Museums for the Time Challenged (and Chassidish)

10 0

Do you rush all day Chol Hamoed only to finally find yourself on the way somewhere an hour before closing? Check out this list of museums open after 6PM perfect for the time challenged among us.

The hours and admission are accurate at the time of posting. Please double check before visiting.

Through Museums4all.org, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to some of the listed museums simply by presenting their EBT card and a photo ID. Search the site for a specific museum. Your local library may also offer free museum passes, check their website for more details.

The locations are not listed in any specific order.

Madame Tussauds

Known for its life-like wax figures of celebrities, historical figures, and cultural icons, visitors can see and pose with realistic statues of their favorite stars, athletes, world leaders, and more.

• Hours: 10am – 9pm
• Admission: $43.99
• Suggested time: 60 to 90 minutes
• 234 W. 42nd Street
  Times Square
  New York, NY 10036

Museum of Jewish Heritage

This museum serves as New York City’s primary institution dedicated to Holocaust remembrance and Jewish heritage. Its exhibitions include over 1,250 original artifacts and survivor testimonies, providing personal narratives that highlight the human impact of the Holocaust .

• Hours: Wednesday – 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Thursday – 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Friday – 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Last admission 30 minutes before closing
• Admission: $18
• Edmond J. Safra Plaza
  36 Battery Place
  New York, NY 10280

Museum of FIT

As New York City’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the art of fashion, it houses a permanent collection of over 50,000 garments and accessories spanning from the 18th century to the present, featuring iconic designers like Chanel, Dior, and Balenciaga.

• Hours: Wednesday–Friday, Noon–8pm
  Saturday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
• Admission: FREE
• 227 West 27th Street
  New York City 10001-5992

9/11 Memorial Museum

The Museum offers a deeply moving experience that honors the nearly 3,000 victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the six individuals killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Visitors descend 70 feet below ground into a space that integrates remnants of the original Twin Towers, such as the Last Column and the Slurry Wall, symbolizing resilience and remembrance. Exhibits feature personal artifacts, photographs, and multimedia displays, including recordings of survivors and first responders, providing intimate insights into the events and their aftermath.

• Hours:  Wednesday – Monday – 9 am – 7 pm
• Last entry: 5:30 pm
• Admission: $36
• 180 Greenwich Street
  New York, NY 10007

Tenement Museum

The Tenement Museum, offers an immersive exploration of immigrant and migrant life in New York City from the 19th to the 21st century. Through guided tours of restored apartments and businesses, visitors encounter the personal stories of families from diverse backgrounds—including Italian, Jewish, Puerto Rican, Chinese, and Black communities—who once lived in these historic buildings.

• Hours: 10am – 6pm
• Suggested duration: 60 – 75 min
• Admission: $30
• 103 Orchard Street
  New York, NY 10002

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, nestled in the heart of Brooklyn, New York, spans 52 acres and offers a serene escape into the world of plants.

• Hours: 8am – 8pm
• Last Entry: 30 minutes prior to closing
• Admission: $22
• 990 Washington Avenue
  Brooklyn, NY 11225

Spyscape

SPYSCAPE is an immersive spy museum and experience center which offers a unique blend of interactive challenges and historical exhibits that delve into the world of espionage.

• Hours: Sunday – Thursday – 10:00 am – pm, FRI & SAT – 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
• Suggested Duration: 100 min
• Admission: $39
• 928 8th Ave, New York
  NY 10019, USA

Museum of Illusions

The Museum of Illusions offers an engaging and interactive experience that challenges your perception and plays tricks on your mind. The museum features over 70 exhibits, including optical illusions, holograms, and immersive rooms designed to delight and confound visitors of all ages.

• Hours: 10:00 am-9:00 pm
• Suggested Duration: 60 min
• Admission: $24
• 77 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10014

Museum of Broadway

Visitors can explore a variety of exhibits, including “The Making of a Broadway Show,” which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the production process, and “The Map Room,” featuring a short film that outlines the history of theater in New York . The museum also showcases costumes, props, and memorabilia from over 500 productions, such as The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, and Rent .​

• Hours: 10am – 6:30pm
• Last Entry: 90 minutes prior to closing
• Admission: $45
• 145 West 45th Street, NYC

Cooper Hewitt

Housed in the landmark Andrew Carnegie Mansion, the museum offers four floors of galleries dedicated to all disciplines of design, showcasing a collection of more than 215,000 design objects spanning 30 centuries.

• Hours: 10am – 6pm
• Suggested duration: 90 – 120 min
• Admission: $22, Pay as you wish from 5pm – 6pm
• 2 East 91st Street
  (between 5th and Madison Avenues)
  New York, New York 10128

International Center of Photography

ICP champions “concerned photography”—images that address social and political issues. The permanent collection boasts over 200,000 photographs, including works by renowned photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, and Gordon Parks.

• Hours: Friday – Monday 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM, Tuesday CLOSED, Wednesday 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM, Thursday 10:30 AM – 8 PM
• Last entry: 30 min before closing
• Admission: $18
• 84 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002

Museum of Arts and Design

The museum’s collection spans from 1950 to the present, featuring works in ceramics, glass, fiber, metal, and wood. Notable exhibitions have included Barbie®: A Cultural Icon, which explored Barbie’s impact on fashion and popular culture, and Craft Front & Center: Conversation Pieces, highlighting the relationships and dialogues within the craft community.

• Hours: Monday Closed
  Tuesday 10 am–6 pm
  Wednesday 10 am–6 pm
  Thursday 12 pm–8 pm
  Friday 10 am–6 pm
  Saturday 10 am–6 pm
  Sunday 10 am–6 pm
• Suggested duration: 60- 90 min
• Admission: $20
• 2 Columbus Circle New York, NY 10019

American Folk Art Museum

Visitors can explore a range of exhibitions that delve into various aspects of folk and self-taught art.

• Hours: Wednesday – Sunday – 11:30am – 6pm
• Suggested duration: 30 – 60 min
• Admission: FREE
• 2 Lincoln Square
  Columbus Avenue at West 66th Street
  New York, NY 10023

Museum of Chinese in America

Visitors to MOCA can explore a variety of exhibitions that delve into the Chinese American experience. The museum’s permanent exhibition, “With a Single Step: Stories in the Making of America,” offers a chronological journey through Chinese American history, featuring personal narratives, photographs, and artifacts that highlight the community’s contributions and challenges. Additionally, MOCA hosts rotating exhibitions that address contemporary issues and celebrate Chinese American culture.

• Hours: Monday – Tuesday: CLOSED TO GENERAL PUBLIC. Guided Group Tours ONLY. Please see Group Tours page for more information.
  Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  Thursday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  Friday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  Sunday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• suggested duration: 60 – 90 min
• Admission: FREE
• 215 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013
  (b/w Howard & Grand Sts; one block north of Canal St)

About Post Author

avidtraveller

Join us as we travel and explore the world.