Reviews of The Skyscraper Museum (Museum)

Ondřej Růžička

It's a tiny museum but makes it job done. You learn stuff about skyscrapers and 9/11. The time o spent here was about an hour and I read everything and touched everything I could. Good for the price! Recommended

Gareth Lowndes

Highly recommend visiting this museum in New York if you are interested in skyscrapers or architecture. It's a small museum but amgas tons of interesting displays to look at. It's one of the lesser known museuns in New York so it's quite but I liked that as you could take your time to see the displays and read all of the information.

Tina Christina

Great museum!!! though small but very interesting ... Staff was great! will be back most definitely

Huajuan Nie

Not toddler friendly, though. But the front desk staff is super nice !

Theodore Panagiotopoulos

Small museum and not overly interesting. Pales in comparison to its competition.

Morgan Robinson

Cool museum. Small space. Interesting showcases. Unless your tour is guided, there isn't too much to it. However, a guided tour is amazing! Great area and easy to get to. Lots of lovely pictures and a small gift shop in the front.

Wesley James

Very interesting museum which had a good selection of books in the store. The panoramic images of how the city's skyline has changed over more than 100 years was fascinating. Free for military!

Jason Richey

Unless you have the NY Pass don't waste your time not too much to see here

Ahaqir Ishaq

Really cool museum near battery park.

Nai-Hua Chen

Small but informative, a good choice if you have minutes before or after visiting the statue of liberty.

Maximino Marin

Hello who speak espanish, I recomend to visit Panama.

Kevin Pitter

The Skyscraper Museum is located in New York City, USA and is the only museum in the world today. It opened on May 1, 1997. As its name suggests, the museum focuses on high-rise building design, product technology, construction location, and real estate investment to explore the history and future of skyscrapers. The museum's mirrored stainless steel ceiling and ground visuals make the space very spacious. Carol Willis, founder of the Skyscraper Museum, is also a professor of urban planning at Columbia University and an architectural historian. Really amazing place.

Elizabeth Brown

Very interesting, especially the comparison of all the tall buildings in the world.

Jeremy M

Good museum, fair price!

Ranjith Ramesh

Really small place, with Miniatures of all the greatest towers ever build and I still cant believe that there was no Empire State Building in that! Gives up the history of how NYC became a city of towers and the description for 'slender towers'. not worth it, maybe an architect would disagree.

Topher Ziobro

I hope this is just the beginning, I could see this place soaring to great heights (please pardon the pun). Currently this museum is just one floor but it has some really cool scale models of skylines around the world from NYC to Shanghai. There's a lot of interesting historical facts about New York buildings printed on the wall, but I was surprised not to see more artifacts. I also wish there was an interactive element to some of the exhibits. It's a good start, hoping they build on this.

Aidan Marshall

Really engaging exhibits, at a very cheap price. Almost empty when I was there, spent about an hour looking around

Stephen Pile

A very nice museum. Very interesting with posters, archives from the 1930s,scaled displays and interactive demos. I learnt a few things going there. Thanks

Leslii Wagner

Small but very inexpensive. I would have loved to see even more historic info, but it was interesting.

Raymond Stensholt

30 minute walk, but informative.

Tina Y

Not much to see Better of learning from books or YouTube.

Tamer Abdelgawad

20-30 minute visit to learn about NYC architecture in the 20th century. Some nice historical panoramic photos of the changing city skyline.

CorreyHope Kustin

This is a walk around self serve-Take a pamphlet kind of place. It tells about a few skyscrapers like Woolworth Building and Freedom Tower.I saw nothing about Empire State building or other world renown buildings. The museum is state of the art and clean so I give it Excellent but it needs more information. For something so far out of the way in Battery Park, I would have liked to learn more about architecture, designers, etc than see a few models. Next time I will cross the street to the Jewish Museum!

Elizabeth Kaufman

Great small museum for those with a love of architecture. Worth a drop in. Not sure if anyone knows about it was empty when we went.

Edward Kowalski

Not impressed. SMALL, not much of interest on display.

Karin Kliger

Expected much more in the city of skysctapers!

Tricia Pauline Velena

Cool history on the city’s tenements and planned housing.

Christine Ogerio

Small but very informative and interesting museum if you're into architecture and how New York City looked like at different times. The fee was cheap too.

Kamila Leroy

Went there with my kids and it was underwhelming. I was hoping for a place with more interactive activities which would spike children's interest.

Aiden Mizhen

Nice little museme, good if you are studying arhitechture.

Desmond Chow

The Skyscraper Museum is best suited for history buffs as it explains in great detail all the famous buildings in Manhattan. This is a small museum and largely photography based. Not much to look at. We spent 30 minutes in there tops.

Barry Travis

Small. Could use an update on buildings in Manhattan. Wonderful exhibit none the less. Would be interested in more mock ups of exterior finishes on NYC buildings

costi calinescu

Lots of interesting information at a small price.

Regis Andreoli

small but still enough content

Iulian Cristea

Just a tiny museum. Maybe it worth it to visit it if your are around and have a pass that includes this as well, but otherwise, I don't recommend.

Yara Adam

Small space, really nice staff.

Kim Furletti

A small museum packed with information on some of NYC's most iconic buildings. If you're interested in architecture and history, worth a trip.

Iacopo Neri

The idea of a skyscraper museum would be nice in New York. However, this is definitely nothing like I would have imagined it. The staff at the entrance is very rude and she seemed extremely annoyed by having another visitor. The museum displays few (low quality) printed pictures that a good research on google would do much better. Definitely not worth, even for as low as 5USD.

Michael G

This museum is very small! It takes about a half hour to walk through. My favorite parts are the Burj Khalifa exhibit (the tallest building in the world) and the Freedom Tower exhibit. I've been there twice and I remember last time it was very hot in there because the air conditioning wasn't on but the overall experience is nice.

Matthew Visco

Small but enjoyable museum

Jens Siewert

Very unfriendly staff but still worth to go!

Gabrielle Cassard

This was a nice little museum with interesting facts about some of the first skyscrapers built in New York. It was interesting reading about how they were built and how developing technologies paved the way for the New York Skyline we see today!

yahaira franco

Me and my son had so much fun in this museum. As soon as we got in building entrance, the staff from the front desk treat it us so nice and friendly. We just had the opportunity to go to the second floor, but there was so much see and appreciate. It was so exciting to view videos and pictures of all those tall building from the past as well of the ones that we have in the present. Great experience. I recommend it to you all.

Chirayu Baral

A hidden gem if you want to make sense of the city's iconic skyline

Sumaya Rimi

Quiet place but interesting exhibit. There's a student discount but even without it, it's still affordable. Totally worth coming here if you're interested in skyscrapers and their structures and history.

Patrick .Rapillo

Good for 45 mins visit

Patrick Brooks

Small, but interesting museun, only $5 entry, and will take an hour to look round fully

Toya Williams

A little Gem!! Very interesting exhibit small but a lot of information the .. Staff & front desk reception was very friendly to us & welcoming I just wish there was more!

Mark Carlson

Small, but a nice quick place to visit. Plan to spend no more than 1.5 hours.

Peter Dahlqvist

Such a nice little museum! A lot to see at a small fee. But! Such uninterested and uncommitted staff. The girl at the counter almost looked angry for us to enter the museum. And later when we where looking at the things in “her” shop, instead of answering any questions she called up someone on the phone on speaker and told him about her dreadful week with us beside looking at souvenirs. I did not buy anything, did not want to interrupt her phone call. Sad when they have such a nice little place. Three stars that easily could have been five.

Dan Periard

Really cool! Wife and i really enjoyed it, although we're both engineers, so we're nerds :).

John Cena

$5.00 per person. Very interesting experience about the evolution of skyscrapers

Sukhjit Singh

Ever wonder how this stuff is built? Well now's your chance to really find out how NY started and where the history of these tall behemoths comes from. Its free, mostly a quiet place so you can really take your time and enjoy. If your not an architect or someone who has a love of history, it might be better to come by with a tour guide so you can really understand some of the aspects but if you like a challenge and a bit of knowledge in your cap, drop by anytime and feel the history of these giants

Lisa Kim

It’s very small museum about tall building around the nyc and the world. Most of them are pictures on the wall or tv. Lots of information but if you are not in the mood to read all those articles, it will be overwhelming. The front desk staff were very friendly.

Guillermo Santillana

Small place but a nice stop for those new to the city, interested in buildings and history.

Joanne L

Can't access the full museum, my nephews are disappointed. I'm too

Matt Paiton

A great small museum, regularly changes exhibitions so check what's on before going. Took us around 45 minutes to see the whole place.

Mariel Henkoff

Super cool museum in BPC! The curator-led tour was awesome, and the exhibits were unique and interesting!

mike rubenstein

Not alot of stuff to see

Patrick Armstrong

Small, but fascinating and certainly worth the visit!

Debra Mullins

Small Museum. Did not find the current exhibit interesting.

Colleen Flett

I've been here several times and enjoyed every visit. The place is very small, but packed work a lot of information. There is a small permanent exhibit about the original World Trade Center and lower Manhattan. The admission fee is only $5, and the staff is incredibly friendly. I would give them a five off they were larger. They also have an amazing website that is worth checking out.

Jeremy Shulman

A great way to learn about the recent history of lower Manhattan

G Aquino

(June 2018 update): My second visit was better than the last. The staff was more pleasant and attentive. They also now have special exhibitions to encourage visitors to come back. For a city that made skyscrapers famous, there should be a more comprehensive collection on display but I guess the size of the floor space is preventing them from expanding. Time for them to move to a bigger location. (2016) Small museum chronicling the literal rise of New York's skyline. Lots of vintage photos showing the early skyscrapers and the architecture employed. Other modern skyscrapers in other countries are also highlighted. Lady staff at the reception was rude and not helpful.

Gregor J. Rothfuss

such an interesting subject and yet there is so little material, and way too much devoted to boring things. i wanted to like this so bad, but really can't.

Alexandria Downs

It's a nice collection of the history of skyscrapers in New York, BUT the woman who runs it is EXTREMELY RUDE. We walked in and asked for two student tickets and automatically she had an attitude with us like we were automatically supposed to pull out our cards. Then when we went to buy a model afterwards I set down my card in front of her and her reaction was "don't do that to me put it in my hand like I will do for you" and when my partner pointed out that she has seemed very angry ever since we walked in she said very forcefully "I'm not angry you're giving me attitude" when we were doing nothing but being as polite as we could be given the situation. Then when she was still yelling at him he asked for the manager because it was simply outrageous she said "I am the manager there's no one above me so you can just get out". I really don't recommend going here go somewhere where people will treat you like you're an actual human. It is no wonder the place was empty who would want to go to a place with service such as this? Steer clear.

Jakob Jarosch

Was a nice stop for an hour or so. But nothing really big.

Sylena Owens

Was very boring.

Luis Salcedo

For a small museum, it left a big impression! Well worth seeing!

Hans Ketels

I was not able to get past the animal at the front desk, she was highly insulted that I tried to pay with a $50 bill for the tickets. She was rude and started up with my wife. She actually followed us outside of the building cursing and waiving her finger on my face in front of our 9 year old child. No wonder there was no one in the place...

Frederick Wenkonski

Very condensed summary of the history of tall buildings around the world. Space is small but there are many interactive and fun exhibits.

Alexander Merzlenko

Small but very nice museum. If you are a person who at least familiar with engineering and understand what challenges can be faced while trying to reach the skies - you will get lots of answers about how these challenges were overcome and also feel how this technology was developing through ages. Otherwise - save your time and visit something fancy.

PCartwright

My son & I recently visited this hidden gem in NYC. It's small and doesn't take much time to go through, but it is packed with so much information! Loved seeing the history of the skyscrapers. And the hostess up front was really friendly. I would definitely call this a not-to-miss place to visit!

Brooklyn Knights

I've been obsessed with skyscrapers since I was 8 and it was awesome to go and check it out this last July. Loved the experience, especially with the World Trade Center models (both old and new), and the entry fee is only $7!!!

Terresa Ling

This is a really small museum that is only one floor. I went there on a Free museum day. When I was there, they had videos in black and white showing the times when fashion and clothes that were made in factories were wheeled out in these carts. There are also structures that show which are the tallest buildings in the world which was very neat. At the time I went, they also showed how the old World Trade Center was built, as well as a miniature version of the Freedom Tower, as well as the surrounding buildings in the area - very cool!

Crystal Gail

It is like a city planning place. You can see how New York grew up and became an amazing world capital. Also, German architecture structure and Renaissence have a big impact on the city, we can see that step by step.

Anthony Muljadi

Only $5 and so fascinating! A must for architectural buffs

Destiny Gilbert

there. Museme. Si. A. Disgetion. Font. Go. To. That. Museme. Lets. Ferire. It. In. Peies

Christopher Adeler

This is a small boutique museum near Battery Park on west side downtown NYC. The museum has some Great photographs of the early days of NYC’s buildings, as well as original photographs of WTC being built with background information, has a few scale models and a bookstore. The museum is fairly new as well as the building so it has a new modern look. The best thing about it is the monthly Children`s class about architecture and buildings. They work with the kids to build models of buildings & structures and learn about what is involved in the process of the construction. You can also get a annual membership that range from $35.00 to $1,000.00.

Zoe Platek

Interesting view of the world's skyscrapers. For architecture nerds.

allison dar

Quaint little museum for building buffs. One floor , lots to take in though. Gift shop has lots of good books

James Graham

Small but more interesting than expected. Worth a quick visit

Rachel Jones

Great place for kids and adults to learn the history of the NYC skyline

황승진

good place

Jamie Greenwood

Lots of lovely drawings

Julie H

Disappointing exhibits: much too dense and mostly a lot of reading. Fortunately the price is low. We did appreciate the friendly welcome at the entrance. They must have changed staff because the young woman at the desk was enthusiastic and cared about our opinion. Perhaps the special exhibits are better?

Mike Reid

Informative museum, reasonably priced, and helpful staff.

Rodney Logsdon

A cool small underrated NYC museum. Only $5 !!!!

Ophelia Rose

I went with my professor Nicolas Bloom and he's had a huge hand in this housing exhibition. He's so knowledgeable and gave a fantastic tour!! The architectural models were made by NYIT students and they look amazing. This is a small museum but it's packed of good content!

Capt. Gerry Hare

Skyscraper Museum celebrates the New York City's rich architectural heritage.

Jocelyn Reyes

Where is the museum is the real question?

Eric Grossmann

The sky is the limit at this up-and-coming museum in Battery Park. Soar to new heights as you walk along the Museum's timeline installation of architectural history with a visit to the past, present and future of the world's tallest buildings.

P. András

Among the 12 museums i visited in NYC it was in the top 3. If you are into architerture and/or urbanistics and high-rise buildings, this is not just a must-see but a tremendously rich exhibition.

Cevan Noell

It was closed, we went smithsonian

Mike Carstensen

Was part of citypass, easy to find and somewhat informative. Mostly was bored here.

Simon Blais

What a mistake to walk in. The lady inside never looked at us, even when we asked about the museum. She was very rude for no reason.

Jack Guthrie

I would recommend this museum for architecture and building nerds only! Not really much of a must-visit New York attraction... Lots of reading and some cool models. Great section on the World Trade Center. Nonetheless it is cheap and small museum that does not take too much time out of a day.

Robert Zelenak

Its a small museum. But lots of interesting facts and info about the history of buildings. I even was able to chat with the museums curator Carol Willis!

Shlomo Nussbaum

To see towers around the world

Oluwadunni Olatunji

I really had a lot of fun and learned new things. It is is a really interesting place. Also great for school trips

Austin Mosby

Cool architectural models. Great selection of urban planning literature. Clean. Very small museum: only one room of exhibits. Then again it's only $5.00. A must-see if you're into urban studies and city planning topics.

Alessandro Frati

Well, it could be informative for some but honestly there is a lot of room for improvement. A lot.

S Wu

I enjoyed exploring the history through pictures. Great field trip site for kids!

Frank Fonteijn

Fun little museum. Really don't expect a big museum. But still the architectural drawings, scale models and explanations on video and text were very interesting.

Giant Catbass

The Skyscraper Museum is an architecture museum located in Battery Park City, Manhattan, New York City and founded in 1996. As the name suggests, the museum focuses on high-rise buildings as "products of technology, objects of design, sites of construction, investments in real estate, and places of work and residence." The Skyscraper Museum also celebrates the architectural heritage of New York and the forces and people who created New York's skyline. Before moving to the current and permanent location in Battery Park City in 2004, the museum was a nomadic institution, holding pop-up exhibitions in four temporary donated spaces around Lower Manhattan since 1996.

John H

Small place that really does not have a whole lot to see. They have a few models and posters and old clippings that are interesting. Their exhibits are always changing. Some are better than others. WARNING: Their outdoor sign is very small. I'm not even sure they have one. I walked past the place twice before I finally found it.

Betsaida Perez

The skycraper musum was nice and small. The front staff had a little attitude which I found kind of disturbing. Overall the place was nice and clean. It's easy to go through everything. What I liked the most was that there was a lot of information. I was able to read everything and it help a lot with my project. They also have a lot of information on other countries large skycraper not only New York. I like how they also had electronic to see more pics and info about other countries skycraper. Nice job, just wish there were more space.

andrew brooker

Small but interesting museum

Blackhawks Fan

Learned history of skyscrapers across the world. Definitely a plus if you can catch a group tour. See how skyscrapers differ in construction and design.

Theodore Messinezis

Pretty boring, the place basically has you reading a bunch of text with some photos nearby. Most interesting exhibit was a couple of fridge magnets. Can't believe they make people pay for this. At least it's cheap...

Harrison Gordon

A decent, 10-minute activity, but it is quite petite. There's some interesting stuff, but otherwise it's pretty quick. $5/pp

Jason Noon-Damiani

The tenement exhibit was great. The rest was alright. Maybe a little dated. It's hard for museums with contemporary material to keep up. Wish there was a stronger focus on history and tech of small buildings; less focus on whatever is the tallest building right now, and the World Trade Centers (the older building complex). I believe the history of the Trade Centers is important, but there are places that focus just on that with far more resources that (understandably) do a better job. ...But definitely worth a visit for the rotating exhibit.

Lindsey Yingst

Great small NYC museum to visit. It's free and usually pretty quiet but has interesting exhibits and a lot of unique NYC history explained

Manisha Rose Fernandes

Really good insight into modern architecture. Leart so much

hiker ponc

It is a bit small and not that much to see.

Kathleen Longo

Interesting exhibit. Small museum but lovely place.

Peter Stoner

Fascinating insights. Interesting to find out about Chicago as well as New York.

Pauline W

Much smaller than I expected but an experience that reminds me of a critique at architectural school exhibit. Majority of the display are open so it may not be good little children who likes to run around.

Harold Smith

For a start - the building itself is impressive and helps you get the idea of the exposition. I do not think I will visit again on my own but if I have a guest from another town or something like that - this is a venue to brag about.

mayur sakhare

Very nice place, it gives you information about engineering of sky scapper building in new York as well as from rest of world. Decent place, not crowded.

Alexander Shelly

Great content and up to date!

Tyron Thomas

Wasn't what I was expecting or wanted, alot of pictures and small scale model of New York, staff (cashier) wasn't so welcoming either

Jack Baker

Informative and well presented with models, information and photographs. Could have done with more history and less about skyscraper projects which were never constructed.

Tom de Nijs

Nice small museum with a very interesting exhibition. Good museum, staff very unfriendly

Subramanian S R

Excellent collection of past data combined with present and future

Kevin Daly

Pretty disappointing. If it weren't included in the New York Pass it wouldn't be worth going to at all. Most of it was an ad for Singapore, and the rest was very underwhelming. Barely worth 20-30 minutes, definitely not worth paying for on its own.

Tres Davis

NYC skyscraper history with photos and text. You can get the same information on the web. There are four or five interesting models. Worth it if on a free day otherwise I'd take a pass.

Jamie Hull

Cute little place! Bunch of cool history too - essentially tells and shows you how we got the modern skyscraper! Defintely recomend stopping by if you're in NYC!

Martin Gajdošík

Visiting a scyscraper museum in a city like New York should be a must for everybody. However this museum should be difinitely improved and updated!

The Senate Palpatine

Always an enjoyable experience. Cheap by NY standards, $5.00 per person. Easily spend an hour there. Very well researched exhibits. I Love architecture btw. The museum is modern and up to date with the rapidly changing scene of skyscrapers.

Kimberly Ferrell

Kinda disappointing. It is mostly poster board pictures.

Sam Miller

Its a great museum for people that enjoy the housing history of manhattan and skyscrapers

Nicole Martin

Well, it's not very busy.... But really could of made the experience better, odd layout. Just go to keep the security guard company.

Jeff Peters

Smaller museum, neat facts and exhibits, priced right for the size.

Jason Stackhouse

Like most others have said, this is a pretty small museum. There are a few cool scale models, but mostly pictures (posters) of tall buildings. There are some informative articles / information on population density and construction techniques. Also, the front desk people were very friendly, so it would appear they have solved that problem that other reviewers have mentioned in the past. Use your NYC library card to get a free Cultural Pass!

THICK & JUICY THICKUMS

I loved it we had the entire museum to our self

Ruby Irizarry

It's very small and tour guides skip areas of the already small museum.

Roy Jay

Small but worth the visit. Informative

Marty Byng

Absolute waste of time and money

Oliver John

Beautiful!!! Very informative. Clean, great but nostalgic pics of the World Trade Center so get ready.

Glen Butler

About 4 rooms total but only $5 to enter. A nice little break.

MB H

Informative and educational. Small enough so that you can see it all in an hour or so.

Neville star

Nice way sky way

Nathan Spangenberg

Helpful people with lots of pictures and models

Daniela Llivina

Very small museum, but definitely worth the visit if you're amused by the skyscraper world. It is very cheap and not crowded at all

J J Peon

Lectures and presentations that will enlghten anyone interest in New York City beside their interesting collection of new and old architrcture.

Xavier Prince

Great learning experience. With and without machine humans have been able to build

Jay TMG

meh

Ekaterina Zolov

The place was actually not bad, some decent history and models, but the girl on the front was rude, and she closed the door in front of the another visitor face at 5.25 pm when the museum is opened until 6.00 pm!!! And when I tried to chose some book to buy she followed me all the way and threw some stuff on the table so loud, like she tried to kick me out of the museum!! Ive been leaving in USA for several years and I've never seen the customer service in museum like this even if it's 5$ admission fee!!(some national museums are free just to let you know) Better check wiki guys , save your nerves and time!

Andrey Lipavsky

Nice museum. Very informative tour.

Toniqua Wilson

Very small but was a cool experience. Was extremely hard to find for some reason. They also offer seminars for the kids but you have to book it early.

Thomas

Small museum, but interesting if you're interested in the development of New York City and looking for an hour to kill. As long as you don't set high expectations, you'll be happy with what you get. We were underwhelmed by the content, but found it interesting to see the history of how Sky Scrapers took over lower Manhattan and how they ranked compared to the world's tallest buildings over time.

Stuart Rothwell

Nice enough museum. Plenty about the history of skyscrapers and some information on others around the world. Not so much information on the building of them. Not a big museum but then it's only $5 to get in.

remo piantadosi

Wouldn't bother. Seen more on documentary channels

Carol Vinzant

Simple small museum, about 20-30 minutes. It’s really more an urban planning museum. If you are really into an historical look at residential urban density, this is your place.

Mark Mangrich

Small museum, but very interesting detail about the history and political structure of lower Manhattan. You learn about important changes that have occurred in lower Manhattan over the past 100 years. You also get to see updated walking tour route for landmarks in the area. There is much more to learn about in this genre, and as this museum expands it will cover more details.

João Pedro Rodrigues

Loss of time and money. Very simplistic, small and boring museum

Phyllis A Sears

Attended on Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's free 'Night at the Museums'. Held annually in June in conjunction with the River to River Festival. This is small but packs a punch.