Uptown Children’s Museums

Most often, museums and galleries are thought to be the province of culturally enlightened adults. But children born and raised in the city—especially those on the Upper East Side—have a wealth of options when it comes to educational fun. Here are five perfect museums for uptown children.

The Guggenheim (1071 5th Ave, at E. 88th St)

Kids are typically excited about the Guggenheim before they’ve even seen anything in it, thanks to Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic spiral design. This may look like an architectural masterpiece to you, but to your children, it’s like something out of Alice in Wonderland. Thankfully, the educators at the museum have come up with a wealth of ways to help your kids make the most of the Guggenheim, including after-school classes and spring and summer camps that will introduce 8-11 year olds to the gallery’s collection, then help them explore the joy of art further by making hands-on creations of their own. Also, for regular days out, there are Family Activity Packs to help your little ones make the most of the gallery.

American Museum of Natural History (Central Park West, at 79^th St)

Chances are, if your child has seen Night at the Museum, they’ve probably already nagged you for a visit to New York’s world-famous Natural History Museum. The most jaw-dropping and fascinating area of the educational institution remains the seemingly-endless dinosaur floor, which deserves a visit purely for the T-Rex that’s constructed from real artifacts. Elsewhere, you and your brigade can explore the wild, the ocean and even space. Not bad for a day’s work.

The Whitney (945 Madison Ave, at E. 75th St)

The Whitney Museum of American Art, located a mere few blocks away from the luxury condos at 737 Park Avenue, is a great place for your children to begin to fathom the great contributions of contemporary American artists, while also enjoying some of the most exciting exhibitions in the country. In addition, the Whitney has regular workshops, tours and even parties for the young art lover in your life—most of which come free with the regular admission price. Check the “Whitney Kids” section of their website for more information (whitney.org/forbids).

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 W. 83rd St.)

Since opening in 1978, the Children’s Museum has proven so popular, it now stands at 38,000 square feet and five floors of exhibits that intermingle entertainment and education—often with plenty of interactive elements. Here, your kids can dabble in everything from hands-on pottery workshops and guitar concerts to arts and science experiments. The Museum is mindful of mixing up its features to keep regular visitors intrigued and happy. Suitable for kids of all ages.

The Met (1000 5th Ave at E. 82d St)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a gigantic, two-million-square-foot treasure trove that houses works from all around the globe—dating from prehistoric times all the way up to the present day—and is the largest art museum in the U.S. It goes without saying that with this many options, there’s plenty to keep your children amused for hours or days. But in addition, the Met is great at making sure that children of all ages (including teenagers) have access to workshops and programs here—from story-time, drawing drop-ins, tours, festivals, classes and more. This is guaranteed creative fun for all your kids, all year round.