Jane August's Mission to Visit Every NYC Museum

The Genesis of a Museum Project

• 💡 Jane August initiated her project to visit every museum in NYC during the pandemic when she was furloughed from her live music job.
• 🎯 The goal was to experience art and culture in the city, starting with the idea that there couldn't be that many museums to visit.

Defining a Museum

• 🏛️ August defines a museum as an institution serving its community by providing artistic or educational enrichment, often with a stated mission on its website.
• 🧐 She emphasizes that while some experiences might be fun, they don't qualify as museums if nothing is learned.

Tracking and Visiting Museums

• 📊 A large spreadsheet, stemming from her theater production background, is used to track potential museums and visits.
• 🗺️ Visits are sporadic, planned around her schedule and museum operating hours, often involving reaching out to museums beforehand.
• 🚶‍♀️ August prefers to experience museums independently, sometimes with headphones, to form her own impressions before doing research.

Listener-Shared Hidden Gems

• 🖼️ The Poster House Museum features exhibits on fascism and national park marketing, with free admission on Fridays and third Sundays.
• 🏛️ The Hudson River Museum offers astronomy shows and has unique exhibits, including a small house within the museum.
• ✊ The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space is an activism museum run by volunteers in an old squat on Avenue C.
• 🎨 The Nicholas Roerich Museum showcases vibrant paintings by the Russian-born artist in an Upper West Side townhouse.
• 🎶 The Dreamhouse by LaMonte Young is an exhibition of sound and light, considered more of an art installation than a traditional museum.
• 🗝️ The John M. Mossman Lock Collection at the Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen features historical locks and safes.
• 🧸 The Museum of Nostalgia in Astoria is a hybrid toy store and museum with vintage collectibles from the 80s and 90s.
• 🕹️ The Red Hook Pinball Museum showcases restored vintage pinball machines with a history of the game.
• 🏡 Hamilton Grange, Alexander Hamilton's country home, offers a glimpse into early federal life.
• ⛓️ The Sing Sing Prison Museum in Ossining details the history of crime, punishment, and reform in New York State.
• 🚢 Maritime museums include the Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler, the Waterfront Barge Museum, and the South Street Seaport Museum.
• ⚓ The City Island Nautical Museum highlights the island's shipbuilding history.
• 🗿 The Reineir Haim Gross Foundation preserves the home and studio of sculptor Haim Gross, featuring his work and art from other artists.
• 🖼️ The American Folk Art Museum showcases diverse folk art, including shaker drawings and exhibits on game boards.
• 🐶 The Dog Museum features dog-themed art and allows visitors to bring their dogs on specific days.

Upcoming Visits and Final Thoughts

• 🏦 August is seeking a school group to chaperone a field trip to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York museum.
• 🎺 She also plans to visit the newly renovated Louis Armstrong House.
• 🦴 The Bone Museum in Bushwick contains a large collection of human spines.
• ✨ August encourages exploring different boroughs and choosing a museum to visit, emphasizing the value and dedication behind these cultural spaces.