New York City features a wide variety of historical homes that showcase our nation’s history. The houses honor people like LGBTQ pioneering photographer Alice Austen, founding father Alexander Hamilton, and poet and writer Edgar Allan Poe. You can still engage with the homes even when their physical buildings are closed because of COVID-19 restrictions. These are just a few New York historical homes and mansions that are offering virtual tours, collections, and more fun events online.

Although the major tourism headlines this week were about postponements—both the Philharmonic and Broadway are pushing off to at least summer 2021—a scan of the wider scene reveals green shoots of rebirth. NYC luxury is making a comeback, suggesting the affluent may be making their way back to the city—Louis Vuitton is open again, Bergdorf Goodman is expanding its hours, and Per Se returns tomorrow. Read on for more on NYC and broader tourism trends.

Manhattan has its fair share of museums, but if you take a step out of New York’s primary borough, there is plenty of culture yet to uncover. See the oldest building in the city, an acclaimed botanical garden, and an exciting new film screening among these eight institutions to check out in Brooklyn, Staten Island, The Bronx, and Queens. 

There’s no reason to skimp on culture when you’re in New York. If you want to see some of the world’s great art works and learn fascinating stories from history, take advantage of the many free and cheap museum events throughout the city.