The Guggenheim Museum
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Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Guggenheim Museum to honor its patron, Solomon R. Guggenheim. The museum opened its doors on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in 1959. It is a repository of impressionist, post-impressionist, and modern art. There was much controversy about its unusual shape and interior design as Wright was famous for unusual and innovative designs. Construction actually began in 1945, but for various reasons, the construction needed many changes, which is why it took 14 years to build. More than a million people visit the museum every year to see its exhibits.
How to Get There
The three airports within a 90-minute drive of the Guggenheim Museum are John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark International Airport. To reach the museum using public transit, you can take the 4, 5, 6, and Q subway lines or the M1, M2, M3, or M4 bus lines.
Rent an RV For Your Visit to The Guggenheim Museum
Visit The Guggenheim Museum
The museum is open all year, so there is no specific "good time" to visit. As far as special events go, the museum schedules them throughout the year. These events change every year, so checking the calendar on the museum's website is a good idea. In addition to exhibits that are on display for short periods of time, there are also plays, musical performances, and even performance art throughout the year. Several events take place every month. You can find information about these events on the Guggenheim Museum's website. Each of the thousands of exhibits in the museum has its own story. You can talk to the staff to find out about them all, which is a great educational experience for both you and your family. There are many landmarks, such as churches, other museums, and even Gracie Mansion, within the Upper East Side.
Ticket Information
As of August 31, 2023, it costs $30 for an adult ticket. Students and seniors cost $19 as do people with disabilities. Caregivers are free as are children who are younger than 12 years of age. Members of the Guggenheim Foundation are also free. From 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturdays, admission is "pay what you wish." Generally, it's a good idea to buy tickets online for a timed admission. This obviates waiting in long lines.
If you purchase a New York City Sightseeing Pass, then you get 40% off the price of admission. New York City Sightseeing Passes include several package options, but the most popular is $259 for an adult. Consult the applicable website for further information.
Family-Friendly Options
The Guggenheim Museum offers guided tours for both adults and children. The children's tours feature specially trained youth educators as leaders, and there are age-appropriate tours available for all grade levels K-12. These tours last an hour. For large groups, you must book the tour at least three weeks in advance. Before you arrive, you can take virtual tours, too. Check the Guggenheim Museum's website for further information.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Buy tickets online a few weeks before you plan to visit. Book any tours you wish to take at that time, too. When you arrive, be sure to be at least 15 minutes early. Allow extra travel time if you plan on driving your RV into Manhattan. Traffic is unpredictable, and you'll need to find a place to park your rig. Spend as much time as you want in the museum, appreciating as many of the exhibits as you want. It's a good idea, too, not to try to see everything on one trip.
The Guggenheim Museum Accommodations
Campgrounds Nearby
Beaver Pond Campground at Harriman State Park is just a 45-minute drive from Yonkers. This campground offers spacious sites that can comfortably accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet. At different points throughout the park, you can experience the tural beauty provided by the Lower Hudson Valley.
Sun Air Lakeside Campground is a Jersey City, New Jersey campground that offers relief from the busy city life. Situated beside Dogwood Pond in Oak Ridge, New Jersey, this park allows extended stays in a peaceful environment. The local town of Oak Ridge provides many of the amenities absent in the park itself, including restaurants, theaters, laundromats, and stores.
There is one Jersey City, New Jersey campground within the confines of the city. Liberty Harbor Marina & RV Park is a must-visit location for anyone interested in U.S. history. From this RV park, you can see the New York skyline, including the Statue of Liberty.
Activities Near The Guggenheim Museum
Things to Do
Fishing
You can drop your line in the Hudson River. More than 70 species of fish abide in it. Remember to get a fishing license from the state of New York before you fish.
Flora and fauna
For fauna, you can choose the Central Park Zoo or the Bronx Zoo. Both are a distance from the Guggenheim Museum. Check the applicable websites for hours of operation. For flora, there is the New York Botanical Garden. If you go to the Bronx Zoo, then you can easily see both because the botanical garden abuts the zoo.
Swimming
If you go to the Central Park Zoo, then you can swim in Lasker Pool afterward. It's the only legal place to swim in the park.
National Sites
Weather, Safety & Accessibility
Weather & Packing
"The Big Apple" experiences all four seasons, so dress appropriately for the season when you visit. It's a good idea to bring umbrellas and rain jackets if the weather turns sour. Comfortable shoes are a big plus, too.
Safety & Accessibility
The Guggenheim Museum has many accommodations for people with various disabilities. Nonmotorized wheelchairs are available for free. There are transcripts of all presentations for people with hearing impairment and Braille versions for those with visual impairment. The closest subway station with a wheelchair elevator is the Q at 86th Street. Several bus lines with wheelchair elevators on their buses stop at the 89th Street station. The staff will always try to accommodate all disabilities and provide safe options for those people wanting to visit.
Conclusion
The Guggenheim Museum is an educational, family-friendly museum that celebrates art that might not always be mainstream. The building itself is a work of art, conceived in the mind of the person widely regarded as America's greatest architect.
FAQ
The only RV-friendly campsite is in Brooklyn on Noble Street, and it's called the Skyline RV Camp.
No, it's not. Manhattan traffic makes driving through with an RV problematic, so you'd have to find someplace to park it and then take public transport to get to the museum.
On school days, 89th Street is closed to all traffic between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so plan accordingly regarding drop-offs.
Yes, there are many programs and tours for children of all ages.
Service and guide animals are welcome. Other pets are not.