Explore NYC Museums for Free with Bank of America Program

Museums on Us is a monthly promotion offering Bank of America customers free access to select museums on certain days. The program includes more than 175 institutions around the United States, making it an excellent opportunity for individuals to explore cultural and educational venues while traveling.

The Details

Show your Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit card along with a photo identification card to gain one free general admission to any participating institution on the first full weekend of every month. Merrill Lynch and Bank of America Private Bank are both wealth management affiliates of Bank of America.

Both debit and credit cards can be utilized for free admission. It is worth noting that children are not included (unless they possess cards of their own) and each individual must have a card in their name for admission. Additionally, admission excludes special exhibitions, ticketed shows, and fundraising events.

The museums participating in this program can change from year to year; therefore, it’s advisable to check which museums are current participants. For example, consider looking at the museums in New York City participating in the program.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art stands as the largest art museum in the United States, showcasing art that spans 5,000 years from every corner of the globe. There are over 2 million works on display.

The Museum on Us program is honored at the Met on Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side, as well as at the Breuer and Cloisters annexes. The Breuer focuses on modern art, while the Cloisters is dedicated to medieval European art.

Staten Island Zoo

The Staten Island Zoological Society operates a small zoo that is independent of New York City’s other zoos and aquariums. Established in 1936, it initially focused on reptiles and is recognized as the first “educational zoo” in the United States. The zoo continues its mission of providing education to children and veterinary intern specialists.

Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum

The Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum is an American military museum that proudly showcases notable vessels such as the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, the nuclear submarine USS Growler, a Concorde SST, a Lockheed A-12 supersonic reconnaissance plane, and the Space Shuttle Enterprise.

Museum of the City of New York

The Museum of the City of New York provides a rich exploration of four centuries of history pertaining to the inhabitants of New York City. It features history and art, with over 1.5 million items on display. The museum is located on the northern end of Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue, originally founded in 1923 at Gracie Mansion.

Queens Museum

The Queens Museum, housed in the New York City Building constructed for the 1939 World’s Fair, is notable for its permanent exhibition, the “Panorama of the City of New York.” This expansive model of the five boroughs was originally presented at the 1964 World’s Fair. Furthermore, the museum preserves an archive of artifacts from both World’s Fairs, which are on view for the public.

The Jewish Museum

The Jewish Museum, further situated on Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue, features a diverse range of art and cultural exhibitions from throughout Jewish history. It holds the distinction of being the first Jewish museum in the United States and remains the oldest existing Jewish museum worldwide.