Metropolitan Museum Of Art
Metropolitan Museum Of Art
6 minutes read•Published on 04-10-2024
Situated in New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, also called the Met, stands as one of the largest and most significant art museums in the world. The Met came into existence in 1870 and is home to a vast collection of art, capturing 5,000 years of global history. In the Met's buildings, known as Central Park and the Cloisters, you can find over two million works of art. These range from artifacts of ancient Egyptian temples to contemporary American artworks. The Met serves as a place for learning, finding inspiration, and experiencing pleasure for every visitor.
Tickets & tours
A selection of the best tours to experience the Metropolitan Museum Of Art with our partner GetYourGuide. These tours offer the best experience for visitors from all around the world.
A short history
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as the Met, started in 1870. The people who started it had a goal to create an art museum that would teach Americans about art. This museum opened its doors to the public on February 20, 1872, in a Fifth Avenue building in New York City. At first, the collections were mostly European art, along with a mix of other works.
As its collection grew larger, the Met needed more space. So in 1880, the museum relocated to where it is now, on the eastern side of Central Park. There, Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould designed a new building to house the Met. As the 20th century went on, the museum continued to grow. Wings were added to the building and the Met's collections started to include art from around the world.
The Met is now one of the biggest art museums in the world. It holds over two million different works of art, representing more than 5,000 years of human culture. Some of the exhibitions at the Met have been very popular. They have brought in so many people that they have set new records. These successes have helped to make the Met even more famous and important as a top place for culture.
In more recent times, the Met has been collecting more and more modern and contemporary art. They have even started a new section, the Met Breuer, dedicated to this newer art. This shows how serious the Met is about collecting and showing art from today. Even with the many challenges of the 21st century, the Met is still working hard. Every year, it caters to millions of people and continues to encourage creativity and learning through its vast collection and various programs.
One reason to visit
The Egyptian Temple of Dendur
If you choose to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, one highlight you should definitely check out is the Egyptian Temple of Dendur. This impressive temple was constructed around 15 BC in Egypt and later moved to the museum in 1968. Its now one of the only full Egyptian temples you can see outside of Egypt itself. Take the time to really look at the sandstone walls and columns; they have carvings that depict what life was like in ancient Egypt. Staring at these images, youll be able to glean some knowledge about the practices and history of this fascinating civilization. Its not every day you get to see something like this.
Getting there
The Metropolitan Museum of Art located at 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, United States. You can reach to the museum by walking if you are around Central Park area. Start your walk from Central Park South (59th street) towards 5th Avenue. Once you reach 5th Avenue, turn heading North (up). You need to walk for about 15 blocks along 5th Avenue, until you reach E 82nd St. At that junction, turn right and you will see the entrance of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it's on the right. For those who are unable to complete the long walk, the NYC M1, M2, M3, and M4 southbound buses stop on 5th Avenue at 82nd Street and the northbound buses stop on Madison Avenue at 83rd Street. You could walk for part of the route and take the Bus for the remainder.
To get to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York by bike, start from Central Park South (59th Street) and head towards 6th Avenue. Turn left and stay on this avenue, also known as Avenue of Americas. As you continue north, be sure to stay on the bike lane for safety. When you cross Central Park South continue straight onto Central Park West. After about a mile, make a right turn into 79th street Transverse which cuts through the park. Keep going straight and exit on the other side onto 5th Avenue. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is on your right, between 80th and 84th Streets. Be sure to find a safe place to secure your bike upon arrival. Remember that biking directions can change based on road closures or construction, so make sure to verify your journey ahead of time.
To reach the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York by public transport, it's best to use the Subway or the Bus. If you use the Subway, ride the #6 Lexington Avenue Local train to 86th Street. From there, you'll need to walk west towards Central Park - the museum is right at the eastern edge of the park. For buses, you can take the M1, M2, M3, or M4 bus lines which all stop within 1 block of the museum at the corner of 5th Avenue and 82nd Street. Alternatively, the crosstown M86 Bus travels east/west across Manhattan and stops at 5th Avenue and 86th Street, just a short walk from the museum.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located at 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028. When driving from Downtown Manhattan, take the FDR Drive North to Exit 14 for E 96th St. Continue onto E 96th St, then turn right onto 3rd Ave. After that, turn left at the 2nd cross street onto E 94th St, followed by a right turn at the 1st cross street onto 5th Ave. The Metropolitan Museum of Art will be on your right. Please note that street parking around the museum is limited, and there are several parking garages nearby. The closest garage is located at 17 E 89th St. Remember to check traffic updates before your journey as street closures are common in Manhattan.
