Enter email to receive Baby Bloomer Ezine

Visiting THE AKC MUSEUM OF THE DOG and GULLIVER’S GATE by Robin Gorman Newman


My now 16 year old son and I have done many NYC staycations over the years, so he’s developed a love of all that the city has to offer.

While in summer, we try to spend as much time by our community pool as possible….especially this year since he’s working there as a lifeguard….but we decided to venture into the city one afternoon to check out two cool venues.

One which we had been to before…and the other which is fairly new.

Our first stop was “NYC’s only Museum dedicated to man’s best friend.”

While we don’t have a dog, we are both fans, and my son is particularly drawn to German Shepherds and Huskies….so when we were greeted by this lovely statue, he took immediate interest.

The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog is located 101 Park Ave, very near to Grand Central Station, and it houses one of the world’s largest repositories of canine fine art including works by such famous dog artists as Sir Edwin Landseer, Maud Earl, Arthur Wardle and many more.

Spanning two intimate floors, the gallery includes such interactive exhibits as:

  • “Find Your Match” kiosks that take your photo, aligning its likeness with a dog breed.
  • Visitors can  try to train a digital service dog named “Molly” at the “Train A Dog” exhibit.
  • “Meet the Breeds®” touchscreen tables allows visitors to explore breeds’ features, traits, history and representations in the collection.
  • “Story of A Breeder” highlights responsible breeders and how to find one.

The Museum even has an app that serves as a guide for visitors, providing general information about the Museum and offers highlights such as current shows, upcoming events, and “Best in Show”.  The app is also equipped with augmented reality experiences, including a scavenger hunt and a museum tour led by a virtual dog named “Arty”.  It’s a great feature particularly for kids to enjoy.

The AKC Museum of the Dog, founded in 1982, was originally housed in The New York Life Building located at 51 Madison Avenue as part of the AKC Headquarters. In 1987, the Museum was moved to West St. Louis County, MO. The Museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of the art, artifacts and literature of the dog for the purposes of education, historical perspective, aesthetic enjoyment and to enhance the appreciation for and knowledge of the significance of the dog and the human/canine relationship.

We spent about an hour there, but you could spend longer, particularly if you partake in one of their special programs including Paws to Read (story time for young children, and a craft activity….free with museum admission….held weekly).

Visit www.Museumofthedog.org

 

Gulliver’s Gate, a stunning miniature world experience in Times Square (44th Street), features an interactive display (you are given a key to turn to activate items in each country) representing regions of the world and famous landmarks, as well as moving trains, planes, wagons and people of the past and present. Scenes depicted from the world include New York City, Latin America, Middle East, Europe, Russia and Asia. Landmarks include world wonders such as, the Parthenon, the Colosseum, the Pyramids, the Panama Canal, the Great Wall of China and many more. The attraction also incorporates a full-body scanner and 3D printer to enable visitors to make miniature versions of themselves that can be taken home as a souvenir, or left behind as a permanent “model citizen” of Gulliver’s Gate.

(Me – Venice)

(Seth – NYC)

We have visited twice before, but were anxious to go again, as it is an impressively, ever-evolving exhibit that not only never gets tired, but keeps adding to it’s already engaging, eye catching display.  Each time I go, I leave yearning to visit another part of the world.

This visit with my son was particularly cool because we had had miniatures made of ourselves on a prior visit and returned to see if we could find ourselves.  I chose to have my miniature placed in Venice….a destination I have always loved.  And, my son chose NYC.  As small as they were, surprisingly we were able to find them, and it was cool to know that we are a permanent part of the exhibit.

We will definitely be back to keep an eye on ourselves, and to check out the exhibition as it continues to grow.

They offer group rates and host private functions. All ages are welcome, and strollers are permitted.

(Israel)

(Airport)

A typical visit is around 1.5 hours for a self-guided tour.  The more closely you look, the more you will discover each time.

Visit www.gulliversgate.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: Our visits were hosted, but our opinions are our own.

 

Tags: , , , , ,