Museum of Modern Art - New York City, New York

Museum of Modern Art - New York City, New York

The Museum of Modern Art (more often referred to as MoMA) contains 150,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, architectural models and drawings, and design objects.  There are also 22,000 films, videos, and media works along with fil stills, scripts, posters and historical documents.  That’s just part of what is in store for you when you visit the museum.  Enter their extensive library and you will have available 300,000 books, artists books, and periodicals, along with the Museum Archives holding approximately 2,500 linear feet of historical documentation and photographic archive of tens of thousands of photographs, including installation views of exhibitions and images of the Museum’s building and grounds.

This vast resource of knowledge and pleasure of Modern Art is available to anyone that truly enjoys the beauty of art, in any form.

The museum was founded in 1929 and opened its doors in the building it still occupies in 1939 in midtown Manhattan.  Expansions took place in the 1950’s and 60’s with a major renovation being done in 1984.

The Museum was begun with just 8 prints and one drawing.  Now it is one of the largest and best museums containing Modern Art anyplace in the world.

The Museum prides itself in the active schedule of exhibitions covering a wide array of subject matter to help everyone understand the significance of the art, regardless of the medium. They have gallery talks, lectures and symposia along with special activities for parents, teachers, families, students, preschoolers, bilingual visitors, and people with special needs. 

The Museum has undergone another expansions to now cover 630,000 square feet of new and redesigned space. The Peggy and David Rockefeller Building on the western portion of the site houses the main exhibition galleries, and The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building—the Museum’s first building devoted solely to these activities—on the eastern portion of the site provides over five times more space for classrooms, auditoriums, teacher training workshops, and the Museum’s expanded Library and Archives. These two buildings frame the enlarged Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden.

The Museum offers educational opportunities for the family, school age children, teachers and adult and academic programs.  There are also community programs to spread the beauty of modern art beyond the walls of the Museum.

The Museum has a program of exchanges with other museums around the world to offer the opportunity for the art to be shared with other countries as well as other country art being seen at MoMA.  This program began in 1952 which has provided a means of bringing exhibitions of the art to other countries to the US.  More than 300 exhibitions have been circulated within Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and Latin America.

Admission:
Adults $20
Seniors
(65 and over with ID) $16
Students
(full-time with current ID) $12
Children
(sixteen and under). This policy does not apply to children in groups. Free
Members Free
Admission is free for all visitors during Target Free Friday Nights, sponsored by Target, every Friday evening, 4:00–8:00 p.m. Tickets for Target Free Friday Nights are not available in advance.

There are three restaurants in the Museum for your pleasure.

The Museum of Modern Art
(212) 708-9400
11 West 53 Street,
between Fifth and Sixth avenues
New York, NY 10019-5497
 
Museum Hours
Saturday 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Sunday 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Monday 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Tuesday closed
Wednesday 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Thursday 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Friday 10:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving Day
Closed Christmas Day

Getting to MoMA
MoMA is located at 11 West Fifty-third Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues.

Parking
The Museum does not have a parking garage. However, MoMA visitors and members receive discounted parking at the nearby 1345 Garage. Parking stubs must be validated at the Lobby Information Desk or Film Desk in the Museum Lobby. Parking is first come, first served.

The 1345 Garage
101-41 West 54 Street (between Sixth and Seventh avenues, on the left side of the street, under the Ziegfeld Theater)
(212) 245-8708

Parking rates for MoMA visitors, including tax (valid through July 1, 2009):
Up to 2 hours: $18
Up to 4 hours: $21
Up to 7 hours: $27
Up to 24 hours: $37

Parking rates for MoMA members, including tax (valid through July 1, 2009):
Up to 4 hours: $18
Up to 7 hours: $24
Up to 24 hours: $33

Additional Information You Need to Know:
Checkroom

All bags are subject to security inspection before entering the Museum. The Museum requires visitors to check backpacks of any size, shopping bags, and bags 11 x 14 inches (28 x 35.5 cm) or larger. To avoid a lengthy wait in the checkroom line, visitors should not bring such items. The checkroom will not accept laptops or luggage of any size. The Museum reserves the right to refuse other items and is not responsible for items held by the checkroom.
Mobility Access

All galleries and facilities are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available in the checkroom free of charge.
Cameras

Still photography for personal use is permitted in collection galleries only. No flash or tripods allowed. Videotaping is permitted in the lobby only. No photographs or videotapes may be reproduced, distributed, or sold without permission from the Museum.
Sketching

Sketching is permitted in the galleries (pencil only, no ink or paint) with sketchbooks no larger than 8 1/2 x 11 inches (21.6 x 27.9 cm). No easels, stools, or sketching while sitting on the floor is permitted. If galleries are crowded, guards may ask visitors to stop sketching or writing.

Strollers

Baby strollers are permitted at all times, but are not permitted on escalators.

Cellular Phones

The use of cellular phones is not permitted in the Museum’s galleries.

Food and Drinks

Outside food and drinks are not permitted in the Museum, including The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden and the Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters. Food and drinks are permitted only in the cafés and may not be carried into the galleries or other areas.

No Smoking

Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the Museum.

Sculpture Garden

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden closes during inclement weather.