Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is one of the largest and most comprehensive art museums in the United States, founded in 1870 and opened to the public in the 19th century. Its collections span ancient to contemporary art from around the globe.

Visitors come for major galleries such as European paintings, the Egyptian art galleries including the Temple of Dendur, and the American Wing, plus rotating special exhibitions. The museum’s scale and diversity mean it is common to concentrate on a few sections per visit rather than the entire collection.

Established by a group of American civic leaders and arts patrons in the late 19th century, the institution expanded over time into the current Beaux-Arts building and adjoining wings, continually acquiring works and developing permanent installations. It also oversees extensive conservation and research programs.

The museum occupies a long block on Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street in Manhattan, directly adjacent to the eastern edge of Central Park, and is accessible by several subway and bus lines.

• Location and rooftop: The museum's location on Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street places it on the eastern edge of Central Park; the rooftop garden offers seasonal views over the park and Upper Manhattan.
• Collection scope: Collections span roughly 5,000 years of art from around the world; large-scale exhibits and special exhibitions often require timed entry or separate tickets.

What to See #

• Temple of Dendur: An ancient Egyptian sandstone temple reconstructed inside a purpose-built space in the Sackler Wing; it dates from around 15 BC and was donated to the museum in 1978.
• European Paintings: A series of galleries presenting European paintings from the medieval period through the 19th century, including works by Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Vermeer.
• American Wing: Galleries devoted to American decorative arts and sculpture, forming a coherent display of domestic interiors and period rooms across the 18th and 19th centuries.