Ground Breaks On LGBTQ+ Museum Set To Open On Upper West Side

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The Landmarks Preservation Commission earlier in the summer approved a four-story expansion of the New-York Historical Society on the Upper West Side that will house The American LGBTQ+ Museum.

On Tuesday, elected officials, board members of the new museum, and celebrities took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the new institution.

The 70,000-square-foot museum will be located on Central Park West between West 76th and 77th Streets. Specifically, the museum will be constructed in the lot that has long stood vacant next to the New-York Historical Society.

"People will come from literally every corner of the world to learn, to be educated, to be inspired, to remember that, yes, a change can come, and it did here in New York City," Mayor Bill de Blasio said during the ceremony on Tuesday.

Expected to open in 2024, The American LGBTQ+ Museum will be New York's first museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history and culture.

There was quite a group of Upper West Side elected officials at the ceremony on Tuesday, including Rep. Jerry Nadler, Manhattan Borough President and UWS city council candidate Gale Brewer, and Assembly Member Helen Rosenthal.

Congratulations to the @NYHistory and @LGBTQ_Museum on their groundbreaking. #LGBTQ history is New York’s history and American history. Thrilled to have the @LGBTQ_Museum on the UWS! pic.twitter.com/vw2yOxpj4C
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) September 14, 2021

Former tennis star and lifelong champion of women and gay rights Billie Jean King was also on the Upper West Side Tuesday for the ceremony.

Thrilled to help break ground today at the future home of the @LGBTQ_Museum at the New-York Historical Society.

The @NYHistory expansion will include a dedicated space for the United States' 1st museum dedicated to #LGBTQ history & culture. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 pic.twitter.com/Q2NfrDrt2L
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 15, 2021

The expansion of the New-York Historical Society that will housing the LGBTQ+ Museum was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and will start in the summer of 2022.

Funding Of The New Museum

During the ceremony on Tuesday, it was announced that de Blasio and the City Council gave $25 million to fund the expansion of the New-York Historical Society and the creation of The American LGBTQ+ Museum.

This amount includes $400,000 secured by Manhattan Borough President Brewer's office.

City Council Member Helen Rosenthal also secured funding for the expansion and new museum, but did not specify the amount.

You can find out more about The American LGBTQ+ Museum on its website.