The Arsenal
Skip·Central Park, Upper East Side
Looks cool from outside. Inside it’s the most municipal building I’ve ever been in; gallery felt like a public school cafeteria with photos hung. Guards were shocked anyone came to see the gallery.
What it is
Fortress-like building from the mid-19th century, with a 3rd-floor gallery for art exhibitions.
Pair it with
Worth a detour or better, within a 15-minute walk. Numbers match the map.
- 1The Grolier Club0.3 mi · Free
Surprising one. Lots of interesting book bindings from the last few centuries.
- 2Park Avenue Armory0.3 mi · $30
Beautiful building with a lot of history.
- 3Society of Illustrators/MoCCA0.3 mi · $15
Huge collection of interesting drawings.
- 4MoMA0.5 mi · $28
The other museum you can’t do in a day.
- 5Paley Museum0.6 mi · $20
The archived footage library is the real draw; watched some otherwise lost Andy Warhol show episodes.
- 6American Folk Art Museum0.7 mi · Free
Across from Lincoln Center; everyone’s wondered, no one’s been.
Also on the block, if you have time
Central Park Zoo (0.1 mi), Bernard Museum (0.1 mi, free), Americas Society (0.3 mi, free), Asia Society (0.4 mi), New York School of Interior Design Gallery (0.5 mi, free).
Skip Austrian Cultural Forum New York (0.6 mi), even if you’re passing: “Weird. Exhibit on 70s home design with everything in German, no English.”