Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Overview

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is one of the 20th century's most important architectural landmarks — Frank Lloyd Wright's organic, spiraling rotunda on Fifth Avenue that is itself a work of art rivaling anything inside it.

Highlights

• The Rotunda: Wright's revolutionary continuous spiral ramp ascending six stories around a central skylit atrium. Visitors take the elevator to the top and wind their way down past the artworks.
• The Collection: Over 7,000 works including masterpieces by Kandinsky, Picasso, Modigliani, and Mapplethorpe.
• Thannhauser Collection: A stunning permanent collection including works by Cézanne, Degas, Gauguin, Manet, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Van Gogh.

History

Commissioned in 1943 and completed in 1959, it was Frank Lloyd Wright's last major work — he died six months before it opened. The building was initially controversial, with some artists refusing to exhibit on the curved walls.

Visitor Tips

• Saturday Evenings: Pay-what-you-wish admission on Saturday evenings from 6–8 PM.
• Architecture Tour: Free daily tours focus on Wright's building — check the schedule at the information desk.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.