The Brooklyn Museum is among America's oldest and largest art museums, opening on its current Prospect Park site in 1897. The McKim, Mead & White Beaux-Arts building houses 1.5 million objects across encyclopedic collections — particularly strong in Egyptian art (the largest in the US outside the Met), feminist art (Judy Chicago's Dinner Party lives here), African art, and American decorative arts. The contemporary program has been consistently adventurous and frequently controversial — Brooklyn has historically been the museum that picks the fight other museums avoid.
The Brooklyn Museum opened on its current site at the edge of Prospect Park in 1897. Designed by McKim, Mead & White as one of America's most ambitious encyclopedic art museums, the Beaux-Arts building was originally planned at four times its current size — what stands today is just the front quarter of the never-completed master plan.
The collection is 1. 5 million objects deep, with several internationally significant holdings. The Egyptian collection is the largest in the US outside the Metropolitan Museum, with mummies, papyrus scrolls, and tomb objects spanning 3,000 years. The Sackler Center for Feminist Art is the permanent home of Judy Chicago's monumental installation The Dinner Party (1979), one of the most influential American artworks of the 20th century. The African art galleries are among the country's most respected; the American decorative arts (period rooms, furniture, ceramics) cover four centuries.
The contemporary program is where Brooklyn earns its reputation. The museum has consistently mounted shows other institutions avoided — surveys of David Bowie, Frida Kahlo, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Christian Dior, and the controversial 1999 Sensation show that became a national First Amendment case. The annual First Saturdays (free monthly evening with music, films, dance) draws thousands of locals and is one of NYC's better free cultural events.
Combine with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden next door (separate ticket but adjacent grounds) for a full Brooklyn cultural day. Prospect Park itself surrounds the museum on three sides.
What to expect
The experience
Self-paced. Five floors plus the Sackler Center on the 4th. Audio guides available. Free maps at entry.
Best time
Weekday mornings are quiet. First Saturday of each month (free 5-11 PM) is busy but celebratory.
How long
2-3 hours typical. Half-day if you do the surrounding Botanic Garden too.
Tips
Don't skip the Egyptian wing — depth is unusual outside the Met. The Dinner Party is the most-visited installation; expect a crowd around it. Combine with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden next door for a longer day.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers who want the encyclopedic depth without Met-level crowds.
- Families
- Older kids do well with Egyptian galleries and period rooms. Younger kids tire faster than at AMNH.
- Couples
- First Saturday events are date-friendly — music, films, drinks, often dancing.
- Pair with
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden next door (separate ticket), or Prospect Park for an outdoor break afterward.
- Time needed
- Half-day for the museum + garden combo.
Good questions
Is the Brooklyn Museum free?+
Standard admission is paid. First Saturday of each month (5-11 PM) is free, with programming. Suggested donation pricing for NY residents at other times.
How does it compare to the Met?+
Smaller and less crowded but with several internationally significant collections — particularly Egyptian, feminist art, and African. The Met covers more ground; Brooklyn often goes deeper in specific areas.
Is the Dinner Party always on view?+
Yes — it's permanent installation in the Sackler Center, on the 4th floor.
Is it worth the subway ride from Manhattan?+
Yes if you have a half-day. The Eastern Parkway / Brooklyn Museum stop (2/3 train) puts you at the front door, ~40 min from Midtown.
What is the best day to visit?+
Weekday mornings are generally calmest, and the museum's event calendar lists special evening programs worth planning around.
