New-York Historical Society

Founded in 1804, this museum describes itself as New York's collective memory. It contains an impressive hodgepodge of art and artifacts that paint a vivid picture of New York City. The museum houses thousands of works of art, including many paintings from the 17th Century, millions of maps and 500,000 photographs. Visitors can view many of the treasures, including work by James Audubon and Gilbert Stuart's famous portrait of George Washington.