Published in the New York Family Magazine on March 25, 2020
Visit some of the best New York museums directly from your couch. Check out our list of exciting virtual museum tours in New York with tons of exhibits, videos, and photos to browse through. With all the museums and community centers closed during the coronavirus crisis, social distancing has limited us to seeing some of our favorite exhibits and museums. The good news is that Google Arts & Culture collected photos from hundreds of museums worldwide to build an evergrowing online art space everyone can visit for free. Combined with 3D virtual tours and detailed descriptions of every item, you can browse around the world’s artistic treasures for hours in your PJs.
Additionally, New York’s cultural institutions developed their own social media channels and streaming platforms to share everything new and exciting with their audience. Sneak a peek behind the scenes of world-class performances or learn about the greatest artists of the century!
And if you want to keep up with the remote programming of your favorite museums and community centers, follow #MuseumAtHome and #MuseumMomentofZen on Twitter.
American Museum of Natural History
Re-live the Night at the Museum with the “Windows of Nature” online exhibition or take a virtual tour across galaxies and learn more about scientific imaging technologies in the virtual halls of the AMNH. Plus, check out the free Museum classes, quizzes, and games for children.
Enjoy more than 1,700 pieces of artwork by more than 625 artists in the Guggenheim Collection Online. The growing virtual tour includes a lot of the Museum’s classic holdings as well as new additions.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art grants you free online access to tons of photos, 28 featured exhibitions, and a 3D tour of the museum halls. Explore art-making activities for the whole family and listen to musical performances from around the world. The Met offers you everything from cutting-edge 360-degree videos to downloadable catalogs from previous exhibitions.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Being the first museum devoted to modern art, they carry some of the most famous masterpieces by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Murray, and Cindy Sherman. Discover the mysteries behind the art on MoMA’s YouTube channel as well.
Keep your children busy! CMA offers you contemporary exhibitions, classes, and How-To Videos with step-by-step instructions to create your own art projects and enjoy with the whole family.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
This virtual tour is for all little ones fascinated with aircraft and boats! Explore the world’s fastest jets and a guided-missile submarine. Check out the museum’s special programming for children like virtual field trips and online school programs.
Rubin Museum: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room
The Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room is a favorite at the Rubin Museum. In times of stress and anxiety, the Buddhist chants and dim-lit room is a serene escape especially for times like these. Luckily, you can still access this room through their Youtube channel with a 2-hour video. And if you have a smart TV, you can stream this video right in your own living room!
