Tracing the Footsteps of Antiquity: 5 New York City Ancient History Museums

Are you an ancient history teacher planning a trip to New York City?  Why not fit these 5 awesome ancient history museums and sites into your wanderings! 

Nothing beats seeing the real live ancient history artifacts you teach about!

And nothing beats sharing those Primary Sources with your ancient history students!

Check out each museum’s homepage through the museum name links. 

1) Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Terrific ancient history museum collection spanning Mesopotamia (Ancient Near East) through Rome. Unfortunately, the Ancient Near Eastern Galleries are closed for renovations until 2026.  Check them out online!
• See Cleopatra’s Needle, a genuine Egyptian obelisk dating to 1425 BCE. It’s outside, around back of the museum in Central Park. 
• Ancient history galleries are rarely crowded, so you can truly get up close and personal to examine and enjoy the art
• If you teach Medieval history, make the trip to the Met Cloisters Museum in Morningside Heights
• Ancient History Teacher Resource Link
• Personal favorites – a pair of massive Lamassu guarding the doors in the in the Near Eastern gallery, the Egyptian Temple of Dendur, and Cleopatra’s Needle. 

  

2) Brooklyn Museum

• 2nd largest art museum in NYC especially noted for its 4000+ ancient history museum collection of Egyptian, African, and Ancient Near Eastern art and artifacts.
• Personal favorites – mummy displays with terrific information on the religious significance of mummification and the process.  
• Ancient History Teacher Resource Link

  

3) American Museum of Natural History – Stout Hall of Asian Peoples

• Explore Asia’s history and cultural diversity in this ancient history museum collection, highlighting regions such as India, China, Japan, Korea, Siberia, and Armenia. Explore trade and the rise of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Confucianism. 
• Ancient History Teacher Resource Link

  

4) Rubin Museum

• This ancient history museum collection is dedicated to the art and cultures of the Himalayas, the Indian subcontinent, and Central Asia with particular focus on Tibetan Buddhist art.
• Personal Favorite – The Tibetan Shrine Room – and immersive installation of a shrine room and the Mandala Lab with Buddhist inspired experiences designed to connect each person with their 5 senses.
• Ancient History Teacher Resource Link

5) French Building

• On the corner of 5th Avenue and 45th Street, you may notice Mesopotamian art motifs on the Fred F. French Building. Built in 1927, the French Building incorporated ancient Mesopotamian motifs popularized by archaeological excavations in the Middle East.  Step inside to see lobby art up close!

Undoubtedly you’ll come away with tons of pictures and ideas for sharing your Primary Source finds with your students. Check out my Primary Source DBQ Blog Post about incorporating Primary Source DBQs into your Middle School classroom!

If you’re an ancient history teacher headed to Chicago, check out these 5 ancient history museum collections!

And if you’d like some Ready-to-go Ancient History Primary Source DBQs, just click HERE.

Here’s a FREE Egypt Hex Puzzle to add to your teacher toolkit!

Happy Travels!

Mary