Jane August, a 25-year-old who was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic, decided to embark on a mission to visit every museum in New York City as a way to get out of the house and experience cultural enrichment. Believing that living in such a culturally rich city like New York is a privilege, August felt it was important to take advantage of all the history and culture that the city has to offer. She began her journey by visiting museums she had never been to before, including the Statue of Liberty Museum and others she had never even heard of. Through this experience, August came to appreciate all the museums in the city and understood why people from all over the world visit these institutions.
August, who is a goal-oriented person and loves lists, sought out a comprehensive roundup of all the museums in the city in 2021 and began checking them off one by one. However, she found that many of the lists were inaccurate, including places that she didn’t consider museums, like the Museum of Ice Cream. This prompted her to create her own list of museums, which currently includes 190 museums, with 115 already visited and crossed off. To document her journey and inspire others to explore museums, August started sharing her experiences on TikTok, where she has become known as the “museum girl.” She also launched a companion podcast to further discuss her adventures and the people she meets along the way.
Through her travels, August discovered that visiting museums is not only a way to experience art and culture but also a great way to explore different neighborhoods and parts of the city. She began visiting areas of New York City that she had never been to before, such as Staten Island, in order to see museums on her list. August found that exploring these new neighborhoods was an enjoyable aspect of her museum visits. While she still has 75 museums left to check off her list, August has found that each museum offers something unique and special, from The Living Museum in Queens Village to the Society of Illustrators, the Nicholas Roerich Museum, and the Museum at FIT.
August believes that museums in New York City are cool, fun, and accessible, even for those without an art history background. She hopes to show others that museums are more than just a backdrop for Instagram photos and that they offer valuable artistic and historical enrichment. By sharing her experiences on social media and her podcast, August hopes to inspire others to get out there and explore the cultural treasures that the city has to offer. Through her journey to visit every museum in New York City, August has not only discovered a newfound appreciation for these institutions but also a love for exploring the diverse neighborhoods and hidden gems of the city.
