Address
36-01 35th Aven (at 37th Street ), Astoria, NY 11106
Phone Number
(718) 293 -6398
Date Visited
02/20/2015
Website
Museum of the Moving Image
Description
The Museum of the Moving Image is located at 36-01 35th Ave (at 37th St), in Astoria, NY. Parking must be found on the street or at a nearby garage. "Discounted parking is available nearby at PV Parking Corp.,34-11 Steinway Street (entrance on 41st St. between 34 & 35 Ave: wheelchair accessible" (Museum brochure)The street level main entrance consists of two sets of double doors. The Museum has three floors, with stairs and an elevator to all. The Museum is easy to maneuver, with ample space to move around. Seating is minimal in the galleries other than what you will find near viewing screens.
The main theater on the first floor has a ramp to enter. Once inside you are between the third and fourth rows. Wheelchair and companion seating are located here. All other rows require steps to get to them. The steps are underlit. There are handrails on both sides of the theater. There is a bench in the lobby and seats in the cafe.
Restrooms are located on the first and third floors. The third floor restrooms are not handicapped-accessible, as none of the stalls have hand bars. The first floor restrooms are multi-stall, handicapped-accessible. A baby-changing station is located in the first floor restroom near the elevator.
All screening rooms are handicapped-accessible.
The Courtyard Cafe is located on the main floor.
- Attraction Type: museum
Doors: 2 sets of double doors
Number of floors: 3
Elevators: one
Ramps: none
Steps and staircases: to all floors
Width of aisles: ample space to maneuver
Places to sit: minimal seating in galleries other than for viewing videos
Location of restrooms: **1st and 3rd floors
Type of restroom: 3rd floor not handicapped-accessible, others are multi-stall, handicapped accessible
Ease of entry and exit: OK
Baby changing station: yes
Available food services: Courtyard Cafe
Friendliness of staff: exceptional personnel, happy to talk to you
Notes: * Parking must be found on the street or at a nearby garage. ""Discounted parking available nearby at PV Parking Corp. 34-11 Steinway Street (entrance is on 41st St. between 34 & 35 Ave: wheelchair accessible"" (brochure)** There is a baby-changing station in the first floor restroom near the elevator.
We have not visited since Covid. When I called the Museum I was told that all of the accessibility accommodations I asked about were still in place. We highly recommend visiting their website to check times when they are open, advanced ticketing and other policies in place right now.
Following is our original post from 2015.
Museum of the Moving Image is located in Astoria, Queens, in a former building of what is now the Kaufman Astoria Studios. For anyone interested in movies or television this is a must see destination. Today’s visit was to see “The Humans of Sesame Street,” a wonderful walk down memory lane (including photos, video and conversation), with the “human cast” of this groundbreaking show.
Since it was a Sunday we were able to find street parking close by. The last time we came it was early on a weekday morning and we found parking as well. If you are not so fortunate, discounted parking for Museum visitors can fe found at a nearby garage. (See the Museum’s website for details)
The street level, double door entrance leads to a small entryway and another set of double doors to the lobby and gift shop (on the right). The shop has an intersting selection. From here a slight incline leads to the courtyard and its lovely cafe. An elevator or stairs gets one to all floors. Each level has ample space to navigate. There is minimal seating in the galleries other than what you will find near the movie/video screens.
It is “…the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to exploring the art, history and technology of the moving image…Embracing a wide range of subjects, from nineteenth century optical toys to the latest in digital art, the Museum explores every phase of the production, promotion, and exhibition of moving images. It offers an engaging, highly interactive core exhibition, programs of contemporary and classic films from around the world, discussion with leading figures in film and television, a unique collection, inspiring educational programs for learners of all ages, stimulating changing exhibitions, and ground breaking online projects.” (website) A truer description couldn’t be written!
The Museum has many permanent exhibitions as well as temporary ones. Right now they are close to opening a permanent Jim Henson Exhibition. The various areas offer many objects from the past to look at. We always have fun saying, “Remember that?” when looking at the old televisions, radios, costumes and memorabilia from our childhood and before. If you are over the age of 35 you will love the video games from the old arcades. You can relive your youth while playing!
We know that public tours are no longer given. We were told that we need to have a group of ten or more to arrange a tour (hmm…something for us to think about).
Movies are always shown here. They screen over 400 movies a year! The large theater in the lobby usually has a full-length feature, and our favorite location , “Tut’s Fever”, is a 35 seat theater. Both are wheelchair accessible.
Today’s celebration was held in the main theater (on the first floor). A ramp from the lobby leads to the theater itself. When we entered we found ourselves between the third and forth rows. Wheelchair and companion seating is located here. All other rows require steps, either up or down. There is lighting under the steps and handrails on both sides of the theater. The seats themselves areroomy and comfortable. We were lucky enough to be “up close and personal” (as I like to call it), in the third row. It was an indcredible two hours!
Restrooms are located on the first and third floors. The restroom on the third floor is not handicapped-accessible (there is no handrails in the stall). The others each have a handicapped-accessible stall. A baby-changing station can be found in the first floor restroom near the elevator.
All of the personnel we encountered were exceptional. They all seemed genuinely happy to talk to us and answer all of our questions.
As always, we at Destination Accessible, advise you to check a venue’s website, www.movingimage.us, when planning a visit, to “know before you go.”
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