About the Museum
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially known as 'The Met,' is the largest art museum in the Americas. Located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, it was founded in 1870 and opened in 1872.
The Met's permanent collection contains over two million works divided among 17 curatorial departments. The main building on Fifth Avenue is one of the world's largest art galleries, spanning over two million square feet. The museum's collections encompass works from classical antiquity to the present day, including paintings, sculptures, musical instruments, costumes, and accessories from every corner of the globe. The Temple of Dendur, an authentic Egyptian temple gifted by Egypt in 1965, stands in its own glass-walled gallery overlooking Central Park.
Notable Collections
Washington Crossing the Delaware
Emanuel Leutze, 1851
This monumental painting depicts George Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River on December 25, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War.
Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat
Vincent van Gogh, 1887
One of Van Gogh's most recognizable self-portraits, painted during his time in Paris. The bright palette reflects the influence of Impressionism on his developing style.
The Temple of Dendur
Ancient Egyptian, c. 15 BC
This authentic Egyptian temple was built around 15 BC by the Roman governor of Egypt. It was gifted to the United States by Egypt in 1965 and now stands in its own glass-walled gallery.
