Founded in 1804, the New-York Historical Society is the oldest museum in NYC and one of the country’s preeminent cultural institutions. The society’s holdings are highlighted by more than 1.6 million works of art, including iconic American portraits and masterworks from the Hudson River School. The museum’s exhibitions are known for their clarity and depth, in keeping with a programming mission that reveals layers of city, state, and U.S. history. Families take note: NYHS has the only Children’s History Museum in the area.