Triss Stein: June 2018

This is the second in a blog series about hidden (or sort of hidden) gems in New York’s crowded list of places to visit. All right, the New-York Historical Society is not exactly hidden. It's pretty famous. However, in a city packed with even more famous museums, it’s easy to overlook. I am here to promise it is fascinating and it is fun.

A major renovation several years ago added exhibits that are a wonderful introduction to New York, and it starts with the statues greeting visitors at the two entrances. Who can resist taking a photo shaking hands or having a friendly chat with these two giants of history?

As you come in, you find scattered around the lobby are small exhibits, each one telling something about what makes New York its own, unique self. Here are just a few. Some of these bits of history are still meaningful.

But look down! They have cleverly inserted into the floor artifacts found - down - in the New York ground by archaeologists. What a fun treasure hunt if you are visiting with children. Actually it’s fun for adults too. Don't tell!

There is a short free film bringing history to life. It changes from time to time:

Erica Donato, my historian protagonist , says, “History is happening every day.” And this museum is right on it, with exhibits of artifacts from current events.

I promised fun. An exhibit on fashionable shoes? Well, why not? New York is a world fashion center, built to a degree on the fashion business.

A large collection of toy trains is displayed in style at holidays. The museum has all 435 original Audubon bird watercolors, and a whole gallery of dazzling Tiffany lamps. Stunning! A renowned library for avid historians. A children’s museum. A women’s history center.

And always, a few great changing exhibits that are worth a couple of hours. Last time I was there: Rockwell, Roosevelt & the Four Freedoms. You'd have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by the history of the posters and the historic period beautifully explained.

If I am in Manhattan with some extra time, I just drop in. There is always something special to see. And by the way? It is across Central Park West from that park, and across 77th St from the (very, very) renowned Museum of Natural History. So it’s easy to find.

Next time, a gem from right down my street in Brooklyn.

I live in New York. Everyone knows about the world famous landmarks like the Bronx Zoo, the Brooklyn Bridge and Broadway, so I thought it would be fun to write and post a few blogs about some more hidden yet fascinating places. I am starting at the subway stop called “81^st St- Museum of Natural History.”

“What? Come on!" You are saying that, aren't you? Anyone who has ever visited New York or even thought of visiting knows about the museum. Who can resist the dinosaurs? Or the great blue whale? Who hasn’t seen Night at the Museum? Or Splash?

Ah, but we are not visiting the museum here. We are visiting the subway station.

You emerge from your train and are greeted by huge and dazzling wall mosaics of wild animals. That’s suitable for this stop, of course, a bow to its main attraction.

Look again. Behind each one, there is another, shadowy, gray, and you soon realize it is a prehistoric ancestor. An inspired combination of art and science is at work here. Have fun identifying the living species and its forebear.