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Attraction >Museum
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Description and Basic Information ::
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 If you're looking for an out-of-the-ordinary museum experience, head over to the Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Design, located in a building that once belonged to Andrew Carnegie. The museum houses an impressive collection of drawings, furniture, textiles and ceramics, among other objects focusing on design. It may not be considered fine art, but the permanent collection and changing exhibits are well worth a visit.
The 64-room structure that is now the museum was commissioned by Carnegie in 1901 to be a quiet, comfortable retreat. Prior to that, in 1897, the granddaughters of industrialist Peter Cooper, Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt, began forming an impressive art collection for themselves and eventually established the first design museum in the United States as part of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. In 1967 the Smithsonian took over managing the collection and it was moved into Carnegie's mansion 12 years later.
The museum's collection today holds more than 250,000 objects, with a library of 60,000 volumes and archives of designers and design firms, all housed within three connecting buildings. (It's necessary to make an appointment in advance to access the library and the archives.) The museum is annexed with a new Design Resource Center, providing greater access to the collections for scholars, students, and the public. Don't miss the temporary exhibits, many of which deal with building’s design. |
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