New York City is known for its excellent museums. In fact, NYC is a living museum in and of itself. There are colorful pop art installments on billboards in every direction. There are old bricks underfoot that once served as roads for horse-drawn carriages. There are foods from all over the world to sample nearby. You will stumble upon unexpected specialty shops that draw you in or confuse you. It’s invigorating. A museum visit is more than an interesting diversion with this frame of mind. It’s an expansion and extension of experience. However, NYC can be expensive, so an excellent museum that’s also free is a no-brainer. All three described below are fascinating, free, and worth your time.

The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is a branch of the Smithsonian Institute.

Bill R/TripAdvisor Located near Battery Park, the building is a National Historic Landmark.

Fans of architecture have plenty to appreciate.

gl0betr0tterny/TripAdvisor

The exhibitions show the diversity of indigenous cultures both past and present.

Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian/Facebook It is common for guests to leave feeling humbled by new information and perspectives while still wanting to know more.

You will also want to check out the gift shop.

Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian/Facebook There are incredible items to look at and buy, and the space is beautiful.

The Queens Museum is an indoor and outdoor museum that takes its location seriously.

Leo Chiou - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50781522 Queens is a diverse community and the museum makes the effort to include area residents in planning all facets of the experience.

The iconic Unisphere is the symbol of Queens and is in Flushing Meadows Park, right next to the Museum.

Queens Museum/Facebook

There are always wonderful exhibitions to explore, and there are two permanent fixtures you definitely won’t want to miss.

Johndill - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63455750 One is the Tiffany Glass collection. It is world-famous and was all crafted in Corona, Queens a few miles from the museum.

Another is the panorama of NYC made for the 1964 World’s Fair.

Queens Museum/Facebook It’s a detailed 9,335-square-foot model that will excite anyone with a love of Legos.

The Queens Farms Museum is a 47-acre historic site that sits right inside New York City.

The Queens County Farm Museum/Facebook It’s been a working farm since 1697!

Enjoy the fresh air while taking part in fascinating learning experiences.

The Queens County Farm Museum/Facebook

While the museum strives to provide educational programs, it is also a great place to relax and have fun.

The Queens County Farm Museum/Facebook It’s a wide-open space in the city you should check out.

Your kids will love climbing trees and exploring the corn maze.

The Queens County Farm Museum/Facebook Yes. There is a corn maze in NYC!

For more information and for scheduling your free visits, please check out the following links:

Bill R/TripAdvisor

Located near Battery Park, the building is a National Historic Landmark.

gl0betr0tterny/TripAdvisor

Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian/Facebook

It is common for guests to leave feeling humbled by new information and perspectives while still wanting to know more.

There are incredible items to look at and buy, and the space is beautiful.

Leo Chiou - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50781522

Queens is a diverse community and the museum makes the effort to include area residents in planning all facets of the experience.

Queens Museum/Facebook

Johndill - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63455750

One is the Tiffany Glass collection. It is world-famous and was all crafted in Corona, Queens a few miles from the museum.

It’s a detailed 9,335-square-foot model that will excite anyone with a love of Legos.

The Queens County Farm Museum/Facebook

It’s been a working farm since 1697!

It’s a wide-open space in the city you should check out.

Yes. There is a corn maze in NYC!

The National Museum of the American Indian has a detailed website. 

The Queens Museum requires that tickets are ordered in advance.

Check out what is happening at The Queens Farms Museum before you head over.

Let us know what you think of these free museums and spread the word. Your friends will thank you!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004, USAAddress: Queens Museum, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Building, Queens, NY 11368, USAAddress: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens, NY 11004, USA