New York City is known for its great diversity as a cultural mecca for art, especially with museums. Two of these major institutions are the Frick Collection and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Each museum provides insight into the creativity of the past, while remaining interesting by displaying works of varying styles and eras. Although both museums have similar goals in their mission statements, differences in space, structure, and artistic philosophies set them apart. In 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded by a group of businessmen and artists who wanted a place to showcase and educate the public about a variety of art. This museum houses paintings, sculptures, costumes, musical instruments and ancient weapons. The works range from classical antiquity through European masters to modern art. The Frick Collection was opened to the public in 1935, transforming Henry Frick's mansion into a gallery showcasing his extensive collection of European paintings, drawings, manuscripts and sculptures. The two museums have similar mission statements, with the Frick Museum's directive to preserve Henry Frick's art collection and display it publicly, and the Met's goal to encourage and develop the teaching of fine -arts. One distinction between the two is the huge difference in size. Although the Frick Museum has undergone several expansions, it is dwarfed by the scale of work that the Met has the capacity to exhibit. The Frick can be seen in its entirety in a few hours, while the Met would require multiple visits to fully explore. The rooms of the Frick are decorated with furniture as they might have been at the time they were inhabited. The works in each room were arranged according to Henry Frick's plan...... middle of paper ...... constant flow through the rooms and navigation was effortless. The goal of every museum is to educate the public by showing works of art. While the Met has a greater variety to offer the public in terms of styles and periods, the Frick has curated a different collection reflecting Frick's personal tastes. Despite their differences, both museums succeed in achieving the goals outlined in their mission statements, and both can be visually exhilarating experiences. collection_exhibitions/fine.php http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/collection/the-frick-collection http://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-museum/mission-statement http://www.metmuseum .org/about-the-museum/history-of-the-museum/main-building http://metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections/437372