So what does one do when it’s spring, but the temperatures are beyond chilly and the winds are whipping the little blooms right off the trees? You go to a museum for inspiration. It’s interesting, I’ve never been a museum person until I found my passion for photography. Somewhere along this journey of mine I heard someone say…museums will give you inspiration, and it doesn’t have to be just a photography exhibit. How true I’ve found that to be.
Ever since a couple of years ago when I walked by an amazing mansion on the Upper East Side here in Manhattan and learned that it was being transformed into a 21st-century museum, I’ve eagerly awaited the opening of…The Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.
But in full disclosure, it wasn’t the museum per se that I was eagerly waiting for…but just the opportunity to see inside of this home…as the beautiful copper and glass canopy at the main entrance certainly had me at hello.
Just imagine back in 1898 when the owner, Andrew Carnegie, decided to purchase property way north of where his peers were living. There he built this 64 room mansion for him and his wife to raise their daughter along with their 20 servants. Not to paint him as someone who flaunted his wealth…from what I’ve read he purposely moved to this area to escape the highfuluting behavior of the people living along Millionaire Row in the Upper East Side. Carnegie also bequeathed considerable amounts of money to his staff as well, as he considered them members of his family…not to mention what he did with his fortune by establishing over 2,500 public libraries and other institutions of higher learning.
I’d read up a little on the mansion prior to my visit. Articles that mentioned Carnegie’s insistence on modern technology…the first private residence with a structural steel frame…one of the first to a have a residential Otis passenger elevator…a sub-basement that housed a minature railroad track for a miner’s cart to get coal to the boilers to heat the house…one of the first to have air conditioning…the list goes on. Now imagine what Carnegie would think if he knew his home had turned into one of the most technologically advanced museums in the country!
Upon arrival you’re given an interactive pen to use on various touchscreen tables throughout the museum…making the museum experience much more interactive. As an example…the Immersion Room. Oh my…one can play designer and explore an amazing collection of wallpapers. By using the pen and touchscreen you can explore patterns and color, mix and match borders while projecting it all on the walls of the room. Who thinks of this stuff?? There’s so much…the Process Lab where you can design solutions through both hands-on and digital activities. Wow. Not only a museum, but it’s own on-site, degree granting master’s program making it the authority for the study of design in the United States.
Even the stairwells have design!
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and happy to be a member…and can’t wait to return to spend more time playing designer and learning more about the mansion transformation. Then not a block away…I came across the National Academy Museum & School that just happened to have an exhibit…self-portraiture…or as we know today…selfies! More on that visit another day. It was equally as awesome. You gotta love New York!
Hope you’re enjoying your weekend! gg
Only twenty servants? What a cheap schmuck!
LOL! OH, Robert!
I’m in total agreement that any excuse to wander through this grand house would be a thrill but add in these touchscreens and it could be a very long adventure! You sure have lots of amazing venues for fun there in your City!!
Long indeed…which is why I’m now a member so I can go back! NYC is an amazing city and I’m thrilled to be able to experience it! Thank you sweets!
How awesome! So glad your wait to visit this jewel gave you so much joy and pleasure…Now, and I can only imagine, as a member, how many more fun-filled hours you will enjoy there…Thanks for sharing this experience with all of us. XoXo
Thanks my dear! Always! xoxo
These are the best museums, where you can explore and learn AND touch.
I can see why you became a member. When I was 10 years old, my mom and dad could not make me more happy to take me and my brother to Amsterdam to the Dutch Institute of Labor and Technology. You had to touch the techie stuff to find out what it does. Can you imagine 50 years ago to be in a museum and you were allowed to touch, in all the other museums you had to shut up and don’t touch because they would shoot you on the spot (with a silencer of course)…..
One day I like to visit this one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMO_%28museum%29 it is the new version of the museum I went….
Great pictures of a wonderful museum…… and Carnegie would be delighted to see what they done with his house.
Love and hugs.
What an amazing museum in Amsterdam…and that’s just looking at the architecture! Wow…that’s going on the list for one day! Thanks Astrid!
One day soon I like to visit too. You can walk on the ‘roof’ and have a great view over Amsterdam.
You had ME at “copper,” too, Robin. Interactive places like this inspire and activate our brains. Too bad ALL of life doesn’t do that everywhere we go. “PLEASE TOUCH” should be a sign everywhere we turn…unless it would be dangerous, of course. I love that you shared this with us and can hardly wait to see the self-portraiture! 🙂
We’ll put this on the list for your next visit to my city! 🙂 Thanks Ginnie…I know you and Astrid would love it!
Thank you, Robin! You know, I don’t life too far from the city, but I’m such a homebody, that I rarely venture out. Who knew this museum was so interesting? I’m living vicariously through your posts!:)
Well glad I can help! Ha! Thank you!!!
What an experience to visit such a mansion / museum! 65 rooms? And they managed with only 20 servants? Ok – maybe the train in the basement helped…..
LOL!! True! Thanks!
I’m so grateful to have you in my life.
Seriously, what an awesome traveling companion you are:)
Thanks for sharing the view from your lens
and heart,
Jennifer
You’re a doll Jennifer! Thanks so much!
Robin, Thank you for the tour, the story, and the images that send my spirit soaring. Before photography, I wasn’t much of a museum girl either – seemed too much like more school today. But once I developed a new way of seeing, I was able to find something of interest every where – including museums. Like you, I am often drawn to the almost abstract like quality of the structure itself. Sometimes I am fortunate enough to snap a photo of people enjoying the museum experience – as you have done here. Your blog will be own personal travel planner for our next trip to NY. Bravo!
That’s exactly it…a new way of seeing…and it changes everything! THANK YOU!
I have got to get to the city to see all these amazing spots I seem to miss…love the stairwells.
Thanks Donna!
I agree with you about that entrance. It’s attention grabbing at the very least. “Interactive pens” Whatever next.” I live near a place called Hampton Court Palace where, among others, Henry V111 used to spend quite a lot of time arguing with a succession of wives but to get the inside track on his dietary habits or marriage guidance tips you walk over to one of the volunteer guides who tells you everything you know, or nothing, depending on how odd your question is. I do think they have a sort of radio commentary gadget, but its not remotely interactive. Oh dear, I can’t seem to shut up, but I loved the photographs as always
You always bring a smile!! Thanks Ducky and I hope you never shut up!
What an incredible location and fascinating story, there are a few places in the UK which have benefited from the owners compassion and caring for his workforce. One of my favourites is Saltairehttp://www.saltairevillage.info, the other cadbury http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bournville both worthy of visits if you ever get across the pond Robin.
I love the accompanying shots.
I just put it on the “must visit” when I make that trip…one day!! Thanks Shooter!
Robin, I love interactive exhibits, they are so much more interesting than just passing by closed display cases. I like combination of both, when you can look and read but also try. I bet that in that way you remember and learn much more!
From what you mentioned about Mr Carnegie, it seems he might be pleased to find out what happened with their house, don’t you think so?
Totally agree Petra! Thank you!
I really enjoyed this post, Robin, and could relate to your feelings. I visited the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum for the first time just last month and loved it. I went specifically to see the collection curated by Maira Kalman, “My Favorite Things”. Did you happen to see it? Her art and writing delight me. The book of the same title was on my Christmas list and after reading it I just knew that I had to see the collection for myself.
I’m hoping to get to the newly located Whitney Museum in the early summer. I’m sure you’ll get there before I do. Actually, I’m kind of hoping that you do 😉
Oh yes, and I LOVED that portion of the exhibit! It’s interesting…because that’s exactly what I want to accomplish and that’s to photograph all my objects with stories…all my favorite things…and her collection and words inspired me even more! Now it’s the Whitney!! Thanks so much Patricia!