"Housed in a 1902 Georgian mansion on the Upper East Side, a visit here is worth it for the collection and also for the building itself, which is one of the finest former Gilded Age residences still standing. The collection here spans centuries, and includes all things related to design (there are more than 200,000 pieces), from furniture and metalwork to sculpture, musical instruments, and pottery. It's also more under-the-radar than its bigger neighbors like the Guggenheim and the Met, which means crowds aren't as overwhelming." - Andrea Whittle, Charlie Hobbs
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum