40 NYC Museums for Kids to Explore

The Staten Island Children's Museum is a New York City Gem. The huge space offers unique exhibits including 'House About It' where kids can learn about designing, building and decorating a house using real drills and wood! The Garden Terrace area is another cool feature where kids can experience a nature inspired play area and hands-on gardening opportunities. Also, get the chance to meet some insects at the 'Bug & Other Insects' exhibit.

There is so much fun to be had at Governors Island, but before you head to the slide hills or play a game of mini golf, learn about the long, interesting history of the island by visiting the historic neighborhoods or going on a tour of the two forts on the island. Join a National Park Ranger for a free guided tour and get your junior ranger badge after completing a booklet.

The National Museum of the American Indian is a fantastic place to go to learn about Indian cultures throughout the country and the world, see Native American artifacts and understand customs. The museum features several family friendly programs that help children understand their culture and legacy.

Take a step back to colonial times at the Fraunces Tavern restaurant and museum! One of the oldest buildings in NYC, this historical site was the place where George Washington said his famous farewell to the troops during the Revolutionary war! They regularly host events, including kid-friendly ones. After touring the museum, have some lunch downstairs in the full restaurant and transport yourself to the 1700s!

Children's Museum of the Arts allows children to view art pieces in the galleries and the opportunity to make their own and get creative in the drop-in art studios. With the gallery exhibit frequently changing, Children's Museum of the Arts gets little ones inspired and then gives them the mediums to express themselves through clay or paint, even sound design and animation! The museum also features classes that range from drop-in music, art and story time for toddlers, after-school classes for the older kids and weekend family classes!

The Whitney Museum focuses on art of the 20th and 21st century making its pieces modern and are sure to spark conversations among the family. Take a stroller tour with the little ones or let your inner artist shine at an open studio session with different projects each week for families. The museum also offers kid-friendly gallery exploration tours! Don't forget to check out the awesome rooftop area with gorgeous views.

The Seaport Historic District is a beautiful area of Lower Manhattan and it also has so much rich history to discover. After going to the docks for a look at the views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the NYC skyline, head over to the South Street Seaport Museum to learn all about why the seaport was so important to NYC and the rest of the country as well! Catch a tour of the historic ships docked on the pier and get a chance to visit the printing shops were you can learn how printing presses operated!

Learn all about Chinese-American heritage at the Museum of Chinese in America. Along with family guides, the museum offers fun activities for children including MoCA Create, an art workshop for families inspired by the exhibits and collections or story time with books, music and finger-play in both English and Mandarin!

The Intrepid Museum has tons of retired shuttles and aircraft carriers that kids can get up close and personal with, including the USS Intrepid from World War II, which the museum is named after. There’s also a missile submarine, a space shuttle, and a spy plane. Out of all the fun things to do in New York City with kids, this is one that both parents and kids can definitely enjoy together!

The New York Transit Museum is a must-see in NYC, especially for kids who are interested in trains! Housed in a real subway station, the museum features vintage subway cars open for exploring to see the evolution of the subway system as well as other fun things to see such as the bus and trolley exhibits.

Great for the older crowd, the Tenement Museum transports families back to the late 19th century and tells the story of immigrants in New York City. The tours each have different themes including shop life and food and are recommended for families with children ages 8 and up. There is only one tour for kids ages 5 and up which tells the story of immigration through the narrative of a 14 year old girl named Victoria Confino.

Kids might be hesitant at first when they hear they're going to the museum of math but fear not, this museum is chock full of so many activities, kids won't realize how much they're learning. Unique in its topic, the National Museum of Mathematics features an array of interactive, hands-on ways to understand the intricacies and applications of math.

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be Gulliver on the island of Lilliput? Visit Miniature World in Times Square and wander by a tiny Empire State Building, Iguazu Falls in Argentina, Chords Bridge leading into Jerusalem, Taj Mahal, Matterhorn, and much more. While kids might not recognize all of the landmarks, they'll love seeing the elaborate miniature models of our world and searching for all of the whimsical touches, such as a mummy chasing tourists around the pyramids of Egypt.

The Spyscape Museum is part museum, part immersive spy experience, and sure to entertain teens and adults alike. Visitors discover their optimal Spy Role and receive a personalized Spy Profile, developed by a former British Intelligence employee. Learn the stories of real spies and complete spy challenge experiences while visiting seven galleries: deception, encryption, surveillance, hacking, intelligence, cyber warfare and special ops.

Step inside a historic library and experience a truly unique museum! Children and adults will both enjoy the gorgeous interior, rare book collections and beautiful works of art. The museum also features programs geared toward families including a drop-in family day each month where kids can have an interactive experience touching, seeing and hearing the history of the museum!