When New York governor Andrew Cuomo gave museums and “low-risk” cultural institutions in the city the go-ahead to welcome visitors again starting August 24, many of them began announcing their reopening dates. While we’re looking forward to seeing art in person again after a seemingly eternal stretch of online-only exhibitions, visiting a museum in times of COVID-19 will require some advance planning: capacity will be limited to 25%, and visitors will have to reserve tickets ahead of time.
Museums will also be changing their hours or operating with reduced schedules to promote social distancing and allow for additional cleanings. Other safety measures will be in place, including enforced face coverings, and some amenities, like coat check, may be temporarily unavailable.
We’ve compiled a list of reopening dates at major New York City institutions below, to be updated regularly as new information becomes available.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Reopening date: August 27
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 10:30am–5:30pm (Mondays are reserved for members and members’ guests only)
The Museum of the City of New York
Reopening date: August 27
Hours: Thursday–Monday, 10am–6pm (10am–11am will be a designated hour for seniors and other high-risk visitors)
The American Folk Art Museum
Reopening date: August 28
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11:30am–6pm
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Reopening date: August 29 (general public), August 27–28 (members only)
Hours: Saturday–Monday, 10am–5pm; Thursday–Friday, 12pm–7pm
The Whitney Museum
Reopening dates: September 3 (general public), August 27–31 (members only)
Hours: Monday, 11:30am–6pm; Thursday, 11:30am–6pm; Friday, 1:30pm–9pm; Saturday–Sunday, 1pm–6pm
The American Museum of Natural History
Reopening dates: September 9 (general public), September 2 (members)
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–5:30pm; special access hours for members on Saturday and Sunday from 10am–11am and Thursday 6pm–8pm
The Bronx Museum
Reopening date: September 9
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 1pm–6pm
The New York Historical Society
Reopening date: September 11
Hours: Thursday, 11am–5pm (for visitors age 65+ and immunocompromised only); Friday, 10am–8pm; Saturday–Sunday, 11am–5pm
Rubin Museum
Reopening date: September 12 (general public), September 10–11 (members)
Hours: Thursday–Monday, 11am–5pm with extended hours on Free Fridays, 6pm–1opm
El Museo del Barrio
Reopening date: September 12
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 12pm–5pm
The Brooklyn Museum
Reopening date: September 12
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11am–6pm
The Met Cloisters
Reopening date: September 12
Hours: Not yet announced
The Museum of Jewish Heritage
Reopening date: September 13 (general public), September 9–10 (members)
Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, 10am–5pm
The New Museum
Reopening date: September 15
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–6pm
MoMA PS1
Reopening date: September 17
Hours: Thursday–Monday, 12pm–6pm
The Guggenheim Museum
Reopening date: October 3
Hours: Not yet announced
The Drawing Center
Reopening date: October 7
Hours: By appointment only
