Museum Mile, New York City
Encyclopedia
Museum Mile is the name for a section of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan
in the city of New York
, in the United States
, running from 82nd to 104th streets on the Upper East Side
in a neighborhood known as Carnegie Hill
. The "mile", which contains one of the densest displays of culture
in the world, is actually two blocks longer than one mile. Nine museums occupy the length of this section of Fifth Avenue. A tenth museum, the Museum for African Art
, joined the ensemble in 2009, however its Museum at 110th Street
, the first new museum constructed on the Mile since the Guggenheim
in 1959, won't open until late 2012. In addition to other programming, the museums collaborate for the annual Museum Mile Festival, held each year in June, to promote the museums and increase visitation.
, New York City
, United States
. It was established in 1979 to increase public awareness of its member institutions and promote public support of the arts in New York City. The first festival was held on .
During the past two decades, well over one million people have taken part in this annual celebration. Festival attendees can walk the Mile from 82nd Street to 104th Street and visit ten of New York City's finest cultural institutions, open free that evening to the public. Several of the participating museums offer outdoor art activities for children. The Frick Collection, a great but small museum is on the MUSEUM MILE. However it may choose not to participate. It may however have a free day in December on its anniversary. The green museum mile street sign shown is obsolete: It is now brown for a historic district.
During the event, Fifth Avenue is closed to traffic
and it becomes a stroller
s' haven. Special exhibitions and works from permanent collections are on view inside the institutions and live music from jazz
to show tune
s to string quartet
s are featured in front of each museum. Additional street entertainers perform along Fifth Avenue all evening.
The 2007 opening ceremony were hosted by Paul Thompson, the new director of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
, Smithsonian Institution
.
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
in the city of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, running from 82nd to 104th streets on the Upper East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
in a neighborhood known as Carnegie Hill
Carnegie Hill, Manhattan
Carnegie Hill is a neighborhood within the Upper East Side, in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. Its boundaries extend from 86th Street on the south to 96th Street to the north, between Fifth Avenue on the west and Third Avenue on the east, and up to 98th Street from Fifth to Park...
. The "mile", which contains one of the densest displays of culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
in the world, is actually two blocks longer than one mile. Nine museums occupy the length of this section of Fifth Avenue. A tenth museum, the Museum for African Art
Museum for African Art
The Museum for African Art is located in the neighborhood of Long Island City in the borough of Queens in New York City, United States. Founded in 1984, the museum is "dedicated to increasing public understanding and appreciation of African art and culture." The Museum is also well known for its...
, joined the ensemble in 2009, however its Museum at 110th Street
110th Street (Manhattan)
110th Street is a street in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is commonly known as the boundary between Harlem and Central Park, along which it is known as Central Park North. In the west, it is also known as Cathedral Parkway....
, the first new museum constructed on the Mile since the Guggenheim
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a well-known museum located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States. It is the permanent home to a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions...
in 1959, won't open until late 2012. In addition to other programming, the museums collaborate for the annual Museum Mile Festival, held each year in June, to promote the museums and increase visitation.
Museums on the mile
- 110th St Museum for African ArtMuseum for African ArtThe Museum for African Art is located in the neighborhood of Long Island City in the borough of Queens in New York City, United States. Founded in 1984, the museum is "dedicated to increasing public understanding and appreciation of African art and culture." The Museum is also well known for its...
(opening fall 2012) - 104th St. El Museo del BarrioEl Museo del BarrioEl Museo del Barrio, New York’s leading Latino visual arts cultural institution, is located in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York City, United States, also known as El Barrio. The museum welcomes visitors of all backgrounds to discover the artistic landscape of the Latino, Caribbean, and...
- 103rd St. Museum of the City of New YorkMuseum of the City of New YorkThe Museum of the City of New York is an art gallery and history museum founded in 1923 to present the history of New York City, USA and its people...
- 92nd St. The Jewish MuseumJewish Museum (New York)The Jewish Museum of New York, an art museum and repository of cultural artifacts, is the leading Jewish museum in the United States. With over 26,000 objects, it contains the largest collection of art and Jewish culture outside of museums in Israel. The museum is housed at 1109 Fifth Avenue, in...
- 91st St. Cooper-Hewitt, National Design MuseumCooper-Hewitt, National Design MuseumCooper–Hewitt, National Design Museum, a subsidiary of the Smithsonian Institution, is the United States' national museum of design history and contemporary design and the only museum in the U.S. whose collection is solely focused on contemporary and historic design...
, Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian InstitutionThe Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines... - 89th St. National Academy MuseumNational Academy of DesignThe National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
and School of Fine Arts - 88th St. Solomon R. Guggenheim MuseumSolomon R. Guggenheim MuseumThe Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a well-known museum located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States. It is the permanent home to a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions...
- 86th St. Neue Galerie New York
- 83rd St. Goethe-InstitutGoethe-InstitutThe Goethe-Institut is a non-profit German cultural institution operational worldwide, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange and relations. The Goethe-Institut also fosters knowledge about Germany by providing information on German...
New York/German Cultural Center - 82nd St. The Metropolitan Museum of ArtMetropolitan Museum of ArtThe Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
Museum Mile Festival
The annual Museum Mile Festival traditionally takes place on the second Tuesday in June from 6 – 9 p.m. in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was established in 1979 to increase public awareness of its member institutions and promote public support of the arts in New York City. The first festival was held on .
During the past two decades, well over one million people have taken part in this annual celebration. Festival attendees can walk the Mile from 82nd Street to 104th Street and visit ten of New York City's finest cultural institutions, open free that evening to the public. Several of the participating museums offer outdoor art activities for children. The Frick Collection, a great but small museum is on the MUSEUM MILE. However it may choose not to participate. It may however have a free day in December on its anniversary. The green museum mile street sign shown is obsolete: It is now brown for a historic district.
During the event, Fifth Avenue is closed to traffic
Traffic
Traffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
and it becomes a stroller
Stroller
Stroller may refer to:*A form of baby transport*Stroller , men's daytime semiformal wear*Stroller , showjumping champion...
s' haven. Special exhibitions and works from permanent collections are on view inside the institutions and live music from jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
to show tune
Show tune
A show tune is a popular song originally written as part of the score of a "show" , especially if the piece in question has become a "standard", more or less detached in most people's minds from the original context...
s to string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
s are featured in front of each museum. Additional street entertainers perform along Fifth Avenue all evening.
The 2007 opening ceremony were hosted by Paul Thompson, the new director of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Cooper–Hewitt, National Design Museum, a subsidiary of the Smithsonian Institution, is the United States' national museum of design history and contemporary design and the only museum in the U.S. whose collection is solely focused on contemporary and historic design...
, Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
.