(T. Jones – New York Tours and Attractions) – Whoever said you can’t get anything for free anymore hasn’t been to New York City! New York City offers some of the best museums, zoos, galleries and attractions in the world and if you’ve got the time you can visit 40 of them for free! Though most of the following attractions typically have an admission fee, they open their doors free of charge during certain days of the week (and certain hours). Please note however, donations or ‘Pay as you wish’ policies are usually in effect during these free times. Though you are not obligated to pay, a donation of a few dollars is a few dollars well spent and will help insure that future generations will enjoy these fine establishments.

Free Everyday!

1. Castle Clinton
   The jumping off point for Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, Castle Island explores early New York City military defense. As it is part of the National Park System, it is always free (well sort of… you still have to pay your taxes)www.nps.gov/cacl/
   Battery Park
   Phone: 212-344-7220
   
2. Federal Hall
   Museum and memorial on the site where George Washingto took his Oath of Office, dedicated to our first president and to the beginnings of the United States. (another IRS pre-paid admission… you might as well enjoy it, you paid for it!)
   www.nps.gov/feha/index.htm
   Wall Street
   Phone: 212-825-6888
3. The Forbes Galleries
   Permanent exhibits include toy boats, Monopoly, toys soldiers and trophies. There are a number of rotating exhibits throughout the year.
   www.forbesgalleries.com/
   62 Fifth Avenue (at 12th Street)
   Phone: 212-206-5548
4. Grant’s Tomb
   Tomb and memorial of General and President Ulysses S. Grant. This guy’s tomb-stone is HUGE!
   www.nps.gov/gegr
   Phone: 212-666-1640
5. Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology
   Explores textile history and the art of fashion. A sort of memorial to shopping.
   www.fitnyc.edu/aspx/Content.aspx?menu=FutureGlobal:Museum
   Seventh Avenue at 27 Street
   Phone: 212-217-5970
6. National Museum of the American Indian
   Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of the American Indian is dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of Native Americans.
   http://www.nmai.si.edu/
   1 Bowling Green, George Gustave Heye Center
   Phone: 212-668-6624
7. Gabarron Foundation Carriage House Center for the Arts
   Focuses on Spanish and American cultural arts and activities.
   www.gabarronfoundation.org/
   149 East 38th Street
   Phone: 212-573-6968
8. Goethe Institut
   Weekdays you can experience German language and culture exhibits for free at the Goethe Institut, which is located across from the Met. Don’t forget to bring your German to English dictionary.
   www.goethe.de/ins/us/ney/enindex.htm
   1014 Fifth Ave
   Phone: 212-439-8700
9. Harbor Defense Museum
   New York’s only US Army museum located at Fort Hamilton.
   www.harbordefensemuseum.com/
   230 Sheridan Loop, Fort Hamilton Military Community
   Brooklyn, NY
   Phone: 718-630-4349
10. Sony Wonder Technology Lab
    Entertainment and technology museum. Learn the history of the Walkman… for free!
    wondertechlab.sony.com
    Sony Plaza Public Arcade at 56th Street and Madison Avenue
    Phone:212-833-5414
11. Statue of Liberty and Museum
    See Lady Liberty up close and personal. Free but there is a fee for the ferry service to and from.
    www.nps.gov/stli
    Liberty Island
    Phone: 212-363-3200
12. Ellis Island Immigration Musem
    Free however, there is a fee for the ferry to and from the museum. Explores immigration to the United States and more specifically through Ellis Island and New York City.
    www.ellisisland.org/
    Ellis Island
    Phone: 212-561-4588Free on Tuesdays
    
13. Brooklyn Botanical Garden
    Free admission on Tuesdays and every weekday from mid-November through February (not really sure what’s blooming in January but hey, it’s still free).
    www.bbg.org/
    1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
    Phone: 718-623-7200Free on Wednesdays
    
14. Bronx Zoo
    Admission by donation all day on Wednesday
    www.bronxzoo.org/
    1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY
    Phone: 718-367-1010
15. Bronx Museum of the Arts
    Open late on Wednesdays (from 12 – 9 p.m.). Visitors can explore the exhibits of this contemporary art museum for free on Wednesdays.
    www.bxma.org/
    Fordham Road and the Bronx River Parkway, Bronx, NY
    Phone: 718-681-6000
16. New York Botanical Garden
    Free admission (covers grounds only) on Wednesdays
    www.nybg.org/
    Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road, Bronx, NY
    Phone: 718-817-8700
17. New York Transit Museum
    Free on Wednesdays for Seniors. Explore the wonders of how 8 million people get around the Big Apple.
    www.mta.info/mta/museum/index.html
    Located at the corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights
    Phone: (718) 694-1600Free on Thursdays
    
18. Dahesh Museum of Art
    Admission is free on First Thursdays of each month from 6-9 p.m. Explore 18th and 19th century European artists.
    www.daheshmuseum.org/
    601 Fifth Avenue, 2nd floor
    Phone: 212-759-0606
19. American Craft Museum
    Pay What You Wish from 6 – 8 p.m.. Dedicated to the art of decorative and functional pieces and items.
    www.americancraftmuseum.org/
    40 W 53rd St
    Phone: 212-956-3535
20. Children’s Museum of the Arts
    Free for children from 4 – 6 p.m.; Adults pay donation if they wish… come on, it’s for the kids.
    www.cmany.org/
    182 Lafayette Street
    Phone: 212-274-0986
21. El Museo del Barrio
    Free all day on Thursday and Saturday. Represents the culture and art of the Caribbean and Latin America.
    www.elmuseo.org/
    1230 Fifth Avenue (at 104th Street)
    Phone: 212.831.7272Free on Fridays
    
22. American Folk Art Museum
    Free Admission from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Explore the art that makes our country such a wonderful place.
    www.folkartmuseum.org/
    45 West 53rd Street
    Phone: 212-265-1040
23. Asia Society and Museum
    Free Admission from 6-9 p.m. Explore the history and culture of Asian societies.
    www.asiasociety.org/
    725 Park Ave. at 70th St.
    Phone: 212-288-6400
24. Brooklyn Botanical Garden
    Free admission for Seniors
    www.bbg.org/
    1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
    Phone: 718-623-7200
25. Guggenheim Museum
    Pay or donate what you can on Fridays from 5:45 – 8 p.m. (last ticket issued at 7:15 so don’t be late!)
    www.guggenheim.com/
    1071 5th Avenue at 89th Street
    Phone: 212-423-3500
26. International Center for Photography
    Admission is free but they ask for donations. A fine collection of continuously changing exhibits dedicated to the photographic arts.
    www.icp.org/
    1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd St.
    Phone: 212-857-0000
27. The Morgan Library
    Admission is free on from 7-9 p.m. Exhibits include collection of 12,000 travel, art, archaeology and human interest photographs.
    http://www.morganlibrary.com/
    225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street
    Phone: 212-685-0008
28. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
    Free Admission on ‘Target Fridays’ from 4 – 8 p.m.
    www.moma.org/
    11 West 53 Street
    Phone: 212-708-9400
29. Museum of the Moving Image
    Free to the public from 4 – 8 p.m. (does not include film screenings). Explore the history of the motion pictures.
    www.movingimage.us/
    35 Avenue at 36 Street in Astoria, NY
    Phone: 718-784-0077
30. New York Historical Society
    Free admission from 6-8 p.m. Exhibits include artifacts, pictures, and art from New York City’s rich history.
    www.nyhistory.org/
    170 Central Park West between 76th & 77th Street
    Phone: 212-873-3400
31. Whitney Museum of American Art
    ‘Pay what you wish’ from 6 – 9 p.m.
    www.whitney.org/
    945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street
    Phone: 212-570-3676
32. Noguchi Museum
    Free on the first Friday of each month. Features the stone, metal, wood, and clay works by Isamu Noguchi
    www.noguchi.org/
    9-01 33rd Road (at Vernon Boulevard)
    Long Island City, NY
    Phone: 718-204-7088
33. Museum of Chinese in the Americas
    Free all day on Fridays
    www.mocanyc.org/
    70 Mulberry Street, 2nd Floor
    Phone: 212-619-4785Free on Saturday
    
34. Brooklyn Botanical Garden
    Free admission from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturdays
    www.bbg.org/
    1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
    Phone: 718-623-7200
35. Brooklyn Museum of Art
    Evening admission (5-11 p.m.) on the first Saturday of every month is free.
    www.brooklynart.org/
    200 Eastern Pkwy Brooklyn, NY 11238-6052
    Phone: 718-638-5000
36. The Jewish Museum
    Free admission on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5:45. Explore the history of the Jewish culture with a focus on the Holocaust.
    www.thejewishmuseum.org/
    1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street (between Fifth and Madison)
    Phone: 212-423-3200
37. New York Botanical Garden
    Free admission to the grounds from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturdays
    www.nybg.org/
    Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road, Bronx, NY
    Phone: 718-817-8700
38. Studio Museum in Harlem
    Free on the first Saturday of the month. Dedicated to exploring art by black artists nationally and internationally.
    www.studiomuseum.org/
    144 West 125th Street
    Phone: 212-864-4500Free on Sunday
    
39. The Frick Collection
    ‘Pay what you wish’ from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A large collection of a variety of art forms from throughout the ages with a focus on paintings, sculpture, furniture, oriental rugs, porcelains, and Limoges enamels.
    www.frick.org/
    1 East 70th Street
    Phone: 212-288-0700
40. Museum of the City of New York
    Free admission between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
    www.mcny.org/
    1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St
    Phone: 212-534-1672

Just a little note and disclaimer… please check before going to any of these places. Some free days might have changed or there might be a special event going on. Save yourself a lot of time and hassle and check before you go!

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