New York Museums
"Museum Mile" stretches 22 blocks along 5th Avenue, forming what may possibly be the largest museum complex in the world. The American Museum of Natural History is a "must-see", but New York has enough museums to keep you occupied for weeks. Some are wide in their scope, while others focus on smaller aspects of life, culture and history. The New York Transit Museum not only displays information on public transit, but on the development of New York City itself. That is the focus of the Museum of the City of New York, as well. Actually Manhattan's history is the real emphasis here. For a look at the history of the entire city, try the New York Historical Society, with it vast archives and reference library. Still can't get enough of New York?

The city also has separate museums honoring its Police force and fire-fighters - the latter being especially kid friendly. Speaking of kids, the Science Playground at the New York Hall of Science is a great playground area for kids that offers interactive learning exhibits. The boyhood home of the only United States President born in New York City is now the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site. While young Teddy was growing up, New York was a major Atlantic Seaport. The South Street Seaport Museumt recreates a seaport in the 19th century with cobblestone streets and historic ships of the era and the Lower East Side Tenement Museum recreates life for the tens of thousands of European immigrants who arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Jewish Museum of New York is considered to be the largest Jewish museum outside of Israel. Visitors travel through 4,000 years of Jewish art, history and culture through its "Culture and Community: The Jewish Journey" permanent exhibition. The Naional Museum of the American Indian is dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of the cultures and history of the native peoples of the Americas.

John D. Rockefeller established the Asia Society and Museum, which exhibits Asian artifacts and antiques, largely culled from Rockefeller's collection, as well as contemporary art shows ranging from dance to photography.

For the couch potato in all of us, we mention the Museum of Television and Radio, where visitors can select from more than 50,000 radio and television program tapes to listen or watch at one of this museum's 96 radio and television consoles.