Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
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Despite the third floor currently closed, my visit was nothing short of five stars. Here's why: ** Built in 1902, this spectacular mansion was occupied by the Carnegie family until 1946. Thirty years later the property became home of the Cooper Hewitt Museum, a branch of the Smithsonian. Rooms -- once bedrooms, sitting rooms and such -- are now galleries. It's fascinating to see original photos with architectural features still in tact. ** Loved the current exhibit "Made in America," industrial photography by Christopher Payne. Clear, sharp images of the making of Steinway pianos, pencils, NFL footballs ... things you likely don't think about. ** The oldest hatmaker in the United States, Bollman Hat Company, has been in business since 1868. Bollman's location in Adamstown, PA piqued my interest. It's one of my favorite towns to antique! Since Bollman has a factory outlet -- yay! bargains! -- you know I'll be checking it out. Interesting exhibit at Cooper Hewitt. ** The museum has a listening room, with the most sophisticated sound equipment. Our timing was perfect. British musicologist Haseeb Iqbal, treated us to an afternoon of jazz. (How had I never heard of Archie Shepp?!) The guards are particularly helpful and nice. If, like me, you haven't been in a while, make it your point to return. On February 13th the third floor re-opens with an exhibit entitled "The Art of Noise."
Came here's on a class trip. It was really nice to see pictures and art work of how things are made in America, or just in general. It did entertain the students because they even had a chance to see beautiful details of pictures from, pencils and hats being made. They had the opportunity to even feel the inside of what a hat is made of and they learned about different kinds of materials. It was a very educational visit to where I would want to return on my own time. The pictures are really beautiful and interesting. They also had a downstairs activity room, where the students made their own little objects. It was a fun trip. Happy Yelping!
The third floor exhibit was not open, so sort of bummed about that. But the photographer exhibit was open and substantial. So we enjoyed learning about the work of christopher Payne. Excerpt from website: Made in America brings together more than 70 large-format photographs captured by Christopher Payne over a decade-long photographic journey to learn more about the craft of both industrial and artisanal making in the United States. His images celebrate the combination of human skill and mechanical precision that transform raw materials into objects as diverse as pencils, semiconductors, pianos, and rockets.
The Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum is a beauty. It is located on Fifth Avenue between 90th and 91st Streets with a large garden. Here there are benches, tables and chairs. Helga was waiting on a bench under a tree. Once again I had a pass for two to see the Design Museum. This exquisite mansion was built for Andrew Carnegie in 1902 during the Gilded Age. It has 64 rooms, large fireplaces, a big balustrade and original wood paneling. With the passing of time it was taken over by the Smithsonian museum. Now exhibitions of design are held here. We saw modern and antique flatware, a kimono and many unusual art. We had hoped to join the 1:30 pm tour but the docent had not come on this day. Do we wandered around ourselves. Did you know that if one wishes to sit in the Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden to soak in the sun (with your clothes on), read a book or dream then entrance is free to do so. There is a cafe run by Tarallucci e Vino with quiches, Viennoiseries, coffee, tea, paninis and Sammontana gelato sticks available. Two clean restrooms are conveniently located behind the cafe and open to the public. A pretty place to relax.
It's beautiful. The staff was super kind and they let me take pictures with my tripod outside the actual museum. The art and interactive element made it specially interesting but I loved the structure of the house most. The attention to detail in the woodwork and doors. Absolutely beautiful. The green house was also very cool and warm! It's not too expensive either. I think I paid around 20 dollars for the whole museum! The rooms were also quite cool. Every room had something different
Located on 91st Street between 5th and Madison Avenues, Cooper Hewitt is one star in a small constellation of museums known as the Museum Mile in Manhattan's upper east side. Dedicated to historical and contemporary design, the museum started off as a museum for Arts of Decoration, founded in 1897 by Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt, grand daughters of prominent businessman Peter Cooper, and was associated with the Cooper Union school. While the museum collections grew to include all types of decorative objects, furniture, jewelry, ceramics, textiles and multi-media items, they lost their initial popularity and exhibition space at the school in the 1950-60s, closing in 1963. Saved from dispersing its collections by the Smithsonian between 1965-68, the Cooper Hewitt became its first location outside of Washington DC. The Smithsonian negotiated a lease for, then was subsequently donated the building by the Carnegie Corporation, reopening in 1976 to the general public. Since then total collections have grown to encompass 215K+ items. The building which houses the museum is the former mansion of turn of the 20th century industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, with its English Georgian design constructed and completed between 1899-1902. Planned as a family residence that would later transition to a post-retirement homestead, it was the first home to have a steel structural frame and one of the first to have an elevator. Its location north of major developments at the time allowed land for a private garden, which is still part of the museum grounds today. Arriving at around 5:10pm (after visiting the Met), I figured a quick spin would be sufficient, though it turns out for only two stories, 45-50 minutes isn't quite enough. A good 2-2.5 hours is needed if you want to take your time, read through the descriptions, interact with the exhibits. The building has a ton of fine architectural and decorative details which are worth checking out too. February 2025 the current exhibition is Making Home - Smithsonian Design Triennial, on view thru summer 2025, featuring "25 commissioned installations exploring design's role in shaping the physical and emotional realities of home across the United States, US Territories, and Tribal Nations" (according to their website www.cooperhewitt.org). I felt an urgency and poignancy to the works that the artists wanted to share, and hope others can appreciate these pieces too! Tickets are $22 for adults, $16 for seniors, $10 for students/disabled. Available for purchase online or in person. 5-6pm daily tickets are by suggested donation, I believe these need to be purchased on-site. Cafe, gift shop coat/bag check and bathrooms on site.
Really cute gothic revival mansion of Andrew Carnegie turned into a museum. Unique green solarium with cozy benches for enjoying. So quiet and beautiful. I also enjoyed the photography exhibit. But, what put a damper on my time was the cafe. The guy working had dirty hands and a bandaid on his finger and touched my food with that hand. Could he wear gloves maybe? That would solve the issue. Other than that I really enjoyed my time and the staff was friendly. Some of the rooms were empty so there was less to see than I expected but there was also a special sound concert exhibit as well.
A really unique and lovely museum to explore. The museum tenants were so helpful and informed and shared really great information and history about the space. The selection was unique to the current exhibitions theme and layered throughout the various floors. The exhibits allowed for a variety of sensory experiences such as a room a fragrance and to immersive spaces related to homes. Used my museum teacher pass so it was very affordable and lovely.
Not a big conspiracy theorist, but this "museum" seems to be a case of "the emperor's new clothes". Charitable foundations and the wealthy need tax write offs and most of the content here fit the bill. No life changing cathartic exhibits that one would regret never having experienced. Like seriously a pillow (see photo) was on display that wasn't used by Cleopatra or Jesus. No FOMO present. The mansion itself is located in a spectacular address right across from Central Park, but the exhibits felt patronizing and uninteresting. Without minimizing the work that folks put into the exhibits, the content was not ground breaking or particularly thoughtful. I enjoy architecture and interior design, but the exhibits on display on the Sunday we visited lacked originality and did not impart a sense of substantiality. My mind is probably too unsophisticated to fully appreciate the subject matter displayed. We immediately rushed to the Met afterwards to rejuvenate our souls with full-cafe, undiluted, heaping servings of mind-numbing masterpieces.
I hadn't visited the Cooper Hewitt since I was in college - in 2007 - almost 20 years ago. I visited again with my mom this past weekend when we were in NYC for a mother/daughter trip. The museum is the only museum in the US dedicated to historical and contemporary design. It's housed in the Carnegie Mansion, a 64-room mansion built for Andrew Carnegie in 1902. The museum is gorgeous (the mansion has been restored beautifully), but it only has room for one exhibit, which takes place throughout the museum. When we visited, the exhibit was "Making Home - Smithsonian Design Triennial." Unfortunately, the exhibit focuses on conceptual design (what is a home?) rather than examples of design. The exhibit wasn't my favorite, but since the museum doesn't exhibit a permanent collection, just the current exhibit, if you don't like the exhibit, you won't enjoy a visit. Our visit took less time than I thought, so we visited the gift shop and the cafe before continuing on our UES museum crawl. I'm sure I'll visit again (hopefully it won't take 15 years), but I'll wait until it's an exhibit I'm really interested in!
We came in with no expectation and had a blast. The Atlas to Es Devlin exhibit which is open til Aug 2024 was by far my favorite. It chronicles a journey of Es Devlin from there scrapbooks to replicas of live concert stages and real sculptures she has designed over the year. It's a journey where you can appreciate all the thought and symbolism in concert stage design and sculpture designs created by her seen all over the world. Truly a great informative museum exhibit. The permanent exhibits also revolve around design and were nice to walk through. The interior of the museum is cozy and great! Check out the gift shop to see great design products - we didn't buy anything, but it was really cool to see design embedded in different cool products.
This museum is in Andrew Carnegie's former mansion. The woodwork in here is incredible. The museum in on the upper east side, "museum row" has many World class museums. They participate in the Bank of America Museums on Us Program.
A nerdy design museum - located on Museum Mile - that has my nerdy design companions buzzing. Delightful exhibit contents for even the less design-savvy. Satisfying inside café, attentive and informed staff, all within a beautifully-restored mansion.
A gem of a museum at the northern end of Museum Mile. Design doesn't usually interest me but we an amazing exhibit called Made in America, by Christopher Payne. It was a fascinating show with 72 large format showing how things are made. The exhibit ran the gamut of manufacturing from yarn to space suits. Mr. Payne was on site and was gracious enough to chat with us about his work. A very cool experience! read more
You're not going to find a place like this anywhere else because it's the only US museum dedicated to historical and contemporary design. Part of the Smithsonian system, they often have new and interesting exhibitions and, as I've said before, it's less crowded and more laid back. This time there was a piece on sound, it was like a sound bath, and it wasn't my vibe. But what I did find super interesting was the exhibit on production and industrial machines and the people who work on them. I had no idea there were 13 foot tall tires or that one regular man gets inside of them (with the inner rim of the tire coming to his chest) to prepare them for distribution. I thought it was some sort of weird art for a minute, before realizing it was a genuine photograph. I loved seeing all the electronics, large hydraulic systems, weaving apparatuses, and factory settings. It really makes you think about all that goes into making our daily lives livable, that we take for granted. It also had me feeling a true sense of appreciation for the people who do these niche jobs, many of which are a dying craft. This is always a great value. I'm not sure why there are some reviews knocking it. Maybe with today's overstimulation and short attention spans, the vibe is just too chill for them. *shrug* read more
10 months ago
Despite the third floor currently closed, my visit was nothing short of five stars. Here's why: ** Built in 1902, this spectacular mansion was occupied by the Carnegie family until 1946. Thirty years later the property became home of the Cooper Hewitt Museum, a branch of the Smithsonian. Rooms -- once bedrooms, sitting rooms and such -- are now galleries. It's fascinating to see original photos with architectural features still in tact. ** Loved the current exhibit "Made in America," industrial photography by Christopher Payne. Clear, sharp images of the making of Steinway pianos, pencils, NFL footballs ... things you likely don't think about. ** The oldest hatmaker in the United States, Bollman Hat Company, has been in business since 1868. Bollman's location in Adamstown, PA piqued my interest. It's one of my favorite towns to antique! Since Bollman has a factory outlet -- yay! bargains! -- you know I'll be checking it out. Interesting exhibit at Cooper Hewitt. ** The museum has a listening room, with the most sophisticated sound equipment. Our timing was perfect. British musicologist Haseeb Iqbal, treated us to an afternoon of jazz. (How had I never heard of Archie Shepp?!) The guards are particularly helpful and nice. If, like me, you haven't been in a while, make it your point to return. On February 13th the third floor re-opens with an exhibit entitled "The Art of Noise." read more
5 months ago
Came here's on a class trip. It was really nice to see pictures and art work of how things are made in America, or just in general. It did entertain the students because they even had a chance to see beautiful details of pictures from, pencils and hats being made. They had the opportunity to even feel the inside of what a hat is made of and they learned about different kinds of materials. It was a very educational visit to where I would want to return on my own time. The pictures are really beautiful and interesting. They also had a downstairs activity room, where the students made their own little objects. It was a fun trip. Happy Yelping! read more
The third floor exhibit was not open, so sort of bummed about that. But the photographer exhibit was open and substantial. So we enjoyed learning about the work of christopher Payne. Excerpt from website: Made in America brings together more than 70 large-format photographs captured by Christopher Payne over a decade-long photographic journey to learn more about the craft of both industrial and artisanal making in the United States. His images celebrate the combination of human skill and mechanical precision that transform raw materials into objects as diverse as pencils, semiconductors, pianos, and rockets. read more
The Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum is a beauty. It is located on Fifth Avenue between 90th and 91st Streets with a large garden. Here there are benches, tables and chairs. Helga was waiting on a bench under a tree. Once again I had a pass for two to see the Design Museum. This exquisite mansion was built for Andrew Carnegie in 1902 during the Gilded Age. It has 64 rooms, large fireplaces, a big balustrade and original wood paneling. With the passing of time it was taken over by the Smithsonian museum. Now exhibitions of design are held here. We saw modern and antique flatware, a kimono and many unusual art. We had hoped to join the 1:30 pm tour but the docent had not come on this day. Do we wandered around ourselves. Did you know that if one wishes to sit in the Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden to soak in the sun (with your clothes on), read a book or dream then entrance is free to do so. There is a cafe run by Tarallucci e Vino with quiches, Viennoiseries, coffee, tea, paninis and Sammontana gelato sticks available. Two clean restrooms are conveniently located behind the cafe and open to the public. A pretty place to relax. read more
3 months ago
It's beautiful. The staff was super kind and they let me take pictures with my tripod outside the actual museum. The art and interactive element made it specially interesting but I loved the structure of the house most. The attention to detail in the woodwork and doors. Absolutely beautiful. The green house was also very cool and warm! It's not too expensive either. I think I paid around 20 dollars for the whole museum! The rooms were also quite cool. Every room had something different read more
Located on 91st Street between 5th and Madison Avenues, Cooper Hewitt is one star in a small constellation of museums known as the Museum Mile in Manhattan's upper east side. Dedicated to historical and contemporary design, the museum started off as a museum for Arts of Decoration, founded in 1897 by Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt, grand daughters of prominent businessman Peter Cooper, and was associated with the Cooper Union school. While the museum collections grew to include all types of decorative objects, furniture, jewelry, ceramics, textiles and multi-media items, they lost their initial popularity and exhibition space at the school in the 1950-60s, closing in 1963. Saved from dispersing its collections by the Smithsonian between 1965-68, the Cooper Hewitt became its first location outside of Washington DC. The Smithsonian negotiated a lease for, then was subsequently donated the building by the Carnegie Corporation, reopening in 1976 to the general public. Since then total collections have grown to encompass 215K+ items. The building which houses the museum is the former mansion of turn of the 20th century industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, with its English Georgian design constructed and completed between 1899-1902. Planned as a family residence that would later transition to a post-retirement homestead, it was the first home to have a steel structural frame and one of the first to have an elevator. Its location north of major developments at the time allowed land for a private garden, which is still part of the museum grounds today. Arriving at around 5:10pm (after visiting the Met), I figured a quick spin would be sufficient, though it turns out for only two stories, 45-50 minutes isn't quite enough. A good 2-2.5 hours is needed if you want to take your time, read through the descriptions, interact with the exhibits. The building has a ton of fine architectural and decorative details which are worth checking out too. February 2025 the current exhibition is Making Home - Smithsonian Design Triennial, on view thru summer 2025, featuring "25 commissioned installations exploring design's role in shaping the physical and emotional realities of home across the United States, US Territories, and Tribal Nations" (according to their website www.cooperhewitt.org). I felt an urgency and poignancy to the works that the artists wanted to share, and hope others can appreciate these pieces too! Tickets are $22 for adults, $16 for seniors, $10 for students/disabled. Available for purchase online or in person. 5-6pm daily tickets are by suggested donation, I believe these need to be purchased on-site. Cafe, gift shop coat/bag check and bathrooms on site. read more
11 months ago
Really cute gothic revival mansion of Andrew Carnegie turned into a museum. Unique green solarium with cozy benches for enjoying. So quiet and beautiful. I also enjoyed the photography exhibit. But, what put a damper on my time was the cafe. The guy working had dirty hands and a bandaid on his finger and touched my food with that hand. Could he wear gloves maybe? That would solve the issue. Other than that I really enjoyed my time and the staff was friendly. Some of the rooms were empty so there was less to see than I expected but there was also a special sound concert exhibit as well. read more
A really unique and lovely museum to explore. The museum tenants were so helpful and informed and shared really great information and history about the space. The selection was unique to the current exhibitions theme and layered throughout the various floors. The exhibits allowed for a variety of sensory experiences such as a room a fragrance and to immersive spaces related to homes. Used my museum teacher pass so it was very affordable and lovely. read more
1 year ago
Not a big conspiracy theorist, but this "museum" seems to be a case of "the emperor's new clothes". Charitable foundations and the wealthy need tax write offs and most of the content here fit the bill. No life changing cathartic exhibits that one would regret never having experienced. Like seriously a pillow (see photo) was on display that wasn't used by Cleopatra or Jesus. No FOMO present. The mansion itself is located in a spectacular address right across from Central Park, but the exhibits felt patronizing and uninteresting. Without minimizing the work that folks put into the exhibits, the content was not ground breaking or particularly thoughtful. I enjoy architecture and interior design, but the exhibits on display on the Sunday we visited lacked originality and did not impart a sense of substantiality. My mind is probably too unsophisticated to fully appreciate the subject matter displayed. We immediately rushed to the Met afterwards to rejuvenate our souls with full-cafe, undiluted, heaping servings of mind-numbing masterpieces. read more
6 months ago
I hadn't visited the Cooper Hewitt since I was in college - in 2007 - almost 20 years ago. I visited again with my mom this past weekend when we were in NYC for a mother/daughter trip. The museum is the only museum in the US dedicated to historical and contemporary design. It's housed in the Carnegie Mansion, a 64-room mansion built for Andrew Carnegie in 1902. The museum is gorgeous (the mansion has been restored beautifully), but it only has room for one exhibit, which takes place throughout the museum. When we visited, the exhibit was "Making Home - Smithsonian Design Triennial." Unfortunately, the exhibit focuses on conceptual design (what is a home?) rather than examples of design. The exhibit wasn't my favorite, but since the museum doesn't exhibit a permanent collection, just the current exhibit, if you don't like the exhibit, you won't enjoy a visit. Our visit took less time than I thought, so we visited the gift shop and the cafe before continuing on our UES museum crawl. I'm sure I'll visit again (hopefully it won't take 15 years), but I'll wait until it's an exhibit I'm really interested in! read more
We came in with no expectation and had a blast. The Atlas to Es Devlin exhibit which is open til Aug 2024 was by far my favorite. It chronicles a journey of Es Devlin from there scrapbooks to replicas of live concert stages and real sculptures she has designed over the year. It's a journey where you can appreciate all the thought and symbolism in concert stage design and sculpture designs created by her seen all over the world. Truly a great informative museum exhibit. The permanent exhibits also revolve around design and were nice to walk through. The interior of the museum is cozy and great! Check out the gift shop to see great design products - we didn't buy anything, but it was really cool to see design embedded in different cool products. read more
1 year ago
This museum is in Andrew Carnegie's former mansion. The woodwork in here is incredible. The museum in on the upper east side, "museum row" has many World class museums. They participate in the Bank of America Museums on Us Program. read more
3 years ago
A nerdy design museum - located on Museum Mile - that has my nerdy design companions buzzing. Delightful exhibit contents for even the less design-savvy. Satisfying inside café, attentive and informed staff, all within a beautifully-restored mansion. read more
4 years ago
Cooper Hewitt is a DESIGN museum, which gives them a huge space to be creative and meaningful. And they did it! From handmade fabric items, to hospital & medical equipment, to porcelain & silverware, they bring out the human intentions, dedication, creativity, and craftsmanship that achieve either beauty or utility, or both combined. If you're a designer of anything, this place may inspire you; and if you're not, this place may entertain or even educate you. The building itself is a work of art, with ornate wood carving and panels inside, and spacious gardens and grounds outside. They used to have many visitor-interactive devices (like the AI Lab) but at this writing many are closed. The large display table (see pictures) is a great way to pick and choose what you like to learn more about their collections. Not a large museum and does not have iconic pieces as some of it neighbors (like the Met or the Guggenheim) so you may be disappointed if you are expecting another one like those. It is, however, a place to look deeply and quietly into the objects (likely there won't be too many people around you) and perhaps reflect upon your own work and draw some inspiration for your own creativity. They have a tiny cafe and I wouldn't recommend it if you'd like a dining experience comparable to your visiting experience! ;) There are many good eateries right outside. The Bluelane cafe a block away is a good choice. read more
Cooper Hewitt is an absolutely beautiful museum located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, NY. The museum has 4 floors that include their business offices, various exhibits, the "Shop Cooper Hewitt" giftshop, the museum cafe, the Arthur Ross Terrace + Garden, a design studio + an educational center. There was so much to view which made for an enjoyable experience. Cooper Hewitt "Timed-Entry Tickets" can be ordered via the website-www.cooperhewitt.org. it is pretty cool that the tickets are free and will continue to be free to the public until 11/29/21 due to generous donations from the Board of Trustees.- they also hold a number of tickets each day to the side for "walk-in" patrons which is nice. Upon arrvial, everyone has to enter at 2 East 91st Street, show security their COVID Vaccine Card and then go to the front admission are to receive a physical ticket. Once you get yout ticket, security request that you peel off the sticker on the ticket and place it on your person so that you will be allowed to go around the museum. Although this visit was made to ensure being able to view the "Willie Smith: Street Couture" Exhibit that was ending on 10/24/21, it was also beautiful to view the other following exhibits: Suzie Zuzek For Lily Pulitzer: The Prints That Made The Fashion Brand - on view until 1/2/22. Nature By Design- on view until 1/2/22. Underground Modernist: E. McKnight Kauffer - on view until 4/10/22. Jon Gray of Ghetto Gastro Selects - on view until 2/13/22. The Immersion Room (view on an ongoing basis). Cooper Hewitt has fantastic and Informative Exhibits. Security throughout the museum are kind friendly in their greetings/ conversations with patrons and are knowledgeable about the museum. The Ground Floor Bathrooms are clean and well-maintained. The Sprawling Garden lawns are gorgeous and the quaint cafe area and "Shop Cooper Hewitt" giftshop are lovely. The Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden are so pretty. It was great to have a seat + enjoy the beautiful Saturday Afternoon weather in the garden after going around the Cooper Hewitt Museum. The museum is open everyday from 10am-6pm except on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thanksgiving + the Christmas Holiday. No proof of vaccination is required if an individual wants to visit the garden...you just have to wear a mask + maintain social distancing. Go onto the website to plan your visit, view the museum map, make donations if you choose to + to obtain a wealth of information of the museum's educational programs, virtual programs, etc. Twitter - @cooperhewitt. Instagram-@cooperhewitt. read more
It seems that if you've made your fortune and built a mansion in Manhattan that a hundred years down the line, your descendants will donate your home for public use and turn it into a museum. So it was with Andrew Carnegie and his residence becoming the Cooper Hewitt Museum along Museum Mile on 5th Ave between the Guggenheim and the Jewish Museum. I would want it to be prestigious enough to be part of the Smithsonian too. The Cooper Hewitt is dedicated to design, which has a wide range from the artistic to the functional and is perfect if you've balanced both in harmony. As an engineer, I tend towards the functional side, but the aesthetic side always has appeal and function has a beauty all its own. When my wife wanted to visit, we checked online and admission was free until the end of October to spark NYC's rise out of the pandemic seclusion. The current highlight exhibit is a retrospective of a true New Yorker that passed way too early, Willi Smith: Street Couture. Willi was a fashion designer in the 80's that made a mark for himself in a bright, but short career. It was a walk down memory lane for my wife because she worked for Willi as one of her first jobs out of college and this was a bittersweet reunion for her. Another cool current exhibit is Suzie Zuzek for Lilly Pulitzer showing the textile print designs of Ms Zuzek. The animal prints are amazing. This flows seamlessly into the adjacent Nature By Design exhibit that you can't even tell that it's separate. Best to check these out before they're gone in January. When you go through the rest of the mansion, you see a lot of the original woodwork, especially the grand stair case, but a lot of the structure has been modernized. Some of the bedrooms have kept the original decor and serve to complement the exhibits. The History of Design going back to ancient times artifacts fit in very well with the turn of the century interiors. The museum itself is a bonus experience I would definitely go back for again! read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
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5 years ago
Fabulous museum located in the former Carnegie mansion on 91st St. near central park. Under the umbrella of the Smithsonian. It's my understanding this museum will be free until October-ish although reserved timeslots seem to be 'sold out 'weeks in advance. They offer a limited number of walk up tickets which was how I was able to get in. I arrived about 10 minutes before they opened and lined up at the entrance on 91st St Three floors of changing exhibitions. Excellent Curation. Someone I spoke to mentioned they have some type of interactive pen that can be used during your visit which can make it more fun for younger kids. There is a small café and a beautiful garden to sit outside with umbrellas to Shade you from the sun. The gift store also had a lot of great options. I highly recommend this museum when you are next in New York City . read more
This museum is a hidden gem. It's close to Guggenheim and The Met. When you go into the museum, you encounter a small cafe. Then, you walk into a lobby where you purchase a ticket. Your admission ticket comes with a digital pen. This item needs to be return after you finish your tour. It's a cool device. You tap it next to an artwork and it saved the information to your ticket. The immersion room is an amazing experience. You can create your own wallpaper and it flashes on the walls. Here is a video about the museum: https://youtu.be/5V6AlRZ9Gbs I would love to bring my friend who is in the IT field. He would appreciate these features. If you have never been to Cooper Hewitt, you need to add it to your bucket list. read more
Beautiful architectural preservation efforts, interesting design exhibitions. Social justice themes and curation. I love the indoor and outdoor cafe space that are inviting even if not viewing the exhibitions, but want a space for reflection and relaxation in the UES. read more
The next time you find yourself at the Guggenheim (and mind you, it was thirty years between visits for me), do yourself a favor and walk the extra block up 5th to come here because it's a thoroughly unique, world-class museum offering exhibits focused purely on design. Granted it's not an architectural touchstone like the Guggenheim, it's a lot friendlier with docents who voluntarily provide helpful insights into the art objects and design elements presented in the various rooms. The museum takes quite the opposite of the Guggenheim by repurposing the palatial Georgian Revival mansion. It belonged to Andrew Carnegie and his wife Louise until her death in 1946. The Carnegie Corporation gave it to the Smithsonian in 1972, the museum was born, and the interior has been ideally modernized for the eclectic designs it currently houses. With its most recent renovation about five years ago, touch-screen tables were introduced to allow us to customize the designs of key objects to suit your taste. Sensory pens were lent to us to record preferred objects to produce our own catalog of favorites. The museum's more traditional exhibits were most appealing as well. My favorite collection was called appropriately Iridescence which was epitomized by objects like the leaf-form pitcher (photo: http://bit.ly/32wlV6J). The diaphanous dresses showcase fashion that RuPaul would look at with awe, especially the glowing transgenic silk of the Fantasma gown (photo: http://bit.ly/2HM0HKa). You would think the diversity of design displays - including architectural miniatures like a university housing project in Ho Chi Minh City (photo http://bit.ly/32tIRTQ) - would work against each other like a consignment store, but no it's pretty impeccable within the grandeur of the Carnegie manor. RELATED - Planning a trip to NYC? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2ZvQA2F read more
3 years ago
Formerly steel magnate Andrew Carnegie's home, this museum, now a Smithsonian network museum, displays ever changing displays historic and contemporary design. Carnegie, arguably the richest man in the world, was estimated to be worth around $660 billion in today's dollars. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
The historic Andrew Carnegie mansion built in 1902 is now this museum. Given to the Smithsonian in 1972 it now exhibits unique pieces and immersive installations. Textile designer Suzie Zuzek from Designer Lily Pulitzer is showcased. Made reservations online a couple weeks before for free tickets. read more
For the most recent iteration of Free Museum Day I visited the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum on the Upper East Side. The first thing you notice about this museum is that it does not look like your usual museum; it is not a large, modern building that looks like it was designed to be a museum. Rather, it is a gorgeous mansion that is a pleasure to look at. And the inside is just as nice. The interior of the museum is classic. Beautiful wood fixtures and chandeliers are all around the exhibits. This also creates a very interesting contrast within the museum. On the one hand, the building has this traditional, classic appeal and, on the other hand, the exhibits are all about modern design. There is an old meets new feel to it that really conveys the varying concepts of design through the ages. The exhibits are also very interesting and are quite interactive and hands on. As a design museum, there are many exhibits dedicated to the senses. You are invited to touch, smell, hear and, of course, view various designs as you interact with them. Some of the more interesting exhibits allow you to make digital drawings and manipulate their 3D renderings or to create designs and then project them all around the room. This museum is certainly fun for adults and for kids. It is a great way to combine learn and play in a beautiful educational setting. Cooper Hewitt also has a nice cafe if you get hungry, and it leads out into their lawn and garden area. There are beautiful flowers and plenty of space to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. And this garden area is open to the public free of charge for those who simply wish to enjoy a nice outdoor space without experiencing the museum. Cooper Hewitt is a fun and beautiful place. Bring your kids if you have them; they will love it. Or bring your significant other. They will love it too. And after, go for a walk in Central Park along Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir for one of the better views in the city. You won't regret it! read more
My friend and I visited this museum (located along Museum Mile on the UES) for the first time last weekend on a rainy Sunday morning and had the loveliest time! All the exhibits were so aesthetic and designed with intention, and the security guards were especially friendly and helpful in guiding us where to start at each exhibit! Remember to reserve tickets online (seems like free admission is offered until the end of the month!) - because there's a limited number for each time slot, the exhibits never felt too crowded or loud. Can't wait to visit again :) read more
4 years ago
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2 E 91st St
New York, NY 10128
Upper East Side
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(212) 849-8400
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