About Guggenheim Museum
Located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (or just the Guggenheim) is one of the most well-known art galleries globally, with over one million visitors per year. There are actually eight Guggenheim Museums worldwide, including several in Europe and one in the Middle East. They are all managed by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, which was established in 1937.
What started out as a small collection of artworks collected by Solomon R. Guggenheim and displayed in his apartment in 1930 turned into a huge collection of art presented around the country. The collection mostly consists of avant-garde, Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, contemporary, and early modern paintings. Some of the artists you may recognize include Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, and Marc Chagall.
Sculptures and other works of art were soon added with names like Alexander Archipenko and Raymond Duchamp-Villon. The current Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan was mostly designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The cylindrical building has some fantastic architecture, like the spiral staircase that resembles those at the Vatican Museum, oval columns, and a beautiful skylight. Today, there are thousands of artworks in the collection that spans over the seven different museums.
Fun Fact: Men in Black was just one of the movies that were filmed at the Guggenheim.
Things to do in Guggenheim Museum
While you are at the Guggenheim Museum, there are some things that you just cannot miss. Because the Guggenheim Museum is located in Manhattan across from Central Park, it is not hard to find something interesting to do inside or outside the museum. Here are some of our favorite ideas:
- The cost of admission in the Guggenheim includes a free tour, so why not take advantage of it? Learn all of the interesting background stories about each piece and ask questions along the way.
- Be your own tour guide. The Guggenheim also has self-guided audio tours you can pick up in the lobby or download to your phone. Follow the GPS coordinates and let your phone take you on an educational adventure.
- Enjoy the detailed architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright added amazing details in every part of the building from the floor to the skylight.
- Grab a bite to eat. The Wright, which is on level one, is named for the architect and is a more formal affair. Cafe3 is more of a casual place and is found on level three.
- Grab some unique souvenirs and gifts at the Guggenheim Store. They sell everything here, including artworks, art supplies, and books.
- Visit the Sackler Center for Arts Education where you can learn about new technology as well as the literary, performing, and visual arts of the past.
- Check out the Aye Simon Reading Room on the second level. It has thousands of publications about the collection, architecture, and both current and past exhibitions.
Transit Options Near Guggenheim Museum
● Subway 4, 5, 6, and Q lines
● Bus M1 – M4 on Fifth or Madison Avenue
● Metro-North Railroad from New Haven to Grand Central
Luggage Storage Near Guggenheim Museum
Are you local to New York and visiting the Guggenheim Museum for the day? Maybe you are on holiday in NYC, and this is one of your must-see attractions. No matter the reason, dragging extra bags around is never a fun idea. We bet your travel style is light and easy. That's why we created Bounce – to take a load off your shoulders. When heading to the museum or any of the other attractions in the Manhattan area, don't bring your luggage with you. Store it with Bounce instead.
Luggage Storage Options Near Guggenheim Museum
- Metropolitan Museum of Art: Still looking for more education about art? The Metropolitan Museum of Art has over 36,000 pieces dating back more than 5,000 years. The Egyptian exhibit is popular and has 39 rooms with 26,000 items. Take a tour on your own or ask for a guided experience, but don’t bring your bags. One of our Bounce affiliates nearby will keep them safe for you.
- Shakespeare Garden: This peaceful garden is in Central Park, right across the street from the Guggenheim Museum. The garden was dedicated to the playwright and poet in 1913 with an English countryside theme. In fact, you can see hundreds of flowers that were mentioned in Shakespeare’s words. The paved paths, wooden benches, and plaques are all nice additions over the years. Drop off your bags with Bounce first, so you don’t have to drag them along your walk.
- Belvedere Castle: Visiting the Belvedere Castle in Central Park is one of the most popular things to do here. Located up on Vista Rock, the name is Italian for “beautiful view,” and you will see why when you get up there. The castle was built as a lookout tower, then used as a weather station before being changed into a visitor’s center.
- Bridge Hopping: Central Park has more than 40 bridges and arches throughout, and you can spend several hours trying to find them all. Some of them are extremely good photo ops such as the Glade Arch by 79th and 5th Streets and the Bow Bridge, just west of Bethesda Terrace. You won’t want to drag your bags with you on this walk. Drop them off at one of our associates in the area.
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir: This large body of water is a 106-acre lake used for the city’s water supply until 1993, when the Third Water Tunnel was completed. Now it is a focal point for many who jog on the 1.6-mile track around it. Some who have run this trek include Madonna and Bill Clinton. You don’t have to run, though. Walking along the path you can see many water birds like egrets, herons, grebes, and ducks. Grab your camera out of your luggage before dropping it off with one of our partners nearby.
- Go Boating: Rent a rowboat at Loeb Boathouse and row your way around the 20-acre Central Park Lake. Get some amazing views of the Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge from the lake. If you don’t feel like rowing, hire a guided tour on a gondola to do the rowing for you. Or steer a radio powered or wind powered model boat you can rent at Kerbs Boathouse. We can keep your luggage safe at one of our Bounce locations while you enjoy your ride.
- Horse and Carriage Ride: Want a unique way of seeing the park? Hire a horse-drawn carriage to take you on a tour. The driver will tell you all about the history of the area as well as major attractions. Just kick up your feet and enjoy the ride.
- American Museum of Natural History: If you want to learn more about nature, this large museum showcases everything from outer space to dinosaurs. You can take a guided tour or just browse on your own. And be sure to check out the LeFrack Theater’s IMAX films about zoology and the natural world.