Staten Island Museum
New York City's last remaining general-interest museum — art, natural history and local history under one roof — with a branch at Snug Harbor and a presence by the ferry terminal.
- What it costs
- Small admission, among the cheapest museums in the city. Check current hours and locations before travelling.
- Best in
- Any season
- Where
- 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building A, Staten Island, NY 10301
- Official site
- statenislandmuseum.org
The last general museum
Founded in 1881, and now the only general-interest museum left in New York City — meaning it collects art, natural science and local history together, the way 19th-century museums did, rather than specializing.
That makes it unusual and rather charming. You get fine art in one room and a mastodon jaw and an enormous insect collection in the next.
What's in it
- Natural history — geology, a substantial entomology collection, and material on the island's ecology, including the Greenbelt and the Fresh Kills landfill-to-parkland transformation.
- Local history — Lenape material, the island's maritime and industrial past, and the story of the ferry.
- Art — a permanent collection with a strong holding of work by Staten Island artists, plus rotating shows.
It is small. Ninety minutes covers it, which makes it a good pairing rather than a destination on its own.
Do it as part of Snug Harbor
The museum sits inside the Snug Harbor complex, so the sensible trip is: ferry over, S40 bus, then spend an afternoon covering the museum, the Chinese Scholar's Garden, the botanical gardens and the Greek Revival row.
That's one bus, one afternoon, and it is the best value day on Staten Island.
Getting there
The main site is at Snug Harbor — ferry to St. George, then the S40 bus, about 10 minutes.
About 50 minutes from Lower Manhattan in total, and it combines naturally with everything else at Snug Harbor.
Check the current site and hours before travelling — the museum has operated across more than one location.
Getting around once you're there
The Snug Harbor building is step-free with lift access. Both ferry terminals and the S40 bus are accessible.