Best-Kept Secrets of the Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum is at the heart of Brooklyn's cultural epicenter, and there are plenty of reasons to visit. Get tips on the best way to explore this art and history museum with your kids, including some lesser-known exhibits and activities.

New York City: Home of the Blueshirts, the square slice, and Taylor Swift, you can bet this city doesn’t hold back when it comes to its cultural attractions. In this concrete jungle where there are almost as many galleries as there are eateries, the Brooklyn Museum will rouse even the most hardened visitor.

Photo by Adam Husted
 

Museum Overview

Located in the heart of the borough, the Brooklyn Museum was conceived in the late 19th century as the focal point for a series of cultural complexes, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Central Public Library, and Prospect Park Zoo, which were designed to frame the area surrounding Prospect Park.

Second only to the Met in size, the Brooklyn Museum is housed in the spectacular Beaux-Arts Complex and boasts the most extensive collection of Egyptian artworks found anywhere in the world.

Navigating the museum’s collections—from its renowned assortment of classical paintings and sculptures to its expansive holdings of Egyptian and African art—may seem daunting, but luckily, the museum makes it easy to plan ahead with its interactive family guides for current and long-term exhibits.

The majestic, two-story Beaux-Arts Court is topped by a huge skylight. Many public events are held here.

Some Standby Faves for Kids

A visit to the Brooklyn Museum would not be complete without a trip to the celebrated Egyptian galleries, located on the third floor. Journey to Ancient Egypt to discover some of the objects, icons, and rituals that made up everyday life for these early people.

“Egypt is probably the best known of our collections and certainly a long-standing favorite with families,” says Allison Day, youth and family programs manager at the museum.

Kids can explore tomb carvings, peruse ancient scrolls, and learn about the process of mummification in the Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity exhibit. Gaze up at the colorful ceiling in the introductory gallery to learn about the ancient astronomical calendar. The blue circle represents the night sky, surrounded by various gods and goddesses. The creatures within the circle are a representation of Ancient Egyptian zodiac signs.

Don’t forget to visit the Mummy Chamber, where you can find the mummy of Hor, enclosed in a decorative casing called a cartonnage; the mummy of the priest Thothirdes; and a nearly 25-foot-long Book of the Dead scroll.  

Join in on the fun during Target First Saturdays, one of the museum’s most celebrated (free!) evening entertainment programs, which takes place from 5-11pm on the first Saturday of each month and features live music, film screenings, workshops, art classes, and other fun events for everyone in the family.  

“I’m very appreciative that so many Brooklyn communities recognize and appreciate our long-standing commitment to offering this program,” says Day, who has been with the museum for 18 years. “No matter your economic situation, there is a time when you can visit the museum, and all of Brooklyn walks in the door. It’s a very diverse group in every conceivable way, and we have a great time.”

Best-Kept Secrets to Discover with Your Kids

The museum hosts special programs for children of all ages throughout the year. For children ages 2-3, the museum offers a series of Meet the Museum classes in the fall, winter, and spring. Classes are held on Thursdays at 11am or 4pm. Kids explore a theme relating to the works in the galleries and create an art project over several weeks. The program is designed to help caregivers and their children discover creative ways to interact with the artwork in the museum. Registration is required; visit the museum’s website to learn more.

Another fun way to experience the museum with your family is by checking out Arty Facts, an art program for kids ages 4-7 and their families, where kids engage in activities inspired by the artwork they see in the galleries. Every month has a different theme; one month might spotlight Brooklyn artists and their works in the museum, while another month may center on observing how artists use light and making your own light-inspired artwork. Arty Facts meets in the Rubin Lobby, and registration is not required. To plan a special day with friends at Arty Facts, you can contact the youth and family programs manager at 718-501-6227 or [email protected].

Don’t miss the museum’s special programs, including the Arty Facts: Visiting Artists series, which features Brooklyn artists who partner with the museum’s teaching team to bring their own perspective and enhance the learning experience.