Cultural Importance
The Queens Museum has perfected combining high-quality visual arts and educational programming. This museum was designed for people in the New York metropolitan area, tourists from around world, and particularly for the residents of Queens, a uniquely diverse, ethnic, cultural, and international community.
The Museum is home to art exhibitions, public programs and educational experiences that promote the appreciation and enjoyment of art, support the creative efforts of artists. Using community engagement the museum strives to enhance the quality of life through interpreting, collecting, and exhibiting art, architecture, and design.
The Queens Museum’s goal is to relate to the urban surrounding through art, expression, and education while keeping everything professional, modern, intellectual and ethical.
Current Exhibits
Panorama of the City of New York
Being one of the most famous exhibits at the Queens Museum, it is a must that you see. This was a creation for the 1964 World Fair that shows the architectural beauty that is New York. Introduced in 1964, the Panorama’s special features included a continuous lighting cycle that went from dawn to dusk to night.
Patty Chang: The Wandering Lake, 2009-2017
The museum is calling this Patty Chang’s most ambitious work. Change is an alternative artist that came to recognition in the 90’s. In this piece, Chang challenged the rules of performance and questions the power as a storytelling vehicle.
Never Built New York
This exhibit is curated by the architecture writers Greg Goldin and Sam Lubell based on their book Never Built New York. The book and the exhibit bot highlight grand architectural proposals that did not work out in the grand scheme of things.
“Don’t miss the astonishing Panorama of the City of New York, a nearly 900,000-building model of NYC made for the 1964 World’s Fair.”
A Top Pick from Don Wildman
“The Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows is an NYC-must, if for no other reason than to see the Panorama of the City of New York, a gigantic, 3-D mapping of municipal geography. This massive exhibition was created for the 1964 World’s Fair and features a dawn-to-dusk lighting scheme and landing airplanes, as well as the opportunity to adopt your own piece of island real estate for a $50 donation. What a bargain!”
Click here for more of Don Wildman’s top museum picks across New York State.
Getting to the Queens Museum
Experience the Queens Museum via Amtrak to Penn Station in New York City—Don’t forget to use the New York By Rail 15% discount!
Where to Stay in NYC
Looking for a getaway opportunity? Spend the night and experience all New York City has to offer. Take a look at these great hotel options—some offering exclusive New York By Rail discounts!
