You Must See One of the World's Greatest Museums!
Written: Aug 09 '03 (Updated Nov 07 '05)
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Pros: Everything type of art under the sun . . . and them some.
Cons: Amount of art is overwhelming, no free parking nearby.
The Bottom Line: Name your price admission and one of the world's greatest collection of art.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Metropolitan Museum of Art |
The Metropolitan is not only one of the largest Museums in the world . . . it is also one of the best. With rooms and rooms of art work spanning all time, classifications, borders and taste, there is something here for everyone.
COLLECTIONS
According to the Met's web site: The Museum has nearly three million objects in its collections. It has been estimated that if you spent a minute looking at each object without taking a break, it would take you more than five and a half years to see them all.
Although not all three million objects are on display, the sheer volume of art at the Met is amazing. I can't think of a type of artwork that is not represented. The collection includes: American Art, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Chinese Art, Cypriot Art, European paintings, Islamic Art, Japanese Art, Korean Art, Modern Art, Musical Instruments, Nineteenth-Century European Paintings and Sculptures, Photographs, South and Southeast Asian Art, Arms and Armor, Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, Costumes, Egyptian Art, European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, Greek and Roman Art, Medieval Art and a Roof Garden. In short, there is something to interest everyone.
I have been to the Met several times over the years and can't narrow down my favorites to one or two. I love the mummies, the Frank Lloyd Wright room (that's right, they display an entire room), the displays of Tiffany glass, the Picassos in the Modern Art wing, the carvings from the South Pacific, the individual room displays and, of course, just about everything else I see.
The only thing I don't care for is the Medieval art. It tends to be dark and heavy and many of the galleries are also dark and sort of creepy. I suppose it just isn't my taste, although the collection is extensive and you shouldn't rule it out if it is your thing.
My particular favorite is the Temple of Dendur. The Temple itself was built around 15 B.C. by the Roman emperor Augustus. The Temple, originally located in Eqypt, was dismantled to protect it from the waters relocated as a result of the Aswan dam project. The Egyptian government gave the temple as a gift to the United States and the Met was chosen as its permanent home. The Temple is displayed in a beautiful atrium. Around the Temple is a marble dias with reflecting pools and a few Egyptian artifacts. Central park and the city skyline are visible through the windows of the atrium. The Temple is very accessible. You can walk around it and even go in part of it. The grafitti from the 1800s adds an interesting touch but the sense of history is amazing.
SIZE
According to the Met's web site: From end to end the Metropolitan Museum of Art is one quarter of a mile long, or four New York City blocks. The building itself has two million square feet of floor space.
The size of the Met is completely overwhelming. You can not see it and enjoy it in one day. I highly recommend getting a brochure or checking the web site before going to narrow down the items and types of art you want to see.
EATING
There are several restaurants embedded in the Met's exhibits. Some are located in beautiful art-filled atriums and I can't imagine a nicer place to eat. We usually limit our outings to the Met to a couple of hours so we have never dined there. However, there are several options and you are usually near a sit-down cafe from anywhere in the Museum.
COST - YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS
Believe it or not, admission costs are discretionary. That means you can choose to visit the Met for free or a reduced price. Recommended prices are: $12.00 for adults and $7.00 for students and senior citizens. Admission costs include The Cloisters if you visit the same day. They take credit cards for the cost of admission.
On our last visit, we only planned to spend an hour so we asked if we could pay $20 for our family and the clerk said that was fine. I expected a disappointed glance or even an evil stare for suggesting a lower price but got neither. The transaction was simply matter-of-fact.
FACILITIES
Clean bathrooms are everywhere. Water fountains are located near many bathrooms. There is a coat check in the lobby. The coat check only takes coats and umbrellas. They do not take luggage and luggage is not allowed in the Musuem so you have to make other arrangements. The on-site Museum shop is rather small.
KID - FRIENDLINESS
Let's face it. For many kids, being dragged through a museum is only slightly more preferential to getting a cavity filled. The Met does have paper handouts of activities for kids that attempt to educate and increase kids' interest in art. These handouts can be found in the front lobby at the information desk. My 7 year old had some interest in these handouts. We also try to focus our visits on the more dramatic exhibits (the Temple of Dendur is a family favorite). However, in order to avoid unsightly meltdowns, we limit our visits to the Met to two hours at most. We find that is the most our 3 and 7 year old children can take.
If you look at the Met's web site calendar, you will see that there are also programs designed to appeal specifically to children and if you plan your visit in advance, you may be able to enjoy one of these programs.
Baby - friendliness: There are changing stations in the restrooms. The web site indicates that not all exhibits are stroller-friendly although many looked that way to me. Consider bringing a baby backpack carrier.
HOURS
This information is from the web site. Of course, you should check their web site or call before you go:
Friday 9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Monday Closed
Tuesday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Closed: Mondays, January 1, Thanksgiving Day, December 25
CONTACT INFORMATION / GETTING THERE
The address and phone are:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street
New York, New York 10028-0198
General Information: 212-535-7710
TTY: 212-570-3828 or 212-650-2551
The web site is: www.metmuseum.org
We drove to the Met. We found street parking three blocks away. However, it was a late Saturday afternoon in the summer and many stores were closed. We had to pay the meter $1.50. There is not much parking nearby so we considered ourselves lucky. There were parking lots around the Met for $20 and up. Of course, in NYC there is the subway, buses and cabs to get you to your destination as well. Each of those is probably a better option than driving.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
I can't recommend the Met enough. Everytime we go we see something new and interesting. The vastness of the Museum is really hard to take in and we limit our visits to, at most, two hours at a time.
MY MINI-GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY
Things to Do:
Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty
Places to Eat:
Lucky Cheng’s has Chinese food for adults.
Ruby Foo’s has Chinese food for families.
Pipa is next to Manhattan Mecca ABC Carpet & Home.
Starlight Diner is where singing servers bring your burgers.
Rue 57 fuses French and Japanese cuisine in Midtown.
Places to Stay:
The Roosevelt Hotel
The Hudson
The W on Lexington
Sheraton Manhattan
Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers
New York Hilton
Broadway:
TKTS sells half-price tickets to Broadway shows.
Rent is an unusual Broadway rock musical legend.
Gypsy is Broadway at its best.
Wicked is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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modernmarvel
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Can anyone recommend a western family dude ranch for a vacation this summer?
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