15 Family Museum Membership Deals to New York City Museums

You want to take the kids to every cultural institution in this city, but those family-of-four trips to the MoMA and CMOM are starting to add up. You wonder if you should get a membership, if it’s worth it, or if you should just brave the crowds and go during the free times. We did the leg work for you and created a list of the top museums in New York City that offer family memberships, what perks you get and what you need to know to figure out if it's worth it for your family.

Insiders Tip: A bunch of these museums offer free weekly programs along with admission, plus other special events, so a membership gets you in to lots of free, wonderful children's programming.

Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Regular Admission $: $7.50/person (children under 1, free)
Membership $: $85- $475/year
What you get: This museum has several different levels of membership. All levels get free general admission, express entry on weekends and school holidays, invitations to members-only events and exhibit previews, 10% at KidShip and the museum’s monthly e-newsletter. The most basic level ($85), has free admission for 2 adults and 4 children (in the same household).
Worth it?: If a family of four visits 3 or more times in a year, you save.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan 
Regular Admission $: $10/person (children under 1, free)
Membership $: $210-$395/year
What you get: Every level of membership (including the basic at $210) gets you admission for all the children in one household, two named cardholders, and up to two caregivers, $10 discount on gift membership purchases, 10% discount on store purchases,10% discount at these restaurants: EJ’s Luncheonette; Firehouse Tavern; Nonna Restaurant and Campo "A Gathering Place,” reduced enrollment fees for classes and free access to over 100 Children's Museums around the country through the ACM Program.
Worth it?: In simple math, a family of four would have to go at least 6 times to make it worth it, but you also get discounts at restaurants, access through the ACM program and admission for caregivers.

NY Hall of Science
Regular Admission $: $11/adult, $8/child (ages 2-17), $8/student with ID
Membership $: $85-$110/year
What you get: Unlimited admission for 2 adults and 4 children (at $110 level, 6 children), free parking, invitations to member previews of exhibitions, borrowing privileges from the Science Technology Library, and discounts on Make-It and take-it activities, special shows, Innovation Caps, Super Science Birthday Parties, free entry to 250 other museums, Activity Area programs, Exploration Station simulator rides, and Hertz car rentals. The $110 level also gets you free admission to the new Science Playground and 4 free guest passes.
Worth it?: At the $85 level, a family of four with two kids under 17 would have to go 3 or more times to save. Plus, you get a ton of extras (parking costs $10 each visit, for example).

Children’s Museum of the Arts
Regular Admission $: $10/person
Membership $: $210-$750/year
What you get: The $210 level gets you unlimited admission for all children from one household & two accompanying adults, invitations to select Members-only events throughout the year, including Valentine’s Day and Halloween, newsletter, 10% discount off registration on After School Classes for children ages 5-12, One Family Pass valued at $40, allowing general admission for a guest family for a day, 10% discount off our registration and drop-in Wee-Arts classes for children ages 10 months to 3-1/2 years, 10% off meals at these kid friendly restaurants: Grotta Azzura, Ammos Estoria, Spring Street Natural. The higher levels of membership include tickets to auctions, benefits and birthday party discounts.
Worth it?: A family of four would have to go 6 or more times to save. Plus, there are discounts on classes and after school programs.

American Museum of Natural History
Regular Admission $: Suggested, but costs for IMAX, special exhibits and space shows
Membership $: $115/year
What you get: Unlimited complimentary general admission and special exhibition tickets for two adults and up to four children, unlimited discounts on Space Show, IMAX and seasonal live animal exhibits for two adults and up to four children, newsletter, invitation to the annual Family Holiday Party, discounts on Museum shops & restaurant purchases and on Museum programs, and invitations to special exhibition previews for your family
Worth it?: If a family of four goes to see a special show or exhibit on 4 or more visits, it is worth it. Plus you get first notice of classes and camps which get filled up sometimes before they are even announced to the public. And special events like the Family Holiday Party. But, you can’t skip the lines, and regular admission is always suggested, so it really depends.

South Street Seaport Museum
Regular Admission $: $10/adult, $5/children (ages 5-12), $8/students with ID
Membership $: $125/year
What you get: Unlimited admission to all Museum galleries and ships for 2 adults and 4 children (up to 17 years of age), invitations to exhibition openings and special member events,10% discount on admission to the Museum’s public programs, including lectures, walking tours, performances and special events for members and accompanied guests, 10% discount on public harbor sails aboard the historic schooner Pioneer, newsletter, and free admission to family programs including the annual holiday festival.
Worth it?: A family of four, with 2 kids under 12, would have to go 5 or more times to save. But you do also get some perks, so it depends on how much you would take advantage of what is offered.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Regular Admission $: Recommended $20/adult, children under 12, free
Membership $: $190/year
What you get: Two adults and two children (under 16) get free admission to the Museum, the Cloisters, and all special exhibitions, invitations to members-only weekend lectures and selected previews, use of the Trustees Dining Room, Met publications, %10 discount on Museum merchandise in Met stores (and online) and discounts on Audio Guides.
Worth it?: If a family of four visits 10 or more times, you save. There are other perks though, so it depends to what extent you would take advantage of them.

Museum of Modern Art
Regular Admission $: $20/adults, free/children under 16
Membership $: $150/year
What you get: A year of Little Member programs, unlimited admission for two adults and children 18 and under, family-friendly events, including the annual MoMA Family Festival, hands-on activity guides sent by mail, newsletter, film screenings and advance ticketing privileges, four days of exclusive member previews for all major exhibitions, members-only gallery talks and family tours,  10% discount in the MoMA Stores and café, 20% discount during seasonal Member Shopping Days, admission to P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, including the annual Warm Up summer music series, discounted admission to MoMA’s public programs, including lectures, artist talks, and courses, reduced ticket prices for select MoMA benefits events, and discounted rates on group tour reservations and on hotels, parking, and other amenities.
Worth it?: A family of four with two children under 16 would have to visit 4 or more times to save, but the perks would make even less than 4 trips worth it.

Guggenheim
Regular Admission $: $18/adults, free/children under 12
Memerbsip $: $135/year
What you get: Unlimited admission for two adults and children under 18 years at all Guggenheim museums (New York, Venice, Berlin, Bilbao), invitations to evening preview receptions exclusively for members, free admission for two at First Friday events, bypass ticket lines, Guggenheim magazine, 10% discount at the store and café, special members' prices on all public programs including Works & Process, and reduced subscription rates to a variety of European and American art, architecture, design, and travel magazines.
Worth it?: A family of four with two children under 12 would have to visit 4 or more times to save, but the perks would make even less than 4 trips worth it; plus admission to the museums in other countries.

Queens Museum of Art
Regular Admission $: Suggested, $5/adults, $2.50/children 5+
Membership $: $55/year
What you get: Unlimited admission for two adults and children under 16, reduced admission for workshops, day trips, behind-the-scene tours, lectures, and international trips, invitations to exhibition openings and previews, newsletter, 10% discount at shop, exhibit in annual members show, and four guest passes.
Worth it?: A family of four with two children 5+ would have to visit 4 or more times to save; plus the perks. Admission is always suggested, so it depends on how you would use the membership.

Brooklyn Museum
Regular Admission $: Suggested $10/adult, Children under 12, free
Membership $: $85/year
What you get: Members get unlimited free entry and can register early for Gallery/Studio classes and receive complimentary parking passes.
Worth it?: Children under 12 are always free, so a family of four with two adults would have to go 5 or more times to save.

New York Transit Museum
Regular Admission $: $5/adults, $3/children 3-17
Membership $: $55/year
What you get: Unlimited admission for two adults and two children under 18, 10% discount at museum stores, newsletter, members-only events and receptions, discounts to special museum-sponsored tours and events, and a 10% discount on birthday parties.
Worth it?: A family of four with two kids under 17 would have to visit four or more times to save.

The Jewish Museum
Regular Admission $: $12/adults, Children under 12, free
Membership $: $135/year
What you get: Unlimited admission for two adults and accompanying children up to the age of 18, 10% discount at all Museum shops, invitations for two adults to special Members Only Previews of new exhibitions, reduced admission to selected public programs, discounts at local restaurants and parking garages, newsletter, discounts on family events and programs, two guest passes, 10% discount at Cafe Weissman, Family Hanukkah Party and opportunity to participate in custom-designed tours abroad.
Worth it?: A family of four would have to visit 6 or more times to save, but there are other perks, so it depends on how much you would take advantage of what is offered.

Rubin Museum of Art
Regular Admission $: $10 for Adults, free for children under 12 years.
Membership $: $75 family membership
What you get: Free amission for two adults and two children plus invitations to specialpreviews, discounts on other special events, and 10% discount in the museum store and cafe.
Worth it?: A family of 4 with two children under 12 would have to visit 4 times to save money, but the Rubin Museum has many weekly and special programs for small children that are free with museum admission so this could really be a deal.

Staten Island Children’s Museum and Zoo Combo
Regular Admission $: $8/adult, $5/children 14 and under (Zoo); $6/person (Museum)
Membership $: $140/year
What you get: Free admission to both the Zoo and Children’s museum for two adults and the children in their household, members-only programs and special events, discounts to 100+ other zoos, discount on birthday parties at both places, sneak previews of new exhibits, and 10% of “Zoovenirs” and discounts in the Museum shop.
Worth it?: If a family of four visits each place 3 or more times you save; plus the offered perks. 

Whitney
Regular Admission $: $18 for adults, Free for anyone under 18
Membership $: $75 Individual, $100 Dual
What you get: The Whitney does not offer a family membership, but since anyone under 18 is free anyway, it actually can work out in your favor. An individual membership gets you free admissionfor one adult to the museum plus two tickets to special members-only events. Add on a 20% discount to the museum store and discounts to neighborhood businesses and parking. You can also purchase a Dual membership to get free admission for two adults.
Worth it?: Wisely used, a membership to the Whitney Museum could pay off in as little as two to four visits.
  

Remember, these memberships are also at least 50% tax deductible (See the museum websites for more details) and joining your favorite museums supports the institutions that make New York City great.
 

Find more tips for NYC art and kids shows in our Culture Guide.