Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Don't Miss
Permanent Collection Galleries
Although the Museum of Modern Art has garnered a reputation in New York City for hav-
ing a more robust collection of oeuvres, the Guggenheim is very much a heavy hitter as
well, boasting a variety of art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Hanging on the white-
washed walls are works by the likes of Kandinsky, Picasso, Chagall, Jackson Pollock, Van
Gogh, Monet, Magritte and Degas. Much of the Guggenheim's art is made up of several
personal collections, including those of Justin Thannhauser, Peggy Guggenheim and the
Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, which generously bequeathed 200 photographs, making
the museum the single-most important public repository of his work.
Exterior Views of the Facade
An architectural marvel from the outside and within, the Guggenheim didn't always
garner the praise it does today. In fact, in 1959, when it opened, the structure was savaged
by the
New York Times,
which lambasted it as 'a war between architecture and painting in
which both come out badly maimed.' Beyond early criticism, the edifice itself was a lo-
gistical nightmare to build. Construction was delayed for almost 13 years due to budget
constraints, the outbreak of WWII and outraged neighbors who weren't all that excited to
see an architectural spaceship land in their midst. Construction was completed in 1959,
after both Wright and Guggenheim had passed away.
Top Tips
›
The line to get in to the museum can be brutal at any time of the year. You'll save a lot of time if you purchase
your tickets in advance on the website.
Take a Break
There are two good on-site food options:
Wright
( 212-427-5690;
www.thewrightrestaurant.com
;
mains
$23-28; 11:30am-3:30pm Fri & Sun-Wed, to 6pm Sat; 4/5/6 to 86th St) , at ground level, a space-age eat-
ery serving steamy risotto and classic cocktails, and
Cafe 3
(
www.guggenheim.org
; sandwiches $9-10;
10:30am-5pm Fri-Wed; 4/5/6 to 86th St) , on the 3rd floor, which offers sparkling views of Central Park and
excellent coffee and light snacks.
