History
Show exhibitions by:
Preservation in Progress
Get a rare glimpse of restoration happening live as we preserve one of the most significant items in the Museum’s collection: Samuel Bell Waugh’s massive painting "The Bay and Harbor of New York."
Changing the Face of Democracy
Explore the life and legacy of barrier-breaking Brooklyn-born politician Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to US Congress.
People, Place, and Influence
Delve into the founding mission for the Museum by highlighting key aspects of this unique collection.
This Is New York
In honor of the Museum’s centennial, this exhibition, which spans a full city block, is organized around the types of urban spaces where the stories of New York are told.
Analog City
Uncover the array of tools, technologies, and lost professions that supported New York City as it exploded into a global metropolis in the pre-digital era.
Collecting New York's Stories
How can objects tell the dynamic and eclectic stories of New Yorkers? Find out through select items from the Museum's collections.
Puppets of New York
Puppets of New York explores the extraordinary, surprising, and diverse history of New York City’s quirkiest residents. Puppets traveled with migrant communities from across the globe as they made their way to the city.
New York, New Music
A look back at the seismic musical revolution of 1980s New York. #80sMusicNYC
The Stettheimer Dollhouse
Discover rarely seen miniature works from the Stettheimer Dollhouse created by some of the leading lights of early 20th-century modernism.