Let’s Go To…(Nov. 2011) – Westchester Family

The Skyscraper Museum

They’re tall, looming and it can sometimes hurt your neck if you look up at them for too long. Yes, skyscrapers are amazing. Did you ever wonder how they are created? Now you’ll know with a visit to The Skyscraper Museum. Located in the Financial District of New York City, this gem is devoted to the architectural, structural and historical elements of world famous high-risers.

Let’s Go

I visited the Skyscraper Museum with Ashley, 9, and her dad; both born-and-raised New Yorkers. When you first walk in, there’s a large mural providing a historical timeline of the creation of the skyscraper; beginning with the construction of pyramids up to present day. The mural consists of prints, photographs and descriptions; all color-coded by location. Ashley was a huge fan of the mural because it was bright and colorful, while I enjoyed it because it was informative and a great introduction to the entire museum.

The most exciting part of the museum is the breath-taking images of skyscrapers from around the world. Ashley kept asking to see the tallest building in the world; and it wasn’t hard to find. The museum has a huge poster of the Burj Khalifa, located in Dubai, which currently holds this title, standing at a staggering 2,683 feet. Adults and older kids will really enjoy the short film on William F. Baker, the principle designer of the Burj Khalifa. The film discusses the engineering process and shows sketches of the building in its early days of construction.

A sure favorite for everyone in the family (including both Ashley and myself), is the “Manhattan Mini Models.” This permanent display, donated in 2007, features two detailed hand-carved wooden models of downtown and midtown Manhattan, intended to accurately convey how the streets of New York City look (if you thought crowded, you’re correct).

A section of the museum is devoted to the World Trade Center. “The Twin Towers and the 20th Century,” a permanent and powerful exhibit, features photos of the current re-building phase, architectural models of the future towers, and construction videos from when the first towers were created in the 1960s.

Current Exhibit

On temporary display until Jan. 31, 2012, is the super cool exhibit, “Supertall.” This exhibit features 48 of the tallest structures in the world (based on an international survey of towers that were completed since 2001, are currently under construction, or will be completed by 2016). All high-risers included are at least 1,250 feet. Ashley and I both enjoyed seeing photographs of such stunners as the Shanghai World Financial Center in China and the Lotte Super Tower in South Korea, as well as more familiar places like the Chrysler Building and the Sears Tower.

Family Friendly

Saturday mornings (10:30 a.m. to be exact) are a great time for parents to take their kids to the museum. For an extra $5, the museum offers a variety of family-friendly

programs appropriate for children ages 4 and up. These hands-on and interactive programs (running about 1 1/2 hours) are designed to teach kids about design, urbanism and engineering. Reservations are required for all programs by Friday at 5 p.m. and can be made by emailing education@ skyscraper.org or by calling 212-945-6324. Great for parents and older teens, the museum also offers free book talks and lectures from 6:30 to 8 p.m., days vary.

Several upcoming programs you won’t want to miss include: The Amazing Elevator (Saturday, Nov. 5 for ages 8 to 15) examines the role engineering played in developing early elevators while letting kids create their own pulley system. ArchiKids (Saturday, Nov. 19 for ages 9 to 13)

features architect Yves Roger. Kids are able to make their own high-rise structures based off of images, film and models shown throughout this interactive lecture. Perfect for the holidays, Postcard Making (Saturday, Dec. 3 for all ages) lets kids create postcards of their favorite skyscrapers.

Although the Skyscraper Museum is in a thriving, active location, don’t expect to see throngs of people. The museum is small and intimate, but very spacious in its layout of displays and exhibits. While Ashley had an enjoyable time, some of the material and presentations were a bit sophisticated in nature. When asked, Ashley didn’t think her 5-year-old sister would have been as interested; so it may or may not be a hit with very small kids. The museum is a great place to spark intellectual and global curiosity; Ashley asked a lot of questions regarding the geographic locations of the various buildings.

The Skyscraper Museum is a great stop for families interested in history, engineering, architecture or just looking to experience a different kind of venue in New York City. When you think of a museum, typically you think of art. At the Skyscraper Museum, it is buildings that are viewed and displayed as an art form. So for a tall order of enjoyment for the whole family, don’t miss a trip to The Skyscraper Museum. F

Mary Wheeler is a lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in Redbook, Hamptons, Aspen Peak, Page Daily, CBS Local, Time Out New York,

Mensjournal.com and AOL.