The MET Cloisters Museum

The MET Cloisters Museum is located in Fort Tyron Park in Washington Heights, uptown Manhattan, The Cloisters at Fort Tryon Park is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  This museum was originally the Billings mansion, purchased In 1917 by John D Rockefeller. It was put together stone by stone and with several original cloisters. The cloisters were disassembled and shipped to America (right before World War II) from French monasteries. Those cloisters were then incorporated in the design under the guidance of architect Charles Collens. Also, several hundred acres of the New Jersey Palisades were brought by John D. Rockefeller to help preserve the view from the museum.

The buildings are centered around four cloisters. Inside you will find treasures from the medieval ages including stained glass windows, tapestries, sculptures, manuscripts, paintings, column capitals and medieval portals. The three gardens were planted according to information from manuscripts of that time.

Price: As the museum is part of the Met, New York State residents can pay what they wish to enter. For everyone else tickets cost $25 for adults, $17 for seniors, and $12 for students. Children under 12 enter for free. Tickets will also get you into the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue if used within three days.

Tickets can be purchased here.

*The MET Cloisters Museum is closed on Mondays.

Additionally, find our Guide to the best museums of New York HERE.