


The Bronx Museum of the Arts
About
The Bronx Museum of the Arts offers families a welcoming introduction to contemporary art with the unbeatable bonus of free admission year-round. Interactive family workshops and community-focused exhibitions make this cultural gem accessible and engaging for children, with rotating displays that celebrate diverse artists and cultures reflecting the vibrant Bronx community.
Highlights
- ✓Free admission for the entire family year-round
- ✓Hands-on family art workshops led by professional teaching artists
- ✓Contemporary exhibitions featuring Bronx and international artists
- ✓Intimate museum size perfect for maintaining kids' attention
- ✓Cultural programs and performances celebrating diverse communities
Pro Tips
- 1.Call ahead or check their website for family workshop schedules,these hands-on art-making sessions are incredibly popular and fill up quickly on weekends
- 2.The museum is smaller and more manageable than Manhattan's major museums, making it perfect for families with shorter attention spans or first-time museum visitors
- 3.Street parking along Grand Concourse can be challenging; arrive right when they open at 11 AM for easier spots or use the nearby paid lots
- 4.Pack snacks and water bottles as there's no café on-site, but there's a small seating area where kids can take breaks
- 5.Don't miss the museum gift shop with affordable art supplies and unique items that make great souvenirs or gifts
Best Time to Visit
Visit on Wednesday through Friday mornings right at 11 AM opening for the quietest experience with more one-on-one attention from staff. Saturdays and Sundays can get busier with families and workshop participants, but also offer the most family programming options.
What to Know
Admission is completely free, making this an exceptional budget-friendly family outing. The museum is accessible with elevators, stroller-friendly, and located right on the Grand Concourse with nearby subway access (B/D trains to 167th Street).
Seasonal Notes
The museum hosts special family programs during school breaks and summer months. Check their calendar for holiday-themed workshops and community celebrations, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month and Black History Month when programming is particularly robust.
Nearby Eats
Try Emilio's of Morris Park (about 10 minutes away) for classic Italian-American fare with a kids menu, or explore the nearby Arthur Avenue area,the Bronx's Little Italy,for authentic pizza, pasta, and Italian pastries that kids will love at spots like Zero Otto Nove.
More Activities Near Bronx
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
Step back in time at this stunning 1840s Greek Revival mansion set within Bronx's largest park. Kids will love exploring the elegant period rooms, wandering through the formal gardens, and discovering the carriage house, while nature trails through Pelham Bay Park offer additional adventure. Special family programs and educational tours make history come alive for young learners.
Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
Step into literary history at this charming 1840s cottage where Edgar Allan Poe spent his final years. The cozy house museum offers family-friendly tours that bring 19th-century life to vivid reality, complete with period furnishings and engaging stories about Poe's life in the Bronx. It's a wonderful introduction to American literature and local history that's manageable even for younger children thanks to the cottage's small, intimate size.
City Island
City Island feels like a New England coastal village tucked away in the Bronx, offering families a refreshing nautical escape without leaving NYC. Kids love the beach access, ice cream shops lining the main avenue, and watching boats sail by while you enjoy fresh seafood at waterfront restaurants with casual, family-friendly atmospheres.
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium offers far more than just baseball games for families. Beyond catching the Bronx Bombers in action, kids can run the bases on special Kids Run the Bases Sundays, explore the legendary Monument Park honoring baseball greats, and take behind-the-scenes stadium tours that bring them into the dugout and clubhouse areas where their heroes play.