical insight, helping readers experience destinations more deeply. Based in Spearfish, South Dakota, Susan covers travel, food, and wine with a focus on meaningful experiences. She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), and is a Certified California Wine Appellation Specialist (CWAS).