New York’s oldest museum, founded in 1804, was one of America’s first cultural and educational institutions. Instead of the niche perspective on NYC’s past that some of our favorite attractions offer, the Historical Society gives a comprehensive look at the New York of yesteryear. Exhibits are wide-ranging, covering all aspects of city life, and the museum’s permanent holdings—many of which are on view in the open-storage galleries on the fourth floor—offer a glimpse into quotidian urban living, with items such as vintage toys, furniture and clothing on display..