International Museum Day is a celebration of the important cultural and educational role that museums play in enriching the lives of people around the world.
Since 1977, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) has organized the day and encouraged thousands of museums around the world to participate with special events and programs. In 2023, more than 37,000 museums participated in about 158 countries and territories.
This year’s theme is “Museums for Education and Research.” According to the ICOM website, museums are dynamic educational institutions fostering learning, discovery, and cultural understanding. Museums contribute to research and provide a platform to explore and share new ideas across art, history, science, and technology. Museums are the common ground where education and research come together to shape our understanding of the world.
There are hundreds of museums across New York State that you can visit. If you’re looking for a museum trip close to home, your Yonkers Public Library card will let you visit several local museums with your Museum Pass Program!
Each branch of the Yonkers Public Library has different branches available for patrons to use. Each museum pass offers different benefits, so be sure to read the details of each pass carefully. Reserve your pass in advance online and pick it up in person on the day of your reservation for any of these participating museums.
- The American Museum of Natural History
- Cooper Hewitt Museum
- Dia Beacon
- Frick Museum
- Guggenheim Museum
- Hudson River Museum
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)
- Storm King Art Center
While you’re at the library, be sure to ask your librarian for recommendations on books that celebrate museums - like memoir All the Beauty in the World or the children’s classic From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
Alison Robles is a Part-Time Junior Clerk at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she is currently pursuing an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.