Free Access to Downtown Cultural Institutions at Fourth Annual Night at the Museums

Families can enjoy free admission, special programming, and tours of 15 Lower Manhattan museums and historical sites at the fourth annual Night at the Museums.


Presented by the Downtown Culturals Group, the fourth annual Night at the Museums will give visitors of all ages an evening to remember this summer. The event is part of River To River Festival 2017, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s annual summer arts festival. Night at the Museums will take place on Tuesday, June 20, from 4-8pm, during which there will be free admission, along with tours and special programming, at 15 downtown cultural institutions, according to a press release.   

Visitors will be able to spend the evening exploring the museums and historical sites—all within walking distance from one another—in an area said to contain one of the most diverse clusters of museums in the world. With free admission and the close proximity of the institutions, Night at the Museums will give visitors a chance to delve into the culture of the city and learn about history and heritage at as many museums and historical sites as they please.       

Although all of the activities will be free, some will require tickets and advanced registration. For the National September 11 Memorial Museum, tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the museum starting at 4pm. Walking tours offered by Lower Manhattan Tours will require an advance reservation, but a limited number of tickets will be available for walk-ups. Tours offered by the NYC Municipal Archives will also require advance registration.

Similar to previous years, some of the participating museums and historical sites to visit will be: African Burial Ground National Monument, China institute, Museum of Jewish Heritage, The Skyscraper Museum, Fraunces Tavern Museum, Poets House, National Museum of the American Indian, South Street Seaport Museum, and more. For more information about Night at the Museums, including a map and schedule of events, visit nightatthemuseums.org or pick up a free Night at the Museums Guide at any of the participating institutions.

In addition to free museum access and programming, visitors will be able to experience the delicious food scene that Lower Manhattan has to offer. On Tuesdays through Aug. 29, 35 restaurants in the area will be offering special discounts, freebies, and more. Visit downtownny.com/getlow for details.


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Main image: Lightship Ambrose of the South Street Seaport Museum in Lower Manhattan