Museum of Arts and Design

Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) is a Manhattan museum focused on contemporary craft, design, and material innovation, located at 2 Columbus Circle near Columbus Circle and Central Park. The institution traces its origins to 1956 and moved into the Columbus Circle building in 2008.

Galleries present work by contemporary artists and designers working in glass, ceramics, metal, textiles, and mixed media, alongside thematic exhibitions that explore craft techniques and design thinking. The museum also runs education programs and artist residencies.

MAD’s mission centers on the intersection of art, craft, and design, documenting both historical craftsmanship and contemporary practices. Its site at Columbus Circle places it on the western edge of Midtown Manhattan, close to major cultural institutions.

The museum is a short walk from Central Park and is served by multiple subway lines at Columbus Circle.

Founding and relocation: Founded in 1956 as the Museum of Contemporary Crafts and later renamed the Museum of Arts and Design; it relocated to 2 Columbus Circle in Manhattan in 2008.
Specialty: Concentrates on contemporary craft, design, and material-based art with rotating exhibitions, artist commissions, and educational programs.

How to Get to Museum of Arts and Design #

Museum of Arts and Design is at 2 Columbus Circle in Manhattan. The nearest subway is 59th Street-Columbus Circle (serving the A, B, C, D and 1 lines); the museum is an immediate short walk from that station at the corner of Broadway and 59th Street.

Tips for Visiting Museum of Arts and Design #

Museum of Arts and Design is located at 2 Columbus Circle; arrive via the 59th Street-Columbus Circle subway station to enter from the plaza and avoid circling for access.
Go early in the day or late afternoon to avoid peak Midtown foot traffic and to have quieter viewing of the main galleries and craft-focused permanent collection.
Check the museum's website for current rotating exhibitions and any timed-entry requirements-special installations can be compact, so prioritize the galleries you most want to see.

Best Time to Visit Museum of Arts and Design #

Best to visit on weekday mornings in the shoulder season to avoid peak tourist crowds at this indoor museum.

Weekdays outside peak season

Sep-Nov, Jan-Mar · Indoor - climate-controlled

Quieter galleries and shorter lines - best for focused viewing and gallery visits.

Peak tourist season

Jun-Aug, Dec (holiday period) · Indoor - climate-controlled

Busier with tourists and families; weekends and holiday periods are the most crowded times.

Shoulder seasons

Apr-May, Sep-Oct · Indoor - climate-controlled

Moderate visitor levels - pleasant balance of open exhibitions and manageable crowds.

Weather & Climate near Museum of Arts and Design #

Climate

Museum of Arts and Design's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1215 mm/year), wettest in July, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Air Quality: AQI 36 Good

Best Time to Visit

JuneJulyAugust

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

39°

Warmest Month

-24°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of 4°C and lows of -4°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

0°

Feels Like Freezing

0°C

Temperature

-4° – 4°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

96 mm

Rainfall

4.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.5h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

1°

Feels Like Cold

1°C

Temperature

-3° – 5°

85%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

78 mm

Rainfall

4.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.4

UV Index

Low

10.5h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

58 Acceptable

Comfort

5°

Feels Like Cold

5°C

Temperature

1° – 10°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

106 mm

Rainfall

4.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.7

UV Index

Moderate

11.8h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 5°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

68 Good

Comfort

10°

Feels Like Cool

10°C

Temperature

5° – 16°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

105 mm

Rainfall

4.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.2

UV Index

High

13.1h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (113 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

16°

Feels Like Cool

16°C

Temperature

11° – 22°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

113 mm

Rainfall

4.1 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.5

UV Index

Very High

14.3h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

82 Excellent

Comfort

21°

Feels Like Mild

21°C

Temperature

16° – 26°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

93 mm

Rainfall

3.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.8

UV Index

Very High

14.8h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 29°C and lows of 19°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (114 mm).

82 Excellent

Comfort

24°

Feels Like Warm

24°C

Temperature

19° – 29°

74%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

114 mm

Rainfall

3.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.8

UV Index

Very High

14.6h daylight

August

August is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (109 mm).

82 Excellent

Comfort

24°

Feels Like Mild

24°C

Temperature

19° – 28°

73%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

109 mm

Rainfall

3.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.6

UV Index

Very High

13.6h daylight

September

September is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm).

80 Excellent

Comfort

19°

Feels Like Mild

19°C

Temperature

15° – 24°

74%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

104 mm

Rainfall

3.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.2

UV Index

High

12.3h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

9° – 18°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

94 mm

Rainfall

3.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.7

UV Index

Moderate

11.0h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (107 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

8°

Feels Like Cold

8°C

Temperature

4° – 12°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

107 mm

Rainfall

4.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.3

UV Index

Low

9.8h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

3°

Feels Like Cold

3°C

Temperature

-1° – 7°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

96 mm

Rainfall

4.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.2h daylight

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