About the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the largest and most well regarded museums in the world. It is a popular destination for tourists who come to experience the art and culture of New York City.
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History of
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in 1870. The Metropolitan Museum of Art was originally conceived and run by the wealthy upper class of New York City. Its original location was a much smaller building that was found at 681 Fifth Avenue. Three years after its opening the museum bought land on the east side of Central Park and began construction on its permanent home. This building would be declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986. The building is legendary in New York City.
Size
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art today is more than 20 times the size of the original building that housed it. It is almost a quarter of a mile long and is over two million square feet. It contains over two million pieces of art in its permanent collection, and this number can rise dramatically depending on which temporary exhibits it is hosting at any given time. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a smaller second location that features exclusively medieval art, which is called The Cloisters.
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Function
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art serves several functions. The museum catalogs, studies, and restores important pieces of art and other items of historical significance, much of which dates back to ancient times. The museum also makes these works available to scholars for study and to the public for their enjoyment and education. The Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts many cultural events over the course of the year. Some of these are private events to raise money for the museum, other public events include workshops and lecture series.
Significance
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world's premier museums containing one of the most important collections of art divided into 19 different curational departments. It receives about 5.2 million visitors every year, making it one of the most visited museums on the planet.
Geography
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street in Manhattan, New York. It can be found on the eastern edge of Central Park and is an important part of what is commonly known as New York's "Museum Mile." Its Cloisters location is in upper Manhattan.
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