Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York

In the city of New York, known for its rectilinear streets and boxy buildings defined by sharp right angles, the Guggenheim Museum stands as a captivating exception. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, this mesmerizing spiral structure defies convention, rising amidst the towering edifices of Fifth Avenue like an extravagant peacock surrounded by guinea hens. Architectural critic Herbert Muschamp captured its essence when he eloquently described it as a building "brought back from a dream," with its windowless facade, tilting and twisting walls and floors, and a unique spiral design that begins on the top floor, spiraling towards the enigmatic center.

A visit to this architectural masterpiece, constructed in 1959, transcends the typical museum experience and embarks visitors on a profound journey, albeit occasionally challenging their sense of balance. Regardless of the art on display, ascending the curving ramps of the Guggenheim becomes an immersive and transformative encounter. While early critics dismissed the museum, epitomized by Newsweek's trivializing headline "Museum or Cupcake?", today even the most jaded visitor can sense the compelling power and symbolic weight of this space, with its infinite circles upon circles.

Beyond its architectural marvel, the museum's popularity also stems from the curators' adeptness at organizing blockbuster retrospectives of contemporary artists, such as Gillian Wearing, Cecilia Vicuña, and Robert Mapplethorpe. Additionally, the museum expertly combines art with history and, at times, sociology, in exhibitions that have garnered significant attention. These include showcases on contemporary Middle Eastern and North African art, Aztec culture, motorcycle photography, and numerous other subjects that have made headlines in recent years. Furthermore, the Guggenheim dedicates permanent gallery space to the luminaries of its collection, featuring towering figures such as Chagall, Brancusi, Mondrian, Miró, Kandinsky, and other prominent modernists.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in New York. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on Map

Sight Name: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Sight Location: New York, USA (See walking tours in New York)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in New York, New York

Create Your Own Walk in New York

Create Your Own Walk in New York

Creating your own self-guided walk in New York is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
New York's Central Park Walking Tour

New York's Central Park Walking Tour

Arguably the most famous public park in the world today, Central Park has been called the lungs of New York City – literally “central”, it is where Manhattanites go to get a sense of space and air. Plan for at least half a day to wander along its many pathways, take a rowboat on the water, enjoy the landscaping and the numerous man-made wonders, spend some time at the zoo or bring a pair of...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
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George Washington's New York

George Washington's New York

While not really a New York fan himself, George Washington held the city in high esteem, calling it “a post of infinite importance,” and is even credited with coining the term “New Yorker”. The scene of some of Washington’s greatest military trials and political triumphs, NYC is a home to several important sites associated with his life and career, such as Fraunces Tavern, Bowling Green,...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Midtown Manhattan Walking Tour

Midtown Manhattan Walking Tour

Welcome to the iconic New York City that so many tourists dream about before they visit – spectacular skyscrapers, iconic public buildings, large neon flat screens above ground level and the non-stop activity on city streets.

They say if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere, and Times Square, Broadway, is definitely a part of that slogan. Day time or night time, it’s one of the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Columbia University Walking Tour

Columbia University Walking Tour

Established in 1754, Columbia University is the oldest institution of higher education in the state of New York and the fifth-oldest in the United States. A member of the prestigious Ivy League, this renowned institution boasts a diverse campus designed along Beaux-Arts planning principles. Columbia's main campus occupies more than six city blocks in Morningside Heights, New York City, and is...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Brooklyn New York Walking Tour

Brooklyn New York Walking Tour

Named after the Breukelen village in the Netherlands, Brooklyn, one of New York City’s five boroughs, occupies the western tip of Long Island. Its history began in the 17th century as a small Dutch settlement on the East River shore; Brooklyn Heights, or Clover Hill, is where the village was founded, in 1646.

By the 19th century, Brooklyn had grown into a sizable town. The iconic Brooklyn...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Midtown Manhattan Shopping Tour

Midtown Manhattan Shopping Tour

Midtown Manhattan, alongside other things, is also the shopping hub for New York City. Attesting to this are the ever-busy Times Square and Rockefeller Center areas replete with designer goods offerings and street vendors at every corner.

The famed Fifth Avenue has long been synonymous with a shopper's paradise where you can find every kind of store imaginable, ranging from the affordable...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


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