Night at the Museums offers special access to 13 museums & historic sites as part of the River To River Festival 2014
For the first time ever, Lower Manhattan will turn 13 of the city's museums into a summer cultural destination at a special event that is part of this year’s River To River Festival 2014 (June 19-29).
On Tuesday, June 24, 2014, Lower Manhattan will present Night at the Museums, an evening featuring 13 participating museums and historic sites which will stay open late from 4 to 8 p.m., and offering free admission and many offering special programming and tours. Patrons can hop from museum to museum as all are within walking distance.
Visitors of all ages can spend a summer evening immersed in New York City’s history, explore what makes the United States unique, discover new cultures and heritages, take a walking tour of the area, or stop for refreshments, including restaurants offering special Night at the Museums discounts.
The participating institutions will issue a special Night at the Museums Passport for the event, available at each venue that evening. It will provide a map of the area and information about the museums and historical sites to help visitors plan their evening. This handy brochure will entitle visitors to special discounts valid through August 31, 2014 on museum admission and other services depending upon the location.
For more information, visit www.NightAtTheMuseums.org or www.RiverToRiverNYC.com. The National September 11 Memorial Museum and Wall Street Walks require advance reservation. Tickets are free. See details below and on the NATM website.
Participating museums and historical sites are:
African Burial Ground National Monument is dedicated to teaching about Africans of early New York and Americans of African descent. Visitors will be able to tour the museum, view the film “Our Time At Last,” and speak to National Park Service rangers about the history of the site from its creation through its rediscovery to its designation as a national park.
The Anne Frank Center USA, a partner of the Anne Frank House, uses the diary and spirit of Anne Frank as unique tools to advance her legacy. The Center opens a new exhibition on the evening of June 24: Anne Frank: A Family Photo Album, featuring more than 70 family photos, many of which have rarely been seen in public.
Federal Hall National Memorial serves as a museum and memorial to America’s first President and the beginnings of the United States of America. Exhibits present the history of Federal Hall and artifacts on view include the Bible that George Washington used at his inauguration. National Park Service Ranger-led tours will be offered on the hour from 4 to 7 p.m.
Fraunces Tavern Museum® is the only museum located in Manhattan that focuses on the Colonial period, Revolutionary War, and the Early Republic. Discover just how important New York City was during the birth of our nation. Historical balladeer Linda Russell and The Tricorne Dance Ensemble will provide music and dance presentations throughout the evening.
The Museum of American Finance is the nation's only independent museum dedicated to American finance and financial history. In addition to the permanent exhibits, visitors can see special exhibits including The Fed at 100, which examines the nation’s central bank and the role it has played throughout its history. Also on view is a jewel-encrusted 18-karat gold Monopoly set.
Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust offers the opportunity to explore modern Jewish history, life, and culture. Special exhibitions on view are: Against the Odds: American Jews & the Rescue of Europe's Refugees, 1933-1941 and A Town Known as Auschwitz: The Life and Death of a Jewish Community. Guided tours of the Museum’s Core Exhibition about Jewish heritage, the Holocaust, and Jewish renewal, will begin on the hour from 4 to 7 p.m.
National Archives at New York City invites visitors to connect with history and to discover the many national treasures of the National Archives. On June 24, visitors can meet the 26thPresident of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt as portrayed by James Foote, as well as participate in family activities, document discoveries, family history research, and more. Hear “The Life of Theodore Roosevelt” talk at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. All visitors to the 3rd floor Learning Center will receive a free “national treasure” giveaway.
National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution will offer tours of the critically acclaimed permanent exhibition Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian from 4 to 5 p.m. and a screening of short films by Seminole/Creek director Sterlin Harjo at 6 p.m.
National September 11 Memorial Museum explores the implications of the events of 9/11, documenting the impact of those events and exploring 9/11's continuing significance. Be among the first to view the National September 11 Memorial Museum’s inaugural exhibits during the historic first year. Entry is by ticket only - free tickets to visit from 5 P.M. to 8 P.M. may be reserved online at www.911memorial.org, and a limited number of walk-up tickets will be available.
9/11 Tribute Center, created by the September 11th Families Association, offers visitors a place where they can connect with people from the 9/11 community including survivors, family members, rescuers and first responders. Visitors learn about 9/11 through personal stories told by those who were there. From tragedy to survival to rebuilding, the visit connects people to the unforgettable experiences of our community.
The Skyscraper Museum celebrates New York City's rich architectural heritage and examines the historical forces and individuals that have shaped its successive skylines. Special activities for the event include a “Curator’s Tour” at 5 p.m. with founding director Carol Willis of the Museum’s exhibit Times Square, 1984: The Postmodern Moment.
South Street Seaport Museum preserves and promotes this historic district along the East River. Special activities include a scavenger hunt through historic ships and the opportunity to make a nautical signal flag banner to take home. Bowne Printers, the Museum's working historic letterpress shop, will offer live demonstrations by its resident printers.
Wall Street Walks takes visitors through the historic capital of world finance: the one-square-mile of downtown Manhattan known as "Wall Street." Mini-Walking Tours (half-hour duration) will take place every 30 minutes, from 4 to 7.30 p.m. on June 24. Tours meet in front of 55 & 57 Wall Street and end at one of the museums or historic sites participating in Night at the Museums. Please book in advance at www.WallStreetWalks.com. Tours will fill up quickly. A small number of slots will be held for wallk-ups.
cultureNOW ‘s award-winning Museum Without Walls iPhone app provides nearly 1,000 sites, 560 podcasts by artists, architects, historians, and curators of New York, and 8 self-guided tours of Lower Manhattan. Find the app by searching for cultureNOW’s Guidebook to the Museum Without Walls at the iTunes store.
For complete information, times and schedules for Night at the Museums visit:www.NightAtTheMuseums.org.
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SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
Night at the Museums is provided with in-kind support by the Downtown Alliance; and NYC & Company. Night at the Museums is presented by LMCC as part of the River To River Festival 2014. LMCC.net.
About River To River
River To River, a Lower Manhattan Cultural Council public engagement initiative, inspires residents, workers, and visitors in Lower Manhattan, by connecting them to artists, new ideas and perspectives, and other art-lovers to demonstrate the role that artists play in creating vibrant, sustainable communities. The 2014 festival runs from June 19 t0 29. Find more information at www.RiverToRiverNYC.com.
River To River is made possible with support from the Alliance for Downtown New York, American Express, The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, HUD, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Westfield World Trade Center, and in part by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, as well as other underwriters.
About the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) has been a leading voice for arts and culture Downtown and throughout New York City for nearly 40 years, producing cultural events and promoting the arts through grants, services, advocacy, and cultural development programs.
About The Downtown Alliance
The Downtown Alliance is striving to make Lower Manhattan a wonderful place to live, work and play by creating a vibrant multi-use neighborhood. Since 1995, the Alliance for Downtown New York has worked to enhance the quality of life in Lower Manhattan by providing workers, residents and visitors with a clean, safe and dynamic place to live, work and play.
About NYC & Company
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.
