Museum of Broadway

For true Broadway theater buffs, this is a great new stop to include in your Manhattan visit. The museum opened in 2022, after the pandemic. It’s located in the heart of the theater district, on 45th street just east of 7th Avenue. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours here; there’s lots to absorb (we enjoyed it for more than four hours!). Three floors of exhibits take Broadway lovers chronologically and geographically through the history of Broadway theater with eye-catching and engaging exhibits, narratives, original costumes, stage sets, scripts, lyric sheets and interviews. You’ll see a jacket worn by one of the Sharks and you’ll step into Doc’s drugstore from “West Side Story.” You’ll find yourself in a cornfield from 1943’s “Oklahoma,” where you’ll also see a page from Richard Rodgers’ lyrics book listing in pencil all the words he could think of rhyming with “surrey.” Costumes abound, but there are also fascinating exhibits about the backstage magic of Broadway, from writing to music, lighting to makeup and much, much more. This museum is well worth its admission price.

We needed a time filler since the weather was not great and this did a great job. Cool to see the history and all the memorabilia. Glad we could fit that in.

Very interesting museum with a very good insight behind the scenes! Almost every major musical and play from the last years has its own place with real props and costumes. Many even with small models of the set design with the technology behind it. Big gift shop in the entrance has everything you could ask for and even more from the plays that are available in Broadway at the moment of going there. I would definitely recommend going there and having a good time!

I had the absolute BEST experience on the VIP Private Tour at the Museum of Broadway! From start to finish, it felt like stepping right into the heart and soul of Broadway history. The tour was incredibly immersive, packed with fascinating stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and so many iconic moments from theater history that I never knew before. Our guide, Alex, was phenomenal—so knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about Broadway. They brought every exhibit to life with details you just wouldn’t get exploring on your own. I walked away with a whole new appreciation for the artistry and legacy of Broadway. A huge shoutout as well to Manager Steven, who made sure everything ran seamlessly and added such a warm, welcoming touch to the entire experience. You can really tell the team cares about making this tour special. If you’re even remotely a theater fan, the VIP tour is 100% worth it. I’d do it again in a heartbeat!!

If you love Broadway you will love this tour. Very nostalgic. ♥️