New York State Museum Gets $150M Makeover

- The New York State Museum, the oldest and largest state museum in the country, was founded in 1836. Its collection includes over 16 million scientific specimens and one million cultural objects. - Phase one of the transformation includes reopening the museum's café and gift shop, both of which have been closed since 2020. It also includes the creation of a new "Kids Zone" on the fourth-floor terrace, near the museum's historic carousel. - The museum plans to increase its major exhibitions to four to six per year. Upcoming exhibitions will cover topics such as the 200th anniversary of abolition in New York, the 25th anniversary of September 11, and the 250th anniversary of the United States. - A Visioning Task Force, comprised of state partners, museum professionals, educators, and business leaders, will be established to guide the museum's new vision and future revitalization efforts. - Governor Kathy Hochul and State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa are leading the initiative, which is part of a larger $400 million investment in downtown Albany. - The museum's vast collection includes world-renowned paleontological specimens, extensive historical and archaeological artifacts, and significant geological samples, including the world's largest collection of New York State minerals. - Permanent exhibits that are not part of the immediate renovation plans include "Metropolis Hall," which features a vintage New York City subway car, and the Cohoes Mastodon skeleton.