3 NYC Museums You Can Visit for Free — From Movie Magic to Japanese Art

4.6 (4,480)

Thu, 14:00 – 18:00; Fri, 14:00 – 20:00; Sat – Sun, 12:00 – 18:00

36-01 35 Ave

Behind the Screen pairs historic cameras and TV sets with hands-on stations like dubbing and stop-motion setups, plus rotating playable games. Admission is free Thursdays from 2:00 to 6:00 PM, no reservation needed. Some games take tokens, and some film screenings and special events require separate tickets.

4.4 (815)

Wed – Sun, 11:30 – 18:00

2 Lincoln Square, Columbus Ave. between 65th and 66th Sts

Two shows run from October 9, 2026, to February 28, 2027. Locating Girlhood gathers needlework by American schoolgirls of the 1700s and 1800s, and Folk Nation uses folk art to explore ideas of American identity. Admission is always free, Wednesday through Sunday.

4.6 (750)

Tue – Fri, 11:00 – 17:00; Sat – Sun, 12:00 – 18:00

333 E 47th St

Gen'ichirō Inokuma's NYC Salon, on view through January 10, 2027, revisits his twenty years in Manhattan, when he befriended Rothko, Noguchi, and John Cage and hosted gatherings at his apartment. Admission is free from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on November 6 and December 4, 2026, and January 8, 2027.