The Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian
Institution displays a virtual cornucopia of decorative and
design arts in Andrew Carnegie's Upper East Side mansion.
At the Museum
by Jason Wiggins
The Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum is one of the museums
along the segment of Fifth Avenue known
as Museum Mile. Andrew Carnegie's
old mansion, which houses the Museum, looks like a building
transplanted from a university campus; a black cast iron fence
encloses a courtyard with grass and trees. While most museums
have large banners or flags flying, the design museum posts a
series of signs along the fence.
The exhibits, in large part, focus on work that gives every
day items like furniture, computers and toothbrushes a more
unique appearance, adding form to the function. Architecture
and graphic design are also well covered.
The museum is not as large as it looks. Plan to spend two
hours or more.
