About the Whitney

Welcome to the Whitney Museum of American Art. 

As the preeminent institution devoted to the art of the United States, the Whitney Museum showcases twentieth-century and contemporary American art.  

Nearly a century ago, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney founded the museum with the aim of supporting living artists of her time. Today, that mission runs through all our exhibitions.

First, some important details about our building: your ticket provides entry to all exhibitions, so be sure to visit all floors open to the public. As you enter our Lobby on Gansevoort Street, you’ll see a row of elevators, which will take you to any floor that is open to visitors. Next to the elevators is a staircase that leads down to the coat check on -1, and up to Floors 3 and 5. If you’d like to go up from there, use the stairs on the west side of the building—closest to the river. Restrooms are located on -1, and on 3, 5, 7, and 8. All of these locations have wheelchair accessible restrooms that include changing tables, and all of them except the 7th floor also have single-use, all-gender restrooms. Wheelchairs, large print guides, and other access resources are available at the front desk. To request ASL interpretation, Live Captioning for programs, Braille and audio description, or other accommodations, please email accessfeedback@whitney.org or call 646-666-5574.

Now, let’s see some art! Many visitors like to start at the top of the Museum on Floor 8 and work their way down. However, there is no one right way to begin your Whitney journey, so we encourage you to start on any floor, with any show. Be sure to catch our permanent collections and special exhibitions, as well as the terraces on the east side of our upper floors. Photography is encouraged unless otherwise noted, and we hope you’ll share memories of your Whitney visit with friends and family. As you explore, please help us preserve the art by not touching it! And we ask you to treat the staff and other visitors with respect. Review details about coat check, general guidelines, and other important safety rules.

A land acknowledgement is a formal statement affirming the ongoing relationships between Indigenous peoples and the land. The Whitney is located in Lenapehoking, the ancestral homeland of the Lenape. The name Manhattan comes from their word Mannahatta, meaning “island of many hills.” The Museum’s current site is close to land that was a Lenape fishing and planting site called Sapponckanikan ("tobacco field"). The Whitney acknowledges the displacement of this region’s original inhabitants and the Lenape diaspora that exists today.

As a museum of American art in a city with vital and diverse communities of Indigenous people, the Whitney recognizes the historical exclusion of Indigenous artists from its collection and program. The Museum is committed to addressing these erasures and honoring the perspectives of Indigenous artists and communities as we work for a more equitable future.

More about the Whitney's Land Acknowledgement.