Brooklyn Museum: New York’s 2nd largest art museum
Brooklyn Museum is the 2nd largest art museum in New York. Explore its remarkable collections, from Egyptian antiquities to French painters.
What to Know About the Brooklyn Museum
- The Brooklyn Museum is one of the oldest museums in the United States, located in the heart of Brooklyn. Construction began in 1895, but its origins trace back to 1823 with the founding of the Brooklyn Apprentices’ Library, originally based in Brooklyn Heights.
- The neoclassical building was designed by the architects McKim, Mead & White, who also created Penn Station and the New York Public Library.
- The Brooklyn Museum is New York’s second-largest art museum by size, after the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its eclectic collection holds over 1.5 million objects: paintings, sculptures, installations and more. If you’ve already visited the Met, this museum makes an excellent follow-up.
What to See at the Brooklyn Museum
- The museum is renowned for its impressive Egyptian antiquities collection, featuring papyri, sculptures, jewelry and sarcophagi. The collection includes pieces from American Egyptologist Charles Edwin Wilbour.
- The Brooklyn Museum also covers African art, Islamic art and Pacific art. A true artistic journey across cultures.
- The museum displays over 2,000 works by American artists spanning all periods. Don’t miss the portrait of President George Washington by Gilbert Stuart.
- The Brooklyn Museum also features notable European works, including two beautiful paintings by Claude Monet and “Port du Havre” by Eugène Boudin. While the European collection is modest, these pieces are worth seeing.
- Before you leave, visit the collection storage area—part of the museum’s off-display inventory is open to the public. It’s a unique way to experience how museums actually work.
Brooklyn Museum in Photos
Practical Information
- Address: 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York.
- Subway: Botanic Garden (S line) or Franklin Avenue (lines 2, 3, 4 and 5).
- Hours: Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1.
- Admission: $20 for adults, $14 for seniors and students. Free for ages 19 and under. You can purchase tickets in advance through our Brooklyn Museum ticket booking system.