FreshCruiser Moments: Exploring The Met with Kids
Temple of Dendur gallery at The Met
The Temple of Dendur, an ancient Egyptian temple that crossed the ocean to find a new home inside Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This 2,000-year-old treasure has always been one of my favorite spots in New York City’s The Met.
Growing up, we visited New York City every summer. It was hot and humid, but those trips left an impact that still stays with me today. I remember being too tired to walk, so my dad and I would skip from block to block. We’d ride the bus, count how many slices of turkey were on our sandwiches, and look for ways to stay cool. Part of staying cool meant spending time inside The Met, and we never missed a summer visit.
Visiting the Temple of Dendur at the Met with my family (1988)
My dad loved the Egyptian temple, Temple of Dendur. The space was built specifically for the temple. It sits in a gallery that is breathtaking. It gives you a sense of calm with the natural light and surrounded by water as a symbol of the Nile River. It’s unlike any other gallery in the museum. But on the way there, I always remember feeling uneasy passing by the mummies. I was convinced one might start moving!
On my recent trip to The Met with my own kids, I asked an employee which way was fastest to get to the temple. She smiled and said, “If you don’t want to go past the mummies, head this way.” I couldn’t believe it! So it wasn’t just me after all. Apparently, other kids get creeped out too. Of course, in classic mom style, we still went the “mummy route.” My kids weren’t scared at all. They were fascinated, stepping into a little slice of ancient Egypt together.
Making The Met Fun for Kids
The Met Family Guides
Going to a museum doesn’t have to be boring for kids. The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers family-friendly guides for each section, which helps put what they’re seeing into perspective. I love watching which exhibits my kids naturally connect with. This time, it was all about the Arms and Armor—they couldn’t believe how heavy everything looked.
We moved quickly through some sections and lingered longer in others, and that’s part of the joy. You don’t have to make your kids love every impressionist painting. When they pause for an extra second to study a small, priceless object—without even realizing its importance—it makes you smile. It’s those moments that give them an appreciation for history, creativity, and the effort to preserve it.
“Parents, even if you have zero desire to step foot in another museum (or you’re still traumatized from your own childhood museum marathons), give it a shot with your kids. Set a time limit, keep it light, and you might be surprised at what catches their attention or how much fun you end up having, too.”
Sometimes, we even talk about the bigger questions, like where artifacts truly belong. I believe some should be returned to their home countries, but I was also grateful that my kids could see these incredible pieces up close today.
Enjoy exploring the Museum together with your family through kid-friendly guides, hands-on events, and a special play and discovery space at the 81st Street Studio.
A Perfect Pairing: The Met and Central Park
Enjoying Central Park after visiting The Met
When you make visiting The Met part of your Central Park day, it feels like the perfect New York pairing. Before or after the museum, you can stroll through the park and let the kids run around. There are street carts outside the museum to grab a quick post Museum snack.
Sharing the Temple of Dendur with my children was truly special. I loved seeing it again through their eyes. I still took a moment to glance at the mummies, just to make sure none were moving.
FreshCruiser Tip: Parents, even if you have zero desire to step foot in another museum (or you’re still traumatized from your own childhood museum marathons), give it a shot with your kids. Set a time limit, keep it light, and you might be surprised at what catches their attention or how much fun you end up having, too.