A Day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Built in 1872 after a few years of planning by the founders, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was opened to the public. The founders shared a deep desire to give the American people and all who visit the city of New York a grand display of art education. For over a hundred years this wonderful museum has gathered up an extensive collection of art from all over the world. There are pieces that date back thousands of years on up to modern times. Visitors will find a great display of Ancient Egypt artifacts, paintings and sculptures from some of the now famous European artists as well as American artists. Asian, African, Islamic, Byzantine and Oceanic art is also found along with some amazing antique weapons, armor, musical instruments, costumes and other accessories.



The building itself is a historical work of art. During any given season, visitors will walk up to the building and see colorful or artful banners that show off the name of the featured exhibit. It is a fine celebration into works of art from artists of different countries and cultures. Walking through the grand hall is like walking through a roman temple with its tall pillars and arched ceilings. There are seventeen different areas that house the permanent collections and many other areas that host visiting exhibits. The met is 2 million square feet of floor space and has about 26 different structures housing the massive collections. There are also some great ways to enjoy Central Park from the Met. It is located on the east edge of the park and there is a cafe over looking the park.



There is also a great view of the park and city from the Roof Garden. The roof top garden is on the southern end of the museum and it has some fantastic views. They have placed some out door sculpture exhibits to enjoy. They also have food and drinks available to visitors as they wander around. It is a great spot for a sunset cocktail during the more mild seasons. A tip would be to go during the week nights because the weekend is a very busy time for the roof garden and one can wait for a long time to get an elevator ride up.



Other special exhibits come on loan from other worthy museums of the world. They usually focus on one artist or culture for a special showing and the exhibits vary in how long they are in the Met.