Brooklyn Museum
New York City · United States · Founded 1895
Good for: Art Lovers · Families · First-timers
1.5 million
Works of Art
560,000 sq ft
Building Size
2–3 hours
Recommended Visit
Quick answer
Brooklyn Museum in New York City, United States — the Brooklyn Museum is the second-largest art museum in New York City and one of the oldest and largest in the United States, housed in a Beaux-Arts building designed by McKim, Mead & White that opened in 1897. Open Wednesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed Monday and Tuesday). Admission: $20 suggested admission. World Museum Guide covers the highlights, getting there, and how long to allow (2–3 hours).
Verified 2026-06-30 against official sources.
About Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is the second-largest art museum in New York City and one of the oldest and largest in the United States, housed in a Beaux-Arts building designed by McKim, Mead & White that opened in 1897. Its 560,000 square feet make it physically larger than the Manhattan Met, yet it remains Brooklyn's neighborhood museum — rooted in one of America's most diverse boroughs.
The collection is genuinely encyclopedic: ancient Egyptian art including a reinstalled mummy chamber, American art from colonial portraiture to contemporary work, one of the nation's finest collections of feminist art anchored by Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party, and growing holdings of Asian, African, and Pacific art. The Sackler Center for Feminist Art, opened in 2007, was the first dedicated feminist art center in any museum.
The museum's First Saturday program — free evening admission on the first Saturday of each month with live music, performances, and gallery talks — has become a Brooklyn institution drawing thousands of visitors. The building faces Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, making it the anchor of a green cultural corridor.
General admission is suggested-donation ($20 recommended), making it one of the most accessible major museums in New York. Special exhibitions are ticketed separately.
2–3 hours highlights route
A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at Brooklyn Museum without museum fatigue. · 2–3 hours
- 1
The Dinner Party
📍 Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, 4th Floor
A monumental installation with 39 place settings for mythical and historical women — from Sappho to Georgia O'Keeffe — on a triangular table.
- 2
The Peaceable Kingdom
📍 American Art, 5th Floor
One of more than 60 versions Hicks painted of this Quaker vision of Isaiah's prophecy — lions lying down with lambs in a Pennsylvania landscape.
- 3
Male and Female
📍 European Art, 2nd Floor
An early Cézanne painting of figures in a landscape — part of a European collection that includes Courbet, Rodin, and Monet alongside strong American holdings.
- 4
The Mummy Chamber
📍 Egyptian Art, 3rd Floor
A reinstalled gallery presenting mummies, coffins, and funerary objects within recreations of tomb environments — one of the most visited sections and a Brooklyn Museum signature since its founding.
Masterworks & must-see highlights
The works that define Brooklyn Museum — and why they matter.
The Dinner Party
Judy Chicago · 1974–1979
📍 Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, 4th Floor
A monumental installation with 39 place settings for mythical and historical women — from Sappho to Georgia O'Keeffe — on a triangular table. The founding work of the Sackler Center and a landmark of feminist art.
The Peaceable Kingdom
Edward Hicks · c. 1833
📍 American Art, 5th Floor
One of more than 60 versions Hicks painted of this Quaker vision of Isaiah's prophecy — lions lying down with lambs in a Pennsylvania landscape. The Brooklyn version is among the finest.
Male and Female
Paul Cézanne · c. 1870
📍 European Art, 2nd Floor
An early Cézanne painting of figures in a landscape — part of a European collection that includes Courbet, Rodin, and Monet alongside strong American holdings.
The Mummy Chamber
Ancient Egyptian · c. 1539–1075 BCE
📍 Egyptian Art, 3rd Floor
A reinstalled gallery presenting mummies, coffins, and funerary objects within recreations of tomb environments — one of the most visited sections and a Brooklyn Museum signature since its founding.
Collections & highlights
- • Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art
- • Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party
- • Ancient Egyptian art and mummy chamber
- • American Identities galleries
- • Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands
- • Decorative arts and period rooms
- • Contemporary art — Kehinde Wiley, KAWS
- • First Saturday free evening program
Frequently asked questions
Is admission really suggested?
Yes, general admission is pay-what-you-wish; special exhibitions are ticketed.
Is the museum near Prospect Park?
Yes — its front steps face Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
How long should I spend at Brooklyn Museum?
Plan 2–3 hours for the highlights. Add time for temporary exhibitions, the museum shop, and café.
What is Brooklyn Museum best known for?
Designed by McKim, Mead & White and opened in 1897, the Brooklyn Museum is the second-largest art museum in New York City. Key highlights include Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party, Ancient Egyptian art and mummy chamber.
How do I get tickets for Brooklyn Museum?
$20 suggested admission Tickets are usually available on the day, but booking online saves queue time in peak season. Official site: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/
What is Brooklyn Museum First Saturday?
On the first Saturday of every month (except January and September), the Brooklyn Museum opens free from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM with live music, dance performances, gallery talks, art-making workshops, and a pop-up market. It is one of New York's most beloved free cultural events, drawing 5,000–8,000 visitors per evening. Target First Saturdays are sponsored and feature expanded programming.
Is the Brooklyn Museum better than the Met for Egyptian art?
The Met's Egyptian collection is larger and includes the Temple of Dendur. However, the Brooklyn Museum's Egyptian galleries are more intimate and recently reinstalled with better contextual interpretation — including the Mummy Chamber, which presents funerary practices in an immersive environment. For most visitors, Brooklyn's Egyptian collection is more than sufficient and far less crowded than the Met's.
Why is Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party at the Brooklyn Museum?
The Dinner Party was donated to the Brooklyn Museum in 2002 by Elizabeth A. Sackler, who also funded the Sackler Center for Feminist Art — the first center of its kind in any museum. After years of controversy and rejection by other institutions (including the University of the District of Columbia), Brooklyn embraced it as a founding statement of its commitment to feminist art and diverse narratives.
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