17. New York At Its Core at the Museum of the City of New York

Four years in the making, the Museum of the City of New York brings 400 years of history to the permanent exhibit New York At its Core. The installation, which opened in November, is placed on the entire first floor of the museum, split into three galleries, which take the viewer from Port City in 1609 to World City, beginning in 1898, and finally to Future City Lab – the largest gallery, that deals with the challenges and opportunities yet to come. Much of Future City Lab is interactive, giving visitors a way to participate in shaping the future using interactive tools. The exhibit celebrates what makes New York great, including its diversity, but also explores its darker side, such as the former slave trade and various financial crisis. New York At Its Core, an ongoing exhibit, is located at the Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street. Read our review of the exhibit here.