Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York City
The six-tiered Museum of Jewish Heritage. Photo
Andurinha.
View of the museum from the riverbank. Photo
Joseph Hoetzl.
New east wing of the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Photo
Andurinha.
Sign outside the entrance. Photo
Paul Pellerito.
Entrance to the Robert M. Morgenthau Wing. Photo
Paul Arrington.
Location map and aerial view of Museum of Jewish Heritage. For a larger interactive view, see our New York City Map.
Located in Lower Manhattan at the south end of Battery Park City, the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust tells the story of the Jews before, during and after the Holocaust.
History
New York's Museum of Jewish Heritage first opened its doors on September 15, 1997. In the fall of 2003, a new East Wing opened, built by the same architect as the original building. The new wing includes a kosher cafe, Abigael's at the Museum, run by celebrity chef Jeff Nathan.
What to See
The museum is housed in an austere granite building designed by award-winning architect Kevin Roche. Its six-tier roof alludes both to the Star of David and the 6 million murdered in the Holocaust.
The museum's permanent exhibits are organized around three main themes, arranged chronologically - Jewish Life a Century Ago (first floor), The War Against the Jews (second floor), and Jewish Renewal (third floor).
The history of these periods is brought to life through unique documentary films, the most poignant of which record first-person testimonies of Holocaust survivors and victims' families. Many of these testimonies were recorded by the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, founded by museum trustee Steven Spielberg.
The remainder of the museum displays selected items from its collection of more than 15,000 artifacts, photographs, documents, and archival films that have been gathered for nearly two decades. The exhibits of of Jewish life on the first floor include such items as elaborate screens hand-painted for the fall harvest festival of Sukkoth, wedding invitations, and tools used by Jewish tradesmen.
The museum is intended to be a venue of active learning as well as permanent exhibits: Thursday evenings are dedicated to panel discussions, performances, and music, while Sundays are dedicated to family programs and workshops. A film series is also a regular part of the calendar. These special events take place in the Robert M. Morgenthau Wing, named for the Museum's Chairman and Manhattan District Attorney.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Museum of Jewish Heritage; Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust |
| Location: | New York City, New York, USA |
| Category: | Museums |
| Faith: | Judaism |
| Status: | museum |
| Date: | 1997; addition in 2003 |
| Architect: | Kevin Roche |
| Architecture: | Modern |
| Size: | Original building: 112,000 sq ft New wing: 82,000 sq ft |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 40.706197° N, 74.018766° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | 36 Battery Place, Battery Park, New York City, New York, USA |
| Phone: | General: 646-437-4200 Advance tickets: 646-437-4202 |
| Website: | www.mjhnyc.org |
| E-mail: | Visitor Services: gpanagi@mjhnyc.org Museum shop: museumshop@mjhnyc.org |
| Hours: | Sun-Wed 10am-5:45pm; Thurs 10am-8pm; Fri and eves of Jewish holidays 10am-3pm |
| Tours: | Audio tours narrated by Meryl Streep and Itzhak Perlman are available for an additional $5. |
| Cost: | $12 adults, $10 seniors, $7 students, free for children 12 and under. Free admission every Wed 4-8pm. See website for discount coupon. |
| Public transport: | Subway: 4 or 5 to Bowling Green |
| Parking: | Parking garages nearby. Museum offers a $3 discount. |
| Accessibility: | All public areas are wheelchair accessible. |
Travel Resources
- New York City Map - our detailed interactive map of New York City, plus hand-picked links to more
- New York City Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in New York City
- New York City Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
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- New York City Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on New York City tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Frommer's New York City 2005
- The Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust - Official Website
- Ours to Fight For: American Jews in the Second World War - Official Website of the Temporary Exhibition
Article last updated: 08/28/2009.
