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The MoMA Store.
Max Touhey

New York City’s best museum gift shops

Find the perfect present for anyone on your list at these museum shops

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The MoMA Store.
| Max Touhey

The holidays are fast approaching, and if you haven’t already done your shopping for the season, or you’re stumped on where to start, we have a suggestion: go to a museum gift shop.

There are dozens of museums throughout the city catering to a variety of interests (science, history, movies, you get the idea), with stores that speak to the collections at each one. For those who are design-obsessed, there are plenty of stellar shops (including MoMA’s new store on 53rd Street) with stylish items that rival the best home goods stores. And if you’re shopping for a New York City nerd, you’ll find plenty of quirky gifts at spots like the Brooklyn Historical Society or the Museum of the City of New York.

So don’t panic if you’re still searching for the perfect present; these 15 stores at city museums have you covered.

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Tenement Museum

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One of New York City’s most underrated museums is also home to one of the city’s best museum stores. You’ll find plenty of Gotham-centric books, accessories, and tchotchkes, but the shop really shines when it comes to items related to its mission: preserving the history of the Lower East Side and its immigrant communities.

The Morgan Library & Museum

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After you’re done gawking at JP Morgan’s exquisite library—simply one of the best rooms in New York City, period—pay a visit to the Morgan Library’s store, which has lots of elegant gifts.

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New York Public Library

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The New York Public Library isn’t a museum per se, although the main branch on 42nd Street does host plenty of fascinating exhibitions. It does, however, have a stellar gift shop that has plenty of gifts for the bibliophiles in your life. There’s also plenty of dedicated NYPL merch: Snag bookends shaped like the library’s iconic lions, Patience and Fortitude, or a tote bag that looks like a library check out card.

The Museum of Modern Art

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MoMA has three stores throughout the city, but to knock out all of your gift-giving responsibilities at once, head to the revamped store within the museum on 53rd Street. Here, you’ll find thousands of books on art, architecture, and design; a curated selection of stylish housewares, including items from Hay and Muji; and plenty of presents for art fanatics, from prints to enamel pins.

Museum of Arts and Design

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If you’re searching for a present for your design-obsessed friend, head to this Midtown institution: MAD’s store has tons of quirky, stylish gifts, including hand-thrown ceramic trays, wooden trivets in mesmerizing patterns, and fruit bowls shaped like … fruits. Also cool: a tote bag printed with a lollipop pattern inspired by the museum building’s design.

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New-York Historical Society

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As the name of this institution suggests, this is the place to go if you need a gift for a New York history nerd. There are books and tchotchkes aplenty, including lots of Tiffany merchandise—the museum is home to a large collection of lamps from the famed company—and festive holiday trimmings.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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What won’t you find at the Met Museum’s various stores? The collection is as vast and varied as the artworks on view in the humongous institution, and includes books (on art, architecture, history, and more), clothing, home goods, holiday decorations, and jewelry.

The interior of a museum. Some of the walls are glass. There are statues and sculptures. People are sitting and standing in the room looking at the various art objects. Shutterstock

Neue Galerie

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The Neue Galerie may not be huge, but it has one of the more impressive museum stores in the city, especially for fans of turn-of-the-century design. It’s especially good for housewares, including items by Austrian designers like Josef Hoffman (including the trash can that allegedly inspired Rafael Viñoly’s 432 Park Avenue) and Otto Prutscher.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

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Fans of Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Guggenheim building will find no better place to snag building merch than the museum’s gift shop, which has tees, mugs, and even jewlery inspired by the circular structure. It’s also an excellent place to stock up on arty home goods, such as plates emblazoned with pieces by Robert Mapplethorpe.

Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum

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Given the fact that the Cooper-Hewitt’s collection includes more than 200,000 design items, it’s not surprising that its gift shop is an excellent resource for chic, functional, or just plain interesting tchotchkes. Some of our favorites include a collection devoted to the Bauhaus in honor of the collective’s 100th anniversary, and prints by legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser.

Museum of the City of New York

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Head to the Museum of the City of New York’s shop if you’re searching for a book about New York City; the store is chock full of excellent picks, including tomes about architecture, history, guidebooks, and design. (The museum’s own exhibition catalogs make great gifts!) You’ll also find lots of nifty budget-minded gifts, like a ceramic version of the iconic Anthora coffee cup for $13.

Queens Museum

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This museum store is devoted to all things Queens: books about the borough, gifts by local artists, and items festooned with Queens landmarks. There’s also a wide and rotating selection of items related to the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs, both of which took place in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (the museum building itself had a starring role).

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New York Transit Museum

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The Transit Museum has a few gift shops around the city (one at Grand Central Terminal, and another next to the MTA’s headquarters near Bowling Green), but the museum store at its Downtown Brooklyn hub has the most variety. You’ll find plenty of toys for train-obsessed tots, as well as all the Massimo Vignelli subway map merch your design-loving heart desires.

Ameena Walker

Brooklyn Historical Society

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For Kings County obsessives, the Brooklyn Historical Society is the place to go: Everything in the store has some relation to the borough, whether it’s books, prints, or jewelry. The shop also carries items from Brooklyn-based makers, including Dona teas and Tattly temporary tattoos.

Brooklyn Museum

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The Brooklyn Museum’s shop is another stellar spot for borough-themed gifts, as well as items related to its blockbuster exhibits. The institution recently partnered with streetwear brand Only NY on a collection of extremely hot Brooklyn Museum-themed drops, including colorful totes and tees.

Tenement Museum

One of New York City’s most underrated museums is also home to one of the city’s best museum stores. You’ll find plenty of Gotham-centric books, accessories, and tchotchkes, but the shop really shines when it comes to items related to its mission: preserving the history of the Lower East Side and its immigrant communities.

The Morgan Library & Museum

After you’re done gawking at JP Morgan’s exquisite library—simply one of the best rooms in New York City, period—pay a visit to the Morgan Library’s store, which has lots of elegant gifts.

Shutterstock

New York Public Library

The New York Public Library isn’t a museum per se, although the main branch on 42nd Street does host plenty of fascinating exhibitions. It does, however, have a stellar gift shop that has plenty of gifts for the bibliophiles in your life. There’s also plenty of dedicated NYPL merch: Snag bookends shaped like the library’s iconic lions, Patience and Fortitude, or a tote bag that looks like a library check out card.

The Museum of Modern Art

MoMA has three stores throughout the city, but to knock out all of your gift-giving responsibilities at once, head to the revamped store within the museum on 53rd Street. Here, you’ll find thousands of books on art, architecture, and design; a curated selection of stylish housewares, including items from Hay and Muji; and plenty of presents for art fanatics, from prints to enamel pins.

Museum of Arts and Design

If you’re searching for a present for your design-obsessed friend, head to this Midtown institution: MAD’s store has tons of quirky, stylish gifts, including hand-thrown ceramic trays, wooden trivets in mesmerizing patterns, and fruit bowls shaped like … fruits. Also cool: a tote bag printed with a lollipop pattern inspired by the museum building’s design.

Shutterstock

New-York Historical Society

As the name of this institution suggests, this is the place to go if you need a gift for a New York history nerd. There are books and tchotchkes aplenty, including lots of Tiffany merchandise—the museum is home to a large collection of lamps from the famed company—and festive holiday trimmings.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

What won’t you find at the Met Museum’s various stores? The collection is as vast and varied as the artworks on view in the humongous institution, and includes books (on art, architecture, history, and more), clothing, home goods, holiday decorations, and jewelry.

The interior of a museum. Some of the walls are glass. There are statues and sculptures. People are sitting and standing in the room looking at the various art objects. Shutterstock

Neue Galerie

The Neue Galerie may not be huge, but it has one of the more impressive museum stores in the city, especially for fans of turn-of-the-century design. It’s especially good for housewares, including items by Austrian designers like Josef Hoffman (including the trash can that allegedly inspired Rafael Viñoly’s 432 Park Avenue) and Otto Prutscher.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Fans of Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Guggenheim building will find no better place to snag building merch than the museum’s gift shop, which has tees, mugs, and even jewlery inspired by the circular structure. It’s also an excellent place to stock up on arty home goods, such as plates emblazoned with pieces by Robert Mapplethorpe.

Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum

Given the fact that the Cooper-Hewitt’s collection includes more than 200,000 design items, it’s not surprising that its gift shop is an excellent resource for chic, functional, or just plain interesting tchotchkes. Some of our favorites include a collection devoted to the Bauhaus in honor of the collective’s 100th anniversary, and prints by legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser.

Museum of the City of New York

Head to the Museum of the City of New York’s shop if you’re searching for a book about New York City; the store is chock full of excellent picks, including tomes about architecture, history, guidebooks, and design. (The museum’s own exhibition catalogs make great gifts!) You’ll also find lots of nifty budget-minded gifts, like a ceramic version of the iconic Anthora coffee cup for $13.

Queens Museum

This museum store is devoted to all things Queens: books about the borough, gifts by local artists, and items festooned with Queens landmarks. There’s also a wide and rotating selection of items related to the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs, both of which took place in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (the museum building itself had a starring role).

Shutterstock

New York Transit Museum

The Transit Museum has a few gift shops around the city (one at Grand Central Terminal, and another next to the MTA’s headquarters near Bowling Green), but the museum store at its Downtown Brooklyn hub has the most variety. You’ll find plenty of toys for train-obsessed tots, as well as all the Massimo Vignelli subway map merch your design-loving heart desires.

Ameena Walker

Brooklyn Historical Society

For Kings County obsessives, the Brooklyn Historical Society is the place to go: Everything in the store has some relation to the borough, whether it’s books, prints, or jewelry. The shop also carries items from Brooklyn-based makers, including Dona teas and Tattly temporary tattoos.

Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum’s shop is another stellar spot for borough-themed gifts, as well as items related to its blockbuster exhibits. The institution recently partnered with streetwear brand Only NY on a collection of extremely hot Brooklyn Museum-themed drops, including colorful totes and tees.