Our first museum we spent time at was The Tenements– tenement rooms that were curated for different decades and people groups, like a newly immigrated Chinese family in the 1950s versus a free African-American couple in the 1860s. We did a tour before and after lunch, and it was a teaching museum that could have plenty more visits had we been there longer, though only my attention could have been held much longer, I think. Good thing I’m the planner, or this wouldn’t have made the itinerary, although it is really worthwhile.
Getting an out-of-towner MET membership was just the ticket. Our minors got in free, and Dwayne and I got to The Cloisters once and the Met twice. Kyla spent the most time at the museums for the under-18 set, and Wes the least. Piper and Abby broke records for time in the gift stores. I have not yet been sated by the Met; perhaps I need a few more visits.
Another place we (okay, Dwayne, Kyla, and I) needed more time was the American Museum of Natural History, which really has the coolest exhibits. I had just finished a book where a girl remembers her favorite place in the museum, under the blue whale on the bottom floor, as a special time she got with her dad. I’m not sure what I would have liked best as a kid, but having been on a Kenyon safari since we last visited this museum, the African section delightful.
Early in our adventure, we visited the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, a piece of recent history our kids are taught in school as their teachers all remember 9-11 clearly (as do I). Both the outer memorial and the inside displays were beautiful and sobering.
We also explored the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, though again, thankfully Dwayne and I did this on our last visit, so when it was cut short due to tired teenagers, it wasn’t the loss it could have been. We did at least get to see Lady Liberty from head to toes, sort of.
Eight days is not enough! There were 3 museums I wanted more time at and others I didn’t even visit. Sounds like I need to start the itinerary for next time.
Needopedia 