Museum of the City of New York

"The Colonial-style structure near the top of Central Park was built specifically to house the Museum of the City of New York in 1932 but today the museum maintains a low profile, and many New Yorkers have no idea that it even exists. The collection here is over 1.5 million pieces strong, and incorporates photography, paintings, drawings, furniture, decorative objects, and manuscripts—all having to do with the history of New York City's five boroughs. Because it's relatively out of the way for many tourists, a lot of people come here with a little more enthusiasm for the collection than your average museum-goer." - Andrea Whittle, Charlie Hobbs

"And there are lesser-known spots like The Museum of the City of New York." - Laura Begley Bloom

"In partnership with the Museum of Food and Drink, The Africa Center is hosting a Juneteenth celebration to honor and educate the public about the incredible contributions Black chefs, farmers, and food and drink producers have made to American food culture. Join them in East Harlem for free admission to the last day of "African/American: Making the Nation’s Table." There will also be shopping from Harlem-based vendors, Divine Nine Greek strolling, live music, and more. RSVP for free admission and a boxed lunch with Chef Lexis Gonzales." - neha talreja

"MCNY is one of the final—and lesser-known—museums you’ll reach as you head north along Museum Mile, the stretch of Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th Streets that hosts a beloved summer street festival. You’ll be rewarded with fascinating insights and ephemera related to the Big Apple’s evolution from its Dutch colony days. Ongoing exhibit “New York at Its Core” provides a crash history course, while temporary exhibits have included profiles of rebellious Victorian women, photos taken by Bronx native Stanley Kubrick, illustrations by one of the original Mad Men, and an exploration of local activism. Founded in 1923, the museum occupies a gracious Georgian colonial-revival building, filling it with 750,000 objects, among them, theater memorabilia and the Stettheimer dollhouses. And that doesn’t count the gift shop, a source for quality New York souvenirs."

"The women exchange their javas in front of their kids’ school, the exterior of which is actually the City Museum of New York on 5th Avenue." - Madeleine Davies