New York Historical opens $175M democracy wing designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects

The newest wing at New York’s oldest museum officially opened this week following a 71,000-square-foot expansion. Completed just in time for the nation’s 250th birthday, the $175 million Tang Wing for American Democracy at The New York Historical, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), marks the first expansion of the landmarked campus in nearly a century. The new wing adds space for exhibitions, programming, and democracy education, including the first dedicated home for the American LGBTQ+ Museum, the institution’s Patricia D. Klingenstein Library collection, a courtyard, and a rooftop garden with Central Park views.

Founded in 1804, The New York Historical (formerly the New-York Historical Society) is New York City’s first museum, established when the United States was still an emerging nation. The museum was originally located in Lower Manhattan before relocating to the Upper West Side at 170 Central Park West in 1908, where it gradually expanded its membership and programming, according to the New York Times.

The museum continues to grow, prompting an expansion. While momentum for the project has increased in recent years, the groundwork was first laid in 1937, when the society’s board purchased the adjacent lot at the rear of the landmarked building, as 6sqft previously reported.

Approved by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2021, the six-story addition was crafted with granite sourced from a quarry in Deer Isle, Maine, the same quarry that supplied the stone for the existing building 114 years ago.

On the first floor, the new Klingenstein Family Gallery serves as a flexible space for events and exhibitions, housing the Historical’s American art collection and rotating exhibitions. One exhibit, the Stuart and Jane Weitzman Shoe Museum, documents two centuries of American women’s lives through historical footwear.

Another installation celebrates the country’s first public folk art collection, displaying weathervanes, chalkware, paintings, and other highlights.

Other exhibitions include an exploration of the history of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, a timeline of LGBTQ+ civil rights, and a photo display capturing moments of queer joy and visibility on stage, on screen, on the dance floor, and in the streets.

The galleries are also displaying special exhibitions for the nation’s semiquincentennial. On view through August 16, “House Made of Dawn” showcases artistic expression and modernist practices by artists of Indigenous heritage.

“Old Masters, New Amsterdam,” on view through August 30, uses paintings by Rembrandt and his peers to envision life in the Dutch settlement before it became the metropolis we know today. On view through October 25, “Revolutionary Women” explores how the American Revolution impacted New York’s women and examines the ways they played an active role in the event.

“Democracy Matters,” on view through November 1, unites art and historical objects from the Historical’s collection to examine how the concept of democracy has evolved throughout key moments in the nation’s history.

“You Should Be Dancing: New York, 1976 and Beyond,” on view from October 2 through April 4, 2027, highlights how New York’s youth in 1976, when the city was in crisis, helped revitalize the five boroughs and emerge from this transformative era. The exhibit features music, fashion, instruments, photographs, and original documents.

The institution’s renowned Patricia D. Klingenstein Library also finds new storage space in the wing. As one of the country’s oldest research libraries, the facility holds the Robert A. Caro Archive, the Time Inc. Archive, the Billie Jean King Archive, and millions of manuscripts, maps, photographs, and prints documenting the history of the five boroughs.

Additionally, the Tang Wing features the Leni and Peter May Conservation Studio, allowing for the on-site preservation of rare documents and other materials from the collection. Designed by Samuel Anderson, a prominent architect of conservation studios, the space houses a team of four museum and library conservationists working with advanced technology.

The Dorothy Tapper Goldman Center for Teaching Democracy will offer space for teachers, scholars, and museum professionals to delve into history, political theory, and “engaging pedagogy.”

The wing also provides new space for the Chang Chavkin Academy for American Democracy, a classroom initiative that educates 6th graders on gaps in their understanding of American history. The expansion will increase the number of participating students from 3,000 to 30,000 annually.

Participating NYC public school students will receive a DTG Freedom Pass, which provides one year of family-level membership access to the Historical.

The project also included renovations to more than 30,000 square feet of existing museum space. A sculpture court provides a quiet area for relaxation or special events, while a new rooftop terrace offers views of Central Park. The project pursued LEED Gold certification and includes HVAC equipment designed to reduce energy consumption.

The fourth floor will host the first permanent home for the American LGBTQ+ Museum, building on a partnership that began in 2019. A year-long study engaging more than 3,200 LGBTQ+ people nationwide found widespread support for the museum. Officially announced in July 2021, the space is expected to open in 2028.

“New York’s cultural institutions tell our stories, strengthen our communities and power our tourism economy,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

“For more than two centuries, the New York Historical has preserved the history of our state and nation, and the new Tang Wing will ensure that millions of visitors, students, scholars and families can continue to learn from that history for generations to come,” she added.

The project received $9.25 million from Empire State Development, along with $5 million from the New York State Council on the Arts.

“This tremendous achievement will expand and elevate the discussion of our nation’s history for generations to come,” Erika Mallin, executive director of the State Council on the Arts, said. “For over 200 years, the New York Historical has continued to inspire learners of all ages, celebrating our triumphs and examining our struggles.”

“The Tang Wing for American Democracy continues that commitment to our rich and complex history, ensuring every American can walk through these doors and find themselves represented here,” she added.

To mark the new wing’s opening, the Historical is offering expanded hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays through July 4. Admission during these hours will be pay-as-you-wish from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The museum is also offering a range of special programming and family activities to commemorate the new wing. “Songs of America” brings a lineup of live music from across American history to the museum in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, with performances free with pay-as-you-wish admission during expanded hours through July 4.

A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence, which has been in the museum’s possession for generations, will be on temporary view through July 5. One of the few broadside printings of the document, it lacks the printer’s name, though it is believed to have been printed in the aftermath of July 4, 1776.

On June 28, historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin will lead “Leadership for a More Perfect Union: Lessons from America at 250.” The event will be held in person and streamed online. Tickets start at $30 for members and $40 for nonmembers.

Festivities conclude on July 9, the anniversary of the date when the Declaration of Independence was read aloud to New Yorkers.

Upon hearing the declaration, soldiers and colonists famously pulled down a statue of King George III in Bowling Green. At the Historical, guests of all ages will be invited to watch as a life-size replica of the statue is ceremonially pulled down, with fragments of the original statue on view as well.

“The opening of the Tang Wing for American Democracy marks a defining milestone for New York’s first museum as we commemorate the nation’s semiquincentennial,” Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of the New York Historical, said.

“This inaugural program invites the public to engage with the ongoing evolution of our democracy through exhibitions, live music, and family friendly activities. We’re thrilled to offer our visitors expanded hours and pay-as-you-wish admission during this moment of reflection and commemoration of our nation’s continuing story.”

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