Photography courtesy of Museum of the Dog

Museums have long been popular destinations, providing a place for kids and adults alike to lose themselves in a day of discovery and wonder.

Common iterations of these treasured institutions include science, art, and history, but there are plenty of quirkier options to choose from as well—including, surprisingly, dogs. If you’re interested to learn all about our four-legged friends, then you must visit the AKC Museum of the Dog in New York City.

Culture and history 

The American Kennel Club opened this museum (also known as the MoD) on Madison Avenue in 1982 before moving it to St. Louis, Missouri, five years later. It had a thirty-year-plus stint there before returning home to New York in 2019, where it joined the AKC headquarters in midtown Manhattan.

Dog lovers will be amazed by the sheer volume of art and education at the MoD, including the endless array of dog-focused fine art and artifacts in its permanent collection, one of the largest of its kind on earth. Whether you prefer watercolors or drawings, paintings or prints, or ceramics or bronze sculptures, you’ll find amazing pieces that will dazzle you. Gaze at paintings honoring the canine companions of famous people, from British monarchs to US presidents, as well as artifacts dating back centuries—there’s even a dog fossil that’s millions of years old. And if you want to learn more about your pooch’s breed, you can scour some of the AKC Library and Archive’s 4,000 volumes on dogs either online or by appointment in person.

Fun for all

Some may find museums overly stuffy, but you don’t have to worry about that here thanks to the MoD’s hands-on entertainment, particularly its engaging interactive displays. For example, you can discover everything about your favorite dog breeds in a snap, including their physical and emotional traits, and the important roles dogs play in many professions. Or try teaching a virtual dog named Molly new tricks in Puppy Training 101, and then see how well she learned your commands. There’s even a Find Your Match kiosk that pairs you with your dog doppelgänger.

Time your visit right, and you can also attend one of the museum’s regular events. A particularly popular one is the monthly Breed Spotlight, which provides information, art projects, and more about that month’s featured type, selected from the over two hundred breeds recognized by the AKC. Another is the after-hours art class, where you can participate in a craft such as pastels or printmaking.

Of course, why should the fun be relegated only to humans? That’s the mindset behind the MoD’s Furry Fridays, a program that allows you and your canine companion to wander the institution’s halls together after hours. (Just be sure to purchase tickets ahead of time since they sell out fast.) Meanwhile, children can bring their stuffed four-legged friends to Paws to Read on Wednesday mornings for reading and education, then let their inner artist loose at the second-floor activity table—their masterpieces could even end up on display on the museum’s community wall.

And the excitement doesn’t need to end after you’ve experienced this magical place. Before you leave, make sure to stop by the museum store, where both kids and kids at heart can choose from dog-focused toys, books, and more. (The online store offers even more to choose from.) In addition, check out MoD at Home, a portal that includes activities such as canine word searches, drawing activities, and coloring pages.

Special attractions

Much like other cultural institutions, the AKC Museum of the Dog offers one-of-a-kind temporary exhibitions throughout the year on top of its regular offerings. From June through August, you can enjoy learning about pooches in pop culture with the exhibit Double Exposure: Famous Dogs Portrayed in Different Media. The museum then closes 2025 with some local flavor: Dogs and The New Yorker, running from September through December.

In addition, you’ll find stimulating seasonal offerings on the MoD calendar. For example, during summer, it hosts free outdoor craft events for adults and kids, and come September, you can watch Paws on Parade, a parade and social held at nearby Bryant Park. And the holidays are howling at the museum, with special happenings for you and your four-legged friend.

Open Wednesday through Sunday, you’ll have a doggone good time at this must-see museum dedicated to man’s best friend. So next time you’re in the Big Apple, be sure to stop by to savor the culture of canines.

For more info, visit museumofthedog.org