Kid-Friendly Museums in the New York Area

Call the museum you're interested in before your trip to make sure it's open and following social distancing guidelines.

By NYMetroParents Staff August 6, 2020

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Our family-friendly museum guide features science exhibits, nature, transportation and technology innovation, and art exhibits; you'll find something for every member of your family. Many museums have plans to reopen when New York hits phase 4 of reopening. Always call the museum you're interested in visiting to confirm it's open, and make sure to keep up with coronavirus developments so your family can adapt to this ever-changing situation. Need tips for family fun activities? Subscribe to our daily newsletter, which delivers ideas every morning!

• Kid-Friendly Museums in the Bronx
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Brooklyn
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Manhattan
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Queens
• Kid-Friendly Museums on Staten Island 
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Nassau County
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Suffolk County
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Westchester County
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Rockland County
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Orange County
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Fairfield County, CT

Kid-Friendly Museums in the Bronx

Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
Temporarily closed: Plan to reopen with Phase 4
As a service to couples who may have had to adjust their plans, we have opened up space at Bartow-Pell for Minimonies. Now you can hold your ceremony in a posh English garden setting fit for Royalty! Right here, in New York City’s backyard, lies this 19^th century hidden gem. Availability will start when re-opening guidelines allow. And to accommodate in these uncertain times, we will refund deposits if safety guideline dates change and necessitate postponement or cancellations. We will happily work with you to tailor your vision for your special day.
895 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park
718-885-1461

This historic stone mansion, built between 1836 and 1842, serves as a window into 19th-century life in the area, when many more grand country estates dotted the then-countryside. Visitors can take a tour of the mansion’s period-dressed rooms and view rotating exhibits that delve into significant periods of the site’s history. During the holiday season, the museum hosts various events. More information is listed on the website.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts
Temporarily Closed until September 9, 2020
All upcoming programs and rentals are suspended. We will continue our increased sanitation efforts and will undergo extensive cleaning during our closure.
1040 Grand Concourse (165th Street), Bronx
718-681-6000

The flagship cultural institution of the Bronx, founded in 1971, this museum focuses on 20th-century and contemporary art.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Brooklyn

Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Temporarily Closed
145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
718-735-4400

This colorful museum includes permanent exhibits like Neighborhood Nature, where kids can take on the role of field scientists to observe life forms and document the environment of a freshwater pond, saltwater beach, urban woodland, and community garden; Totally Tots, an early learner exhibit for kids up to age 5 that includes Water Wonders, Art Studio, Building Zone, and Little Theater; and World Brooklyn, where visitors can take a trip through Brooklyn (or at least, a child-sized model of the city), to learn about its diversity through the stories of real people and places.

Brooklyn Museum
Closed until further notice
200 Eastern Parkway, Prospect Heights
718-638-5000

Housed in a 560,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts building, it is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the U.S. with world-renowned permanent art collections. The museum is located close to Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Prospect Park Zoo.

Jewish Children’s Museum
Closed until further notice
Children can join the museum’s Virtual Workshops every Sunday on IGTV
792 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights
718-467-0600

This museum celebrates Jewish culture through hands-on exhibits focusing on Jewish holidays, biblical history, the land of Israel, and contemporary Jewish life. It features multimedia exhibits, an art gallery, two state-of-the-art computer labs, a game show studio, a 75-seat audiovisual theater, a miniature golf course, and a craft workshop.

Micro Museum
Temporarily closed
123 Smith St., Boerum Hill
718-797-3116

Dedicated to big art, this small venue in downtown Brooklyn features interactive media and visual and performing arts.

Above & Beyond: A three-year retrospective of the art of William and Kathleen Laziza, founders of the museum, that features never-before-seen works, including touch-sensitive sculptures, wearable art pieces, paintings, videos, and more.

New York Transit Museum
Temporarily closed until further notice
99 Schermerhorn St., Downtown Brooklyn
718-694-1600

At the largest museum in the U.S. dedicated to urban public transportation history, galleries showcase the tale of building NYC’s 100-year-old subway system. Housed underground in an authentic 1936 subway station in Downtown Brooklyn, the Transit Museum’s working platform level spans a full city block and is home to a rotating selection of 20 vintage subway and elevated cars dating back to 1907.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Manhattan

9/11 Memorial Museum
The memorial is open, the museum is closed
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum launched a major fundraising campaign to reopen the Memorial to 9/11 family members, the extended 9/11 community, and workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, July 4, and to the general public on Sunday, July 5.

The Memorial is open with adjusted hours—from 1 to 8 p.m., seven days a week—and new operational safeguards, including regular deep cleanings.

All visitors to the Memorial will be required to wear masks. Social distancing will be enforced. These measures were developed with guidance from public health experts and exist to ensure the health and safety of all visitors and staff.
180 Greenwich St.
212-312-8800
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 9am-8pm; Friday-Saturday 9am-9pm. Last entry: Sunday-Thursday 6pm; Friday, 7pm
Admission: $26; $20 seniors, young adults ages 13-17, and college students; $18 veterans; $15 children ages 7-12; free for members and children younger than 7

The 9/11 Memorial Museum offers age-appropriate entry points into the history of the World Trade Center, 9/11, and its aftermath. On Saturdays, children can participate in drop-in activity stations tied to artifacts and themes. All programs are free to ticketed museum visitors.

American Museum of Natural History
Opening Sept. 2 for members and invited guests. Open to the general public on Sept. 9.
Central Park West at 79th Street, Upper West Side
212-769-5100
Hours: 10am-5:30pm, Wednesday-Sunday
Price: General admission including admission to permanent museum halls but does not include special exhibitions: $23 adults; $18 for students with ID; $18 for seniors 60+; $13 for children ages 3-12; free for members. 
What you need to know: Facial coverings are required throughout the visit. Guests must maintain physical distancing and use hand sanitizer throughout their visit. 

One of the largest museums in the world, the collections here are made up of more than 32 million specimens and artifacts. Read the best-kept secrets of AMNH before you go!

Center for Architecture
Temporarily closed
We will remain closed, pending guidance from New York State. Once we reopen, we expect to place limits on event sizes, in compliance with evolving social distancing and other mitigation strategies.
536 LaGuardia Place, Greenwich Village
212-683-0023

The Center for Architecture promotes understanding and appreciation of architecture and design through educational programs for K-12 schools, families, and the general public. Learn more about the buildings and streetscapes that make up our city by visiting our free galleries with changing exhibitions on current topics in architecture, or by attending one of our hands-on design workshops.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Temporarily closed
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan launched an online, interactive series of fun, educational and engaging activities for kids and families to do together at home as the museum’s in-person activities have been temporarily halted due to COVID-19. Called CMOM at Home, the museum is going to bring daily, digital programming of various subjects straight to your computer.
The Tisch Building, 212 W. 83rd St., Upper West Side
212-721-1223

CMOM inspires kids to learn about themselves and the world around them through interactive exhibits and programs such as Adventures with Dora and Diego, in which children ages 2-6 join a series of missions to save animals, build a bear’s nest, and get ready for a fiesta; and PlayWorks, in which children up to age 4 feed alphabet letters to a talking dragon, drive a fire truck, and more while exploring language, art, science, and imagination.

Children’s Museum of the Arts
Temporarily closed
103 Charlton St., Soho
212-274-0986

A hands-on arts museum that engages young artists with a clay bar, fine art studio, WEE space (for ages 5 and younger), and a media lab and sound booth.

DiMenna Children’s History Museum at New-York Historical Society
Will reopen Aug. 14 with outdoor exhibition; reopen indoors Sept. 11
Pending local and state approvals, we will reopen August 14 with a free, outdoor exhibition, Hope Wanted: New York City Under Quarantine, in our rear courtyard. On September 11, the Museum will reopen indoors, with safety protocols in place for visitors and staff. 
170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way, Upper West Side
212-873-3400
What you need to know: Face coverings are required for employees and all visitors older than age 2 and are available—without charge—to anyone requesting them. Social distancing is required and will be enforced, and there is a one-way path through the exhibition. Cleaning protocols are also in place.

Located on the lower level of the New-York Historical Society, this is the first-ever museum that brings American history to life through the eyes of children. Targeted toward children ages 8-13, the museum features life stories of a diverse selection of youngsters who lived in NYC from the late 17th to the 20th centuries.

Jewish Museum
Temporarily closed
1109 Fifth Ave.
212-423-3200

From excavating ancient replicas in a simulated archaeological dig, to designing mixed-media artworks, families enjoy a wide range of programs at the Jewish Museum. On Sundays and select weekdays, families can participate in the Museum’s Drop-in Art Workshop, attend music and theater performances, and explore art exhibitions together. They can also visit Archaeology Zone, an interactive exhibition designed for children, as well as engage in holiday programs and specialized art workshops during winter vacation weeks.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Will reopen on Aug. 29
The Met will take an extra month in order to allow staff members to return to work and structure the museum to accommodate new guidelines including reduced hours, social distancing, and face masks. The Met Cloisters will reopen in September.
1000 Fifth Ave.
212-535-7710
Hours: Thursday and Friday, 12-7pm; Saturday-Monday, 10am-5pm
Price: For New York State residents and New York State students, the amount you pay for your admission ticket is up to you. General Admission Tickets: $25 for adults; $17 for seniors; $12 for students; Free for Members, Patrons, and children under 12.
What you need to know: Face coverings are required for all visitors over the age of two; visitors must maintain physical distancing and keep at least 6 feet apart; visitors should wash hands and use sanitizer regularly throughout your visit. General admission tickets are available for purchase in advance online and at ticket desks and kiosks at The Met’s locations.  At this time, group reservations, group visits, and group tours of any size are not available or permitted in the Museum.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s programs for kids and families are designed to spark imagination, creativity, and lifelong connections with art. Drop-in programs such as Art Trek and Sunday Studio offer fun through looking, learning, and creating art together. Sign up for classes taught by educators and artists who use the entire museum as an expanded classroom. Get started with #MetKids, a new digital art feature made for, with, and by kids ages 7-12 that includes an interactive map, videos starring kid reporters, and more. Find it at metmuseum.org/metkids.

Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden

Temporarily closed
421 E. 61st St.
212-838-6878

Travel back in time to an early 19th-century country resort where New Yorkers came for a day of fun and relaxation. Family-friendly tours highlight activities that were popular in the 1800s.

Museum of Ice Cream
Temporarily closed
Spaces will be deep cleaned before opening and at the end of each day using CDC recommended and EPA registered cleaning solutions. Throughout the day, team members have been trained to disinfect all touch points after any exposure or contact with guests. Masks are required upon entry and optional for children ages 12 and under. "Swimming" in the sprinkle pool is no longer allowed.  

558 Broadway, SoHo
855-258-0719
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm
Admission: $39

Museum of Illusions
Plans to reopen in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Governor.
All visitors and staff must wear a face covering to enter the building. Temperature will be taken upon entry. Numbered exhibits will help with the flow of the museum to allow social distancing. The museum has installed MERV-13 filters in its air conditioning system, along with UV lights, to help eliminate COVID-19. It has added a dozen hand sanitizing stations, limited capacity to 34 people at any given time, and added a senior citizen entrance.

77 8th Ave., Chelsea
212-645-3230
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9am-10pm; Friday-Sunday, 8am-11pm
Admission: Adults $22; Children ages 4-13 $18; Seniors, military, and students $20;

Museum of Mathematics
Temporarily closed
Be sure to check out MoMath’s full menu of online events and student sessions at events.momath.org!
11 E. 26th St.
212-542-0566

At MoMath, discover the side of math you’ve never seen before with exhibits and activities like Seeing Math, an exhibit that shows math in a whole new lights, and Square-Wheeled Trike, a surprisingly smooth ride on square wheels.

Museum of Modern Art
Temporarily closed
11 W. 53rd St.
212-708-9400

Discover modern and contemporary art with your family at The Museum of Modern Art with programs and resources specially designed for families with kids ages 4-14. Spend time at free gallery talks, art workshops, and film screenings, or get creative at Art Lab, an interactive space.

New York City Fire Museum
Temporarily closed
278 Spring St.
212-691-1303

The New York City Fire Museum displays the evolution of firefighting from the bucket brigades of Peter Stuyvesant's New Amsterdam through the colorful history of volunteer firefighters to modern firefighting techniques and equipment. The museum also houses a memorial to the 343 members of the FDNY who made the supreme sacrifice on 9/11. Fire safety tours are available for groups. Fire safety learning games for kids.

New-York Historical Society
Will reopen Aug. 14 with outdoor exhibition; will reopen indoors Sept. 11
New-York Historical is temporarily closed to the public to help contain the spread of COVID-19. Pending local and state approvals, we will reopen August 14 with a free, outdoor exhibition, Hope Wanted: New York City Under Quarantine, in our rear courtyard. On Sept. 11, the Museum will reopen indoors, with safety protocols in place for visitors and staff. Check back here for further updates.
170 Central Park West
212-873-3400

Experience the wonder of trains and toys with the whimsical train exhibition and family programs. The Train Hunt is available anytime families visit.

South Street Seaport Museum
Temporarily closed
12 Fulton St.
212-748-8753

Learn all about New York Harbor and its science and history with South Street Seaport Museum. Visit the South Street Seaport Museum with your family for Tall Ships Tours and gallery exhibitions. Periodic family programs offer hands-on workshops for school-aged children on everything from boat design to plankton studies, and fun educational sails on the Schooner Pioneer. MiniMates program for toddlers and preschoolers and their care-givers offers fun and relaxed learning in a creative environment with music, movement, art, science, and free play.

Whitney Museum of American Art
Temporarily closed
99 Gansevoort St., West Village
212-570-3600

Focusing on 20th century and contemporary art, this West Village museum hosts interactive tours, art making workshops, and special events for kids, such as their Sketching Tours, Whitney Wees, and Open Studio on select Saturdays and Sundays. Free daily public tours are also offered.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Queens

Queens Museum
Temporarily closed
New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing
718-592-9700

The museum is dedicated to visual arts and features six galleries. It offers regular artist workshops and lectures.

Museum of the Moving Image
Temporarily closed
Museum of the Moving Image is a free meal distribution site. Check the museum's website for details.
36-01 35th Ave., Astoria
718-777-6888

The only museum in the U.S. dedicated to the art, history, technique, and technology of the moving image in all its forms. Permanent exhibit: The Jim Henson Exhibition features a rare look into the creative mind and life of Jim Henson with 300 objects and 47 puppets on display, including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and more.

New York Hall of Science
Temporarily closed: Will reopen in 2021
47-01 111th St., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
718-699-0005

Get your hands on more than 450 science-themed exhibits that engage learners of all inclinations and ages.

Queens County Farm Museum
Reopening on Sunday, Aug. 2 to walk grounds, take a hayride, shop in the store, feed the goats, and meet the farmers.
73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park
718-347-3276
Hours: 10am-5pm, Monday-Sunday except for New Year’s Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and during special events
Farmstand: 11am-3pm, Wednesday-Sunday
Price: Free except during special events
What you need to know: Maintain six feet of social distance between household groups; and wear face coverings when six-foot social distancing is not possible, unless a face covering is not medically tolerated. Visitors and employees must stay home if they are sick. Members and general admission visitors are required to pre-purchase admission tickets through the farm’s online ticketing system. Tickets will no longer be sold at the door on event days. More visitor information found here. 

The museum strives to preserve Queens’ agricultural and horticultural past while heightening awareness of present-day sustainable agricultural and horticultural practices.

Kid-Friendly Museums on Staten Island

Historic Richmond Town
Buildings currently closed; Visitors welcomed to grounds during regular hours
441 Clarke Ave.
718-351-1611
What you need to know: Wear a face covering Maintain a six-foot distance from others at all times; Avoid congregating in groups.

This living-history village allows visitors to recreate and interact with colonial history through guided tours, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Follow a visit to the site’s museum, which hosts a rotating display of exhibits that highlight the historical importance of the area, with a guided tour of its 45 original buildings, including the oldest-known schoolhouse in America, where you might meet a few costumed demonstrators engaging in old-fashioned trades and day-to-day duties.

Staten Island Children’s Museum
Temporarily closed
Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terrace
718-273-2060

Interactive exhibitions and creative workshops here are launchpads for discovery, designed to nurture children’s natural curiosity and creativity. Permanent exhibits include:

Bugs and Other Insects: Crawl through a human-size ant hill, try on an exoskeleton, watch butterflies being born and bees working on their hive, and jam with the Insect Orchestra.

Block Harbor: Explore a fantasy port of call on a pirate ship, peep through a telescope, ring the bell, navigate the wheel, cook in the galley—or just make believe.

Great Explorations: Kids learn about extreme environments as they explore a rainforest canopy and cave, drive a dogsled through the tundra, build an igloo, cross a river, walk on snow shoes, and drive a submersible.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Nassau County

African American Museum
Open 10am-5pm by appointment only
110 N. Franklin St., Hempstead
516-572-0730
Hours: 10am-5pm, Wednesday-Saturday
What you need to know: Masks required, temperature taken upon arrival

Art and culture collide at the African American Museum, where the mission is to educate and promote understanding and appreciation of African American culture, art, and tradition through education, exhibitions, and workshops for the public.

Cradle of Aviation Museum
Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 10am-4pm
Across from Mitchel Athletic Complex, Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City
516-572-4111
Price: Adult $16.00; Child ages 2-12 and seniors ages 62+ $14; Military Personnel, Volunteer Firemen & Non-Ambulatory Visitors, free. Frontline Healthcare Workers free through Aug. 30.
What you need to know: All museum visitors older than 2 must wear a face mask while in the museum. Disposable face masks will be made available for anyone who does not have them. Six feet is the standard, and staff is empowered to close exhibits if maintaining six feet of distance between people appears to not be possible.

The museum features more 75 air and space crafts from hot air balloons to an actual Lunar Module, Long Island's only giant screen theater that houses the Jet Blue Sky Theater Planetarium and the National Geographic Dome Theater and Nunley's Carousel. A Retro Video Game Exhibit is on exhibit through February Break 2018, featuring classic consoles from 1972-1999 and arcade games from the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Garvies Point Museum
Museum plans to reopen July 18th
The preserve is open from 7am—7:30pm every day.  Please exercise caution when visiting the preserve and remember NO DOGS ALLOWED on the preserve at any time. The summer day camp for kids begins July 7 and runs through August. Head to the website for details.
50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove
516-571-8010
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm
Admission: $4; $2 children ages 5-12
What you need to know: Public is required to wear masks when in foyer, gift shop, and museum. 3-4 family groups in museum at a time. One family group are allowed in foyer, gift shop, and exhibit alcove at a time. Garvies Point Museum Day will be cancelled this year.

The museum is a center for research on Long Island geology and a valued resource in the study of local Native American archaeology. Educational and Scout programs, including archaeology, geology, and environmental themes, are offered during and after school hours. Jewelry workshops are offered every Wednesday. Special events held on select Saturdays.

Long Island Children’s Museum
Temporarily closed
11 Davis Ave.  Garden City
516-224-5800

The museum has exhibits and activities for young children, including ClimbIt@LICM, a two-story climbing structure for ages 4 and older, and Changes & Challenges, in which kids can experience how people with differing abilities adapt to daily challenges. Recent additions include:

Feasts for Beasts: Discover the amazing ways animals find and eat their food and participate in themed activities. Plus, meet the new additions to the museum’s animal menagerie.

Nassau County Museum of Art: The Art Space for Children
Temporarily closed; sculpture park open to the public
The museum provides resources for teaching and learning from home at nassaumuseum.org/museum-from-home/art-activities.
1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
516-484-9338

View the permanent collection of more than 500 art objects from American and European art of the 19th and 20th centuries. The Sculpture Park features more than 30 large-scale works by artists such as Botero, Serra, Valdes, and many others, sited throughout the museum’s 145-acre Gold Coast property.

Science Museum of Long Island
Currently opened for Summer Camp; plans to start reopening other programs and workshops in the fall
Check the website for summer camp details.
1526 N. Plandome Road, Plandome
516-627-9400

A science activity center located on the Leeds Pond Preserve, this museum offers hands-on science workshops for children. Current workshops include Winter Wonderland and The Science of You! All programs and workshops are by registration only; see the website for a full schedule.

Tackapausha Museum
2225 Washington Ave., Seaford
516-571-7443
Hours: Thursday-Sunday 11am-4pm
Admission: $5; $3 seniors and children ages 5-12; free for children younger than 5
What you need to know: The museum is only allowing ten visitors at a time for up to 45 minute visits. The 1pm reservation includes a guided tour with a staff member. Many hands-on exhibits (the puppet theater, crawl thru log, toys)  have been removed for safety reasons. The reptile room downstairs is still closed. Masks are required at all times

The museum offers a variety of environmental education programs for all ages that involve all aspects of Long Island’s natural history. Visitors can see live animal exhibits and monthly scheduled presentations that include birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. Birthday party packages are available as well as nature walks, campfire circles, bird-watching programs, and community service projects.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Suffolk County

Children’s Maritime Museum at Port Jefferson
Temporarily closed
101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson
631-331-3277

Housed in the historic Chandlery Building on Port Jefferson Harbor, this museum is a lighthouse learning center featuring interactive exhibits for kids in primary grades and adults. Learn about Long Island’s natural ecosystem and maritime heritage through permanent installations like Virtual Submarine—a computer program that allows visitors to virtually navigate the Port Jefferson harbor (both above and below water) while learning more about the natural attributes and history of the area.

Children’s Museum of the East End
376 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton
631-537-8250
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3-5pm
Price: Non-member child and adult $19; Member child and adult $7 
What you need to know: Advance online tickets or phone reservations are required. Museum staff and any visitors age 2 and over will be required to wear masks that cover their mouths and noses. CMEE staff will take the temperature of all visitors prior to entering the Museum

Kids ages 2-10 can learn through play at the museum’s permanent exhibits, which include a Crawler Garden with bugs, fruits, and vegetables, a Musical Forest, and a drop-in art studio. You can also sail the high seas, discover how a windmill works, try on costumes, and let off some pent-up energy in an indoor play space meant to nurture cognitive and physical development.

Hallockville Museum Farm
Set to reopen in phase 4; summer camps being held July 6-August 14
Check website for camp details.
6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead
631-298-5292

The grounds feature 19 historic houses, barns, and outbuildings, including the mid-18th-century Hallock Homestead (entry into selected Hallockville buildings is by guided escort only). Visitors can experience farming on Long Island during that time period and meet Hallockville’s friendly cows, sheep, and chickens.

The Heckscher Museum of Art

2 Prime Ave., Huntington
631-351-3250
Hours: Thurs-Sun, 12-5pm. The following times are now available for booking through Oct. 4, 12-12:45pm, 12:30-1:15pm, 1-1:45pm, 2:45-3:30pm, 3:15-4pm, 3:45-4:30pm, 4:15-5 pm
Price: Free
What you need to know: Admission is by advance reservation only. The following are temporarily unavailable: “Create Your Own” Kids Activity Station, Digital Action Painting Touchscreens, Family Activity Guides, Merchandise (books, postcards, etc.), Drinking fountain, Coat room. All visitors and Museum staff are required to wear a mask or cloth face covering. Visitors and Museum staff will observe 6-foot social distancing at all times. Visitors will comply with temperature taking prior to entering the Museum building.

The primary collection spans 500 years of Western, American and European art with emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries.

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
180 Little Neck Road, Centerport
631-854-5555
Hours: Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 12-5pm
Price: $8 adults, $5 children 12 and under; $7 students with ID; $7 seniors; children under 2 are free. Admission to enter the property: $14 per carload. Members free. Tickets available online only. No sales at the gate.
What you need to know: Now open: the first floor of the Hall of Fishes marine museum; the Habitat and Stroll Wing animal dioramas; and the natural-history and cultural-artifact galleries on the first floor of the Memorial Wing. The Mansion living quarters and the Reichert Planetarium remain closed at this time. Tickets are available online and at the gate. Please wear a mask when unable to maintain 6-feet distancing from others or when indoors.

 The mansion, planetarium, marine museum, natural history exhibits, and grounds are open. The 24-room William K. Vanderbilt II Mansion (1910-1936) is open for tours.

The Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor
Galleries open. Advanced tickets required
279 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor
631-367-3418

Explore the relationship between Long Islanders and the sea through the museum’s 6,000 objects and artifacts. Cold Spring’s current exhibits display the whaling history of the area. Highlights of the collection include New York State’s only fully-equipped 19th-century whaleboat with original gear. See scrimshaw and whalebone art and ship models, explore artifacts and tools used by whalers, stand next to a sperm whale jaw, see a diorama of Cold Spring Harbor in 1850, and touch whale bones. See the website for a schedule of family workshops.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Westchester County

Greenburgh Nature Center
Playground, trails and outdoor animal exhibits are open
99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale
914-723-3470

This 33-acre preserve features nature trails, a pond, gardens, an indoor exhibit that includes a live animal museum with more than 100 specimens, a greenhouse with plants from all over the world, and a large exhibit room with seasonal natural history exhibits. Outdoors, in fair weather, you can find the unpaved Forest Trail and the Great Lawn with an organic garden area

Hudson River Museum & Planetarium
Reopening July 25
511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers
914-963-4550
Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 12-5pm; Saturdays from Aug. 1-Sept. 19, 12-7pm

Part of the Fairfield/Westchester Museum Alliance, this museum preserves the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries, and the industries that developed around it, using this important natural landmark as a lens to view the history, science, and heritage of the region. The museum includes the Glenview Mansion, which features six period rooms decked in turn-of-the-20th-century style, and a planetarium that hosts many family-friendly shows and programs.

Planetarium shows: Saturday-Sunday at 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm ($5; $4 seniors and students with ID; $3 children ages 3-18, plus admission). Children under 3 admitted to the shows for free.

The Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art
Will reopen by appointment on Sept. 15.
1701 Main St., Peekskill
914-788-0100

HVCCA is committed to the enrichment of Peekskill, a multicultural community that has recreated itself as a major arts destination. The center operates a 12,000-square-foot exhibition space and is the primary sponsor of the Peekskill Project, an annual, citywide exhibition of site-specific artwork. Tours are available upon request.

Hudson Valley Historic Sites
Washington Irving's Sunnyside and Union Church of Pocantico Hills will open to the public on Aug. 7.
639 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills
914-631-8200
Hours: Sunnyside: Friday-Sunday: 10am, 12pm, 2pm; Union Church: Friday-Sunday: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm
Prices: $10 adult; $8 child 3-17; $8 senior (65+); $8 student with ID; Children under 2 are free and do not need a ticket. 
What you need to know: Face masks are required for employees and visitors over 2. All visitors must agree to follow their COVID Courtesy Codes. Advance-timed tickets are required for all visitors.

Hudson Valley Historic Sites operate a group of architecturally beautiful historic sites including Philipsburg Manor, Van Cortlandt Manor, Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, and Kykuit. Visit hudsonvalley.org/historic-sites for a list of events at each venue.

Katonah Museum of Art
134 Jay St. (Route 22), Katonah
914-232-9555
Hours: Tuesday- Saturday: 10am-5pm; Sunday 12pm–5pm; Closed Monday
Prices: Adult non-member $10; seniors $5; students $5; children 12 and younger free; free for members
What you need to know: All visitors are required to purchase timed-entry tickets and make reservations in advance.All visitors, including children over age two, are required to wear a face mask

With a focus on art and humanities, this museum offers lectures, films, workshops, and concerts for a general audience while the museum’s Children’s Learning Center serves as an interactive space where children can explore, interpret, and create art.

Museum at the John Jay Homestead
Indoor facilities closed, open for outdoor walking 
400 Jay St., Katonah
914-232-5651

The historic site now encompasses 62 acres, including formal gardens, woodland walks, rolling meadows, and a cluster of 19th-century farm buildings. An 1820s schoolhouse and an 1830s barn are open for touring. Historic house tours are available on a regular schedule year-round. Visitor Center and Discovery Center are open seasonally; see website for details.

Moments in Time: Photographs from the Jay Family Collection: This exhibit features the Jay-Iselin family, who lived at the homestead from the 1850s to the 1950s.

Neuberger Museum of Art
Temporarily closed
735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase
914-251-6100

The Neuberger Museum of Art celebrates the return of some of its most precious treasures after being on national tour across the country for over a year. Included in Then and Noware works by some several artists.

Trailside Nature Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Nature museum is closed; trails are open
Routes 35 and 121, Cross River
914-864-7322

Exhibits spotlight the area’s natural features and the reservation’s history, including specimens of birds, mammals, plants, insects, and minerals. Hiking trails are open daily, dawn to dusk. Family programs and activities include guided hikes, a wildflower garden, Native American crafts, plant and tree identification, maple sugaring, and storytelling. The museum is located on the 4,400-acre Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

Westchester Children’s Museum
Physical space will remain closed, but museum looking to reopen as soon as possible with a space that is safe, clean, and fun.
Rye Playland Bathhouses (on the Long Island Sound)
914-421-5050

The museum caters to children up to age 12 and provides opportunities for continued growth for preteens and teens, with exhibits focused on pretend play, physics, science, art, music, and places to climb, build, and examine. It currently operates as a Museum without Walls and often partners with local organizations to offer family programs as well as fundraising events.

Westmoreland Sanctuary Nature Center & Wildlife Preserve

Museum open, masks required
260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mount Kisco
914-666-8448

The preserve includes more than 7 miles of trails that are open daily from dawn to dusk for hiking and leisure (use Chestnut Ridge Road entrance). The nature center offers a variety of nature-based public programs on weekends, including bird watching, maple sugaring, and guided nature hikes.

The Yorktown Museum
Temporarily closed
1974 Commerce St., Yorktown Heights
914-962-2970

Woodlands Room: Step back into the time of Westchester’s first inhabitants, the Mohegan Indians, in this total environmental experience of the lifestyle and culture of these early settlers. Listen to the sounds of the forest and river as the settlement, portrayed through murals and replica of a longhouse, becomes more visible.

The Bob McKeand Room: Railroading: A re-creation of the Yorktown Depot area circa 1950 features an HO scale model layout, a delight for railroad enthusiasts, be they historians or model train buffs.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Rockland County

Edward Hopper House Art Center
82 N. Broadway, Nyack
845-358-0774
Hours: August 2020-Saturdays and Sundays from 12-5pm. 
Price: $8; $6 seniors; $3 students; free for children ages 16 and younger and members
What you need to know: Wear a mask while in the museum, in the garden, and on any Museum property. Timed tickets are required for the Museum. We are currently restricting occupancy in the Museum to up to eight people per time slot. 

This nonprofit art center is the birthplace of renowned American artist Edward Hopper (1882-1967). The center boasts an archive of Edward Hopper documents and memorabilia and hosts rotating art exhibits. Guided tours are offered on weekends or by appointment. Visit the website for a calendar of upcoming events and children’s workshops.

A Photographic Journey through Hopper’s World: A visual comparison of Hopper’s paintings with pictures of their real-life counterparts.

The Historical Society of Rockland County
Temporarily closed
20 Zukor Road, New City
845-634-9629

The museum features a collection of 3,650 objects that date from the early 18th century to the present, including furnishings original to the Blauvelt House family and to the early farms and industries of Rockland County.

Town of Ramapo Challenger Center
LEGO Camp open Aug. 10-14, 9am-4pm ages 5-12
225 Route 59, Airmont
845-357-3416

Part of the Challenger Learning Center Network, the Challenger Center offers an interactive learning experience in science, technology, engineering, and math through performing tasks of real scientists, engineers, researchers, and astronauts. One of 4 Challenger Centers in the NY metro area, it’s the only center that offers space missions and planetarium shows to the public.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Orange County

Bear Mountain Trailside Museum and Zoo
Zoos open, museums closed
Palisades Interstate Parkway (Exit 19), Bear Mountain
845-786-2701
Hours: 10:30am-4pm (last entrance 3:30pm)
Price: Admission: $1/ person suggested donation at Trailside; Parking: $10/vehicle at Bear Mountain State Park; Empire Pass $80
What you need to know: Restrooms open, Museums and Office closed; wear a mask or face covering; maintain social distancing; wait for other visitors to move from congested areas; do not touch common surfaces

The 40-acre site features nature trails—including the first section of the Appalachian Trail—that link the homes of several birds of prey, the bear den, and habitats for beavers, river otters, foxes, and coyotes. The museum includes exhibits on Native Americans, the Revolutionary War, and the Boy Scouts. Parking only by the main entrance near the pool

Fort Montgomery State Historic Site
690 Route 9W, Fort Montgomery
845-446-2134
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 9am-5pm (Museum closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
What you need to know: Face masks and social distancing are required for museum entry.

This National Historic Landmark is a tribute to the Revolutionary War fortress built in 1777 by American soldiers to guard the entrance to the Hudson Highlands, which was destroyed by British forces the following year. Visitors can get a glimpse into the battle that raged here more than 200 years ago through self-guided tours of the grounds. Step inside the Visitors’ Center for a museum full of period artifacts and weapons, large-scale models of the fort and the attack, highly detailed mannequins frozen in poses of battle.

Hudson Highlands Nature Museum
Hiking trails open; summer camps opened July 6. See website for camp details
Wildlife Education Center: 25 Boulevard, Cornwall-on-Hudson
Outdoor Discovery Center: Muser Drive, across from 174 Angola Road, Cornwall
845-534-7781
What you need to know: Through Friday, August 28 hiking trails and nature museum properties are CLOSED Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm to all non HHNM summer campers. They will be OPEN to everyone on Saturdays and Sundays from dawn to dusk.

The museum’s exhibits highlight the local ecosystem, including flora native to the Hudson Estuary and its resident reptiles and amphibians—kids can see the latter up close and learn about their life cycles, diets, habitats, and adaptations. The museum also offers a variety of animal- and nature-based programs for kids, including Meet the Animals on weekends at 1pm and 2:30pm.

Storm King Art Center
Open, timed-entry tickets required
1 Museum Road, New Windsor
845-534-3115
Hours: Wednesday–Monday (closed Tuesdays), 10am–5:30pm; Member mornings: Sunday, Aug. 2 and 9, 10-11am
Price: Visitors may reserve tickets for up to 6 people per vehicle (children under 5 do not need to be counted in your total). There is no additional fee for parking. Car (1 person) $20; Car (2 people) $40; Car (3 people) $48; Car (4 people) $68; Car (5 people) $7; Car (6 people) $84
What you need to know: Observe a physical distance of six feet from staff and visitors not in your family/arrival party. wear a face covering if a six-foot distance cannot be maintained

Storm King complements its permanent installation of sculpture with a variety of special exhibitions. These may comprise large-scale sculptures in outdoor galleries or smaller works and supporting materials shown in the museum building. Storm King offers family programs, dance and music performances, poetry readings, themed tours, and more. A 1pm daily walking tour introduces various aspects of Storm King’s collection. Tram tours run every half hour on weekends and every hour during the week. An interactive family program is offered at 1pm each Sunday.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Fairfield County, CT

Fairfield Museum and History Center
Open now—see website for details
370 Beach Road, Fairfield
203-259-1598
Hours: 10am-4pm daily
Admission: $5; $3 students and seniors; free for members and children younger than 5
What you need to know: required to properly wear a face mask at all times while inside

The museum displays exhibitions and holds programs and activities that show how Connecticut developed into what is it today.

Creating Community: 375 in the Past: A hands-on exhibit that explores the area’s roots from Native Americans, through the American Revolution, to the present day.

Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
Open now—see website for details
258 Main St., Ridgefield
203-438-4519
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 12pm-5pm; Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday, 12-5pm
Admission: $12; $7 students and seniors
What you need to know: Face masks are required for visitors older than age 2; Social distancing is required and will be enforced; parties may remain together; children must stay with adults at all time

The Aldrich is an independent, non-collecting museum that runs semester-long exhibits of contemporary art, the only one of it’s kind in Connecticut. The museum offers free (with admission) family workshops led by professional artists and museum educators art activities on the third Saturday of each month from 10am-3pm.

The Barnum Museum
Temporarily closed
820 Main St., Bridgeport
203-331-1104

The museum is dedicated to the preservation of Bridgeport’s industrial and social history, including the influence of historical resident P.T. Barnum, founder of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The new exhibit is called Envisioning the Future!, featuring artifacts that belonged to P.T. Barnum, Tom Thumb, and others. For information on how you can donate to the museum’s recovery, visit the website.

Bruce Museum
Open now—see website for details
1 Museum Drive, Greenwich
203-869-0376
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm
Admission: $10; $8 students and seniors; free for members and children younger than 5; free for all on Tuesdays
What you need to know: Visitors are required to wear masks or cloth face covering that completely covers the nose and mouth

A regionally based institution that features art, science, and natural history in a dozen changing exhibitions each year. Permanent collections highlight the natural sciences.

The Discovery Museum and Planetarium
Temporarily closed; plans to reopen this fall
4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport
203-372-3521

The museum offers many opportunities for hands-on science and space exploration. Exhibits focus on energy, sound and light, sports science, and space. There’s an area especially for preschool-aged children.

Small World Photomicrography: Explore the beauty and wonder of the micro-world through photographs in Nikon’s visiting exhibit.

Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center
Trails, sanctuary, and summer camp are open. See website for details
10 Woodside Lane, Westport
203-557-4400

The 62-acre property features several nature trails, including The Universal Design Nature Trail, which is wheelchair accessible. The center includes hands-on exhibits that educate the public about nature and the environment. Kids can meet live animals during a Critter Encounter, do some nature hands-on activities in the Natureplace clubhouse, and visit a few feathered friends at the Connecticut Birds of Prey outdoor enclosures.

Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University
Temporarily closed and will remain closed until 2023 for renovations
Science Hill section of the Yale campus (Whitney Avenue and Sachem Street), New Haven
203-432-5050

Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Temporarily closed
303 West Ave. (in Mathews Park), Norwalk
203-899-0606

The museum caters to children ages 10 and younger, with five main galleries, more than 100 hands-on activities, and traveling exhibits. Visitors can explore nature and science in the Energy Lab, discover architecture and design in Build It!, learn about health and their bodies, and more. Hands-on parent-child classes are offered to enhance motor, cognitive, language, and social skills.

Connecticut Science Museum
Now open—see website for details
250 Columbus Blvd., Hartford
860-727-0457
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm
Admission: $23.95; $21.95 seniors; $16.95 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 2. Movie-only and combo tickets are also available for purchase. Note: Children younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
What you need to know: There will be a mandatory touchless temperature check prior to entry. Mask covering mouth and nose must be worn at all times (ages 2+). Some hands-on experiences will be temporarily unavailable when we initially open. This includes the Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation Science Theater, and the Butterfly Encounter.

Kids can explore science through 165 hands-on exhibits and daily programs in the educational galleries and 3D digital theater.