9 Cross-Cultural Museums in Manhattan

For many New York metro parents, it might seem like kids are already getting an education in diversity just by living in (and near) one of the most diverse cities in the world. But it takes proper guidance to help kids understand the world around them. Luckily, Manhattan is host to a slew of cross-cultural museums, offering programs that educate families about the various cultures in America.
    

Ellis Island Gallery and Immigration Museum

libertyellisfoundation.org
Check website for boat times and to purchase tickets 

While this museum isn’t on the island of Manhattan, it is accessible by ferry from the island and the historical location played a crucial role in shaping American culture. Even today, an estimated 100 million Americans can trace their lineage back to at least one ancestor who entered the country through Ellis Island. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration displays artifacts from and photographs of the immigrants who came through those halls. Kids can start to understand where they come from, or at least where many of their fellow Americans come from.
      

Museum of Chinese in America

215 Centre St., Little Italy
855-955-MOCA (6622)
mocanyc.org
Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday, 11am-6pm; Thursday, 11am-9pm
$10; seniors, and students with ID, and children ages 2 and older: $5 

The museum is compact, but it’s a powerful experience. The permanent exhibit, With a Single Step: Stories in the Making of America, chronicles the Chinese-American immigrant story. This museum doesn’t contain any hands-on activities, so it isn’t so preschool friendly—but MOCA does hold a number of family programs and numerous family festivals near Chinese holidays. It hosts an annual Lunar New Year Family Festival in mid-February. Past festivals have included zodiac themed crafts, festive music and dance performances, and storytelling. 
     

El Museo del Barrio

1230 Fifth Ave., East Harlem
212-831-7272
elmuseo.org
Las Galerias: Closed until Summer 2018. La Tienda: Wednesday-Thursday, 12-4pm; Fridday: 9am-5pm.
$9; $5 students and seniors; free for children ages 12 and younger and members

Often known simply as El Museo, this gallery is located toward the northern end of the Museum Mile. El Museuo specializes in Latin-American and Caribbean art, with an emphasis on works form Puerto Rico. The museum hosts a number of day and after-school workshops for kids, such as the Coquí club for children ages 1-4 and their caregivers, which is a bilingual program that includes play, storytelling, museum walks, and art making. And in early January every year, families can enjoy the museum’s Annual Three Kings Day Parade, which boasts live camels, colorful puppets, music, and dancing.
     

Lower East Side Tenement Museum

103 Orchard St., Lower East Side
877-975-3786
tenement.org
Check website for tour times and prices.

This five-story brick tenement building was home to an estimated 7,000 people from more than 20 nations from 1863-1935. The museum, which includes a visitor’s center down the street, promotes tolerance and historical perspective on immigration. Guided tours offer visitors a look at what immigrant life used to look like as well as insights into current debates about immigration and public health. The experience is really interactive and kid-friendly. In many of the tours, a guide dressed in period costume tells his or her character’s immigrant story and answers visitors’ questions. The artifacts aren’t behind glass; kids can even wander around the room and touch some of the displayed objects.
     

George Gustav Heyes Center, National Museum of the American Indian

1 Bowling Green, Financial District
212-514-3794
nmai.si.edu
Daily, 10am-5pm; open until 8pm on Thursdays
FREE

While teaching children about the many different immigration populations that make up this nation, it’s vital not to forget the Native-Americans. The museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution, so admission is always free. The center features contemporary and historical exhibits of art and artifacts by and about Native-Americans. Displaying more than 700 items, the museum straddles the line between ethnology and art. Check out its website for family events, including live, hands-on demonstrations with experts in native cultures.