Internationalism, community and creativity are on display at this eclectic art museum, set in a dramatic building in the middle of Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
The Queens Museum lives up to the reputation of its home borough, one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse places in the world. Internationalism is literally the foundation of the Queens Museum building, which housed two world fairs and early meetings of the United Nations General Assembly. See how renovations in recent decades have transformed the space into a world-class venue for arts exhibitions, educational programming and community collaboration.
Enter through the dramatic doorways facing the Unisphere, a reminder of the history of Flushing Meadows Corona Park as a staging ground for the 1939 and 1964 World Fairs. After serving as a fair pavilion, this building was turned over to the Parks Department for recreational use the light-filled atrium of the present-day museum was once an ice-skating rink. Today, the atrium hosts dynamic performances and large-scale sculptures.
Head into the surrounding galleries to admire temporary exhibitions of art from around the world, featuring local and emerging artists, as well as permanent exhibitions of materials from the building’s history. Marvel at the scope of the Panorama, a 9,335-square-foot (867-square-meter) scale model of New York City, as well as a relief map of the New York City water supply, both originally commissioned as exhibits for the world fairs.
Upstairs view more material from the permanent collection. Register in advance for one of the many performances, workshops and programs hosted in the theater and workshop spaces here. Visit on a Sunday to attend a weekly drop-in family art workshop, ranging from puppet-making to painting. Check out the Cities of Tomorrow Art Lab for self-guided, hands-on arts and crafts every day. Relax in the adjacent café.
Travel to the Queens Museum by subway to Mets-Willets Point. Follow signs for Flushing Meadows Corona Park and enter the park on foot via a boardwalk out of the subway station. Walk about 15 minutes into the park’s interior. Limited, free parking is also available.
The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday during the day except major American holidays. It is technically free to enter, though a small donation is suggested.
