4 Reasons to Take a New York Tour Bus to the Guggenheim
So, you want to see New York City, but there is so much to see, and it can be rather intimidating to drive if you’re not from there. The easy answer is to take a New York tour bus. The tour bus will allow you to hop on and hop off as it takes you to all the important landmarks around the city. An experienced driver will negotiate the traffic while you focus on sightseeing. One of the stops you won’t want to miss while in the Big Apple is the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, aka the Guggenheim. This famous art museum is located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 89th Street in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Here are four reasons you shouldn’t miss it.
1. Its Architecture
The famed Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Guggenheim building, which is reason enough for putting it on your must-see list while enjoying a New York tour bus. The building is cylindrical in shape and narrower at the bottom, with each successive story widening as it goes up. A ramp gallery on the outer edge of the building winds its way from the ground level in one continuous spiral. It ends just under the top floor’s ceiling skylight. The Guggenheim collection was moved from its original location into the Wright masterpiece in 1959. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2008 and is an easy hop on hop off destination.
2. Its History
Founded in 1939 as the Museum of Non-Objective Painting, this collection of modern art was renamed for Solomon R. Guggenheim, its founder, in 1952 after he died. The museum was in rented space and under the direction of artist Hilla von Rebay until the Wright structure was commissioned and completed. The complex was extensively renovated in 1992 and again from 2005 to 2008.
3. Its Exhibitions
The Guggenheim Museum is home to an ever-expanding collection of contemporary, impressionist and post-impressionist, and early modern works of art. Special exhibitions feature specific artists and/or genres of art. Therefore, even if you’ve seen it from a New York tour bus before, you’re sure to see something new. Solomon Guggenheim’s personal art collection is also housed here. View works by such artists as Paul Klee, Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Vasily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, and František Kupka. When you think you’ve seen all there is to see, don’t miss the fully functional toilet that is covered in 18-karat gold located in one of the restrooms. Artist Maurizio Cattelan is responsible for this extravagant piece. And, yes, you can use it!
4. Its Contribution to the Art World
In addition to elegantly displayed works of art, the Guggenheim also hosts lectures by art critics and artists, film screenings, performances, and classes for adults and teens. Museum educators lead guided tours daily. It also contributes to research into how viewing and studying art affects young children. More than 1,500 students from area public schools benefit annually from Learning Through Art, Guggenheim’s program that serves the field of arts education. This includes research that documents skills that students acquire through exposure to discussion and art experimentation. You won’t want to miss this easy hop on hop off spot when on your New York tour bus!