Astoria

Understanding Astoria

The village was named Astoria in 1839 in an effort to attract John Jacob Astor's investment. The City acquired riverfront land for Astoria Park in 1913 as the shoreline became industrial. The park's public space preserves access to that waterfront.

At Socrates, artists and neighbors cleared a dumping ground to make space for sculpture. Its first exhibition opened in 1986. That change helps explain why a working sculpture space occupies this stretch of waterfront.

The museum stands beside Kaufman Astoria Studios. Pairing its exhibits with the studio exterior connects moving-image history to a place where productions are made. The studio is a separate working site.

Places to explore

• Museum of the Moving Image

  36-01 35th Avenue

  Explore exhibitions about how moving images are made and experienced. Gallery admission and individual screenings have different ticket arrangements. The lobby, cafe and courtyard are available without gallery admission during museum hours; the courtyard depends on weather.

  Read the NYFE place guide

• Socrates Sculpture Park

  32-01 Vernon Boulevard

  Look for the current outdoor commissions and the riverfront setting. This is an outdoor art park with no indoor galleries or visitor center. Follow artwork signs; sculpture is not playground equipment.

  Read the NYFE place guide

• Hallets Cove

  Beach gate at 31-10 Vernon Boulevard

  The cove belongs to the park but has a separate beach gate. Use the operator map to locate it. This shoreline stop does not establish swimming access or a step-free beach approach.

• Astoria Park

  East River waterfront at the Hell Gate and RFK bridges

  Choose the park’s lawns, paths or track as a separate outdoor visit. Its pool is a different seasonal facility; the history of its 1936 opening does not establish today’s swimming season.

Planning a visit

For the museum, the operator lists Steinway Street on the R/M and 36th Avenue on the N/W. Check current MTA service before traveling. Choose the museum or waterfront as your destination; they are in different parts of Astoria.

Socrates describes a paved path around the lawn, wheelchair mats and portable restrooms. Those provisions apply to the park. Check the museum accessibility information separately and plan the station-to-destination approach.