Podcast Summary

All Of It – WNYC

Episode: "Jane August is Visiting Every Museum in New York City"
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Jane August
Aired: January 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Jane August, a New York City culture enthusiast who has spent the past five years visiting (almost) every museum across the city’s five boroughs. Chronicling her adventures on social media and Gothamist, Jane discusses her project’s origin, the definition of what constitutes a museum, and shares highlights of lesser-known gems. The episode is interactive, featuring listener calls recommending their own favorite hidden museums, with Jane weighing in throughout.

Main Themes & Discussion Points

1. The Genesis of the Project

• Pandemic inspiration: Jane began her challenge in 2020 after work in the live music industry dried up due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

  “About a year into being locked in my house, I said I need to leave my house and experience some sort of art and culture. We live in the greatest city in the world. There has to be something that's open... What if I visit all of them?” (Jane August, 01:25)

2. What Counts as a Museum?

• Community service at the core: For Jane, a museum is defined by its mission to serve a community with artistic or educational enrichment.
• Experiences vs. museums: She distinguishes between educational institutions and so-called “experiences” or tourist traps.

  “I think the root of museums is community ... if a museum is serving their community... that’s kind of what I qualify as a museum.” (Jane August, 02:02)
  “A lot of the experiences are... tourist traps ... Sometimes I'm like, oh, I had a great time. Can't tell you a single thing I learned.” (Jane August, 02:32)

3. Tracking and Planning the Visits

• Spreadsheet obsession: Jane employs a large, perpetually updated spreadsheet for tracking discoveries, with over 200 entries currently and 150 completed visits.
• No rigid strategy: Visits are dictated by her schedule, museum hours, and, at times, direct outreach to museums, especially for filming permissions.

  “I made a big spreadsheet... when I started the series, I said, where should I go?... So as I hear of a new museum or I pass a place on the street, it goes on the spreadsheet.” (Jane August, 03:42)
  “There isn't a strategy... It's really sporadic.” (Jane August, 04:23)

4. Jane’s Museum Experience Process

• Immersive but spontaneous: Jane prefers to enter museums “blind,” foregoing research beforehand to allow serendipitous discovery, only researching details after her visit to create her videos.
• Tours always welcomed: If a guided tour is available, she takes it for deeper understanding.

  “I go in blind... You get to truly experience what they have to offer you with no preconceived notions.” (Jane August, 06:22)

Listener and Host Recommendations: Hidden Gems

Jane’s Picks & Listener Call-ins

• Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (09:41)

  • Favorite for activism; housed in an old squat on Avenue C; volunteer-run, makeshift exhibits about community action.

  “It's really exciting and inspiring if you're interested in activism and how you can be a part of your community.” (Jane August, 09:41)

• Nicholas Roerich Museum (10:12)

  • Upper West Side; features vibrant works of the Russian-born, Himalayas-inspired artist.

  “It's like these vibrant, colorful paintings in this townhouse... I was really impressed.” (Jane August, 10:24)

• Museum of Nostalgia, Astoria (13:01)

  • Part toy store, part vintage toy museum from the 80s and 90s.

  “People would say, you should start a museum. So there's an exhibit of all their collectibles” (Jane August, 13:01)

• Red Hook Pinball Museum (13:31)

  • Founded by two pinball enthusiasts; machines from 1850s-1950s, restore history, and playful.

  “You can play everything there... [and learn] the history of each machine and how it evolved.” (Jane August, 13:36)

• Hamilton Grange (15:13)

  • Alexander Hamilton’s 1804 federal-style home in Harlem; restored with period furniture and run by the National Park Service.

• Maritime-Related Museums (16:06-16:56)

  • Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler: Massive collection, difficult to reach, rewarding.
  • Waterfront Barge Museum: Red Hook, in an old railroad barge, doubles as performance venue.
  • South Street Seaport Museum: Access to boats and a print shop.
  • City Island Nautical Museum: Focused on Bronx shipbuilding history.

• Bone Museum, Bushwick (21:54)

  • Home to the largest collection of human spines in NYC.

• Louis Armstrong Museum, Queens (06:32, 21:52)

  • Recommended by listeners; noted renovation Jane wants to see.

• Federal Reserve Bank Museum (21:20)

  • Currently only open to school groups; Jane calls for a chaperone invitation.

Additional Listener Highlights

• Poster House (08:45) – Chelsea, for exhibits on poster art in political history; free entry on specific days.
• Hudson River Museum (08:31) – Broad scope, includes astronomy shows and a historic house within.
• John M. Mossman Locke Collection (11:34) – Obscure, located in Mechanics and Tradesmen Society, Midtown; rare locks and architectural intrigue.
• Sing Sing Prison Museum (15:40) – History of crime, punishment, and reform in NY State.
• Reni and Hyam Gross Foundation (17:44) – Preserved artist’s studio/home with impressive art collection.
• American Folk Art Museum (19:09) – Opposite Lincoln Center, unique exhibits add dimensions to American stories and media.
• Dog Museum (20:47) – Fun collection of dog art and bi-monthly opportunities to bring your own dog.
• Explorers Club (20:17) – Not a public museum per Jane, but fascinating artifacts when accessible.

Notable Quotes

• On Definition and Motivation:

  “If a museum is serving their community of their neighborhood or an intended audience, bringing some sort of artistic or educational enrichment to that community, that's kind of what I qualify as a museum.”
  – Jane August, (02:02)

• On Research Approach:

  “I go in blind. So I go that way. And then I just kind of wander around and see what there is... Then I do a lot of my research on the backend as I'm editing my videos.”
  – Jane August, (05:37)

• On Why Museums Matter:

  “There's a reason that people put all of their life into creating these museums and these spaces for us to learn and experience and I think it's also a great opportunity to go out there of your comfort zone and go to different boroughs and different neighborhoods and I recommend you do that. Just choose a museum and go. You'll probably not be disappointed at all.”
  – Jane August, (22:15)

Memorable Moments & Tone

• Spreadsheets & logistics: Jane’s candid love of spreadsheets (03:42) and organizational prowess shows her blend of creative exploration and methodical tracking.
• "Go in blind" vs. "bathe in it": The contrasting approaches to museum visiting between Jane and the host (06:11) adds warmth and personality.
• Humor and relatability:

  “The bone museum I have been to. It's in Bushwick, which is where you'd expect a bone museum to be, of course.” (21:54)

• Calls for community: Jane ends with an open invitation for teachers to help her access the Federal Reserve Bank Museum and encourages listeners to venture outside their routines.

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Introduction & Jane’s Project Origins: 00:31–01:56
• Museum Criteria: 01:56–02:45
• Spreadsheet & Logistics: 03:42–04:51
• Visiting Approach/Research Philosophy: 05:15–06:32
• Jane’s Hidden Gems Begin: 09:41
• Listener Recommendations (Poster House): 06:45–08:06
• Maritime Museums: 16:03–16:56
• Dog Museum/Bone Museum: 20:47–21:54
• Closing Reflection: 22:15–22:50

Closing Reflection

Jane emphasizes the diversity of museums in New York City beyond the big names, highlighting the unique stories and communities they sustain. Her encouragement to "just choose a museum and go" (22:15) captures the episode’s enthusiastic, exploratory spirit and celebrates NYC's endless cultural opportunities.

Episode essential for:

• NYC culture lovers
• Museum aficionados
• Adventurous locals and visitors
• Anyone seeking recommendations off the beaten path