NYC’s only Museum dedicated to man’s best friend opens its doors to dog lovers everywhere
The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog officially open its doors in New York City at its new location, 101 Park Ave, just steps away from Grand Central Station. The Museum houses one of the world’s largest repositories of canine fine art.
The Museum contains art from famous dog artists such as Sir Edwin Landseer, Maud Earl, Arthur Wardle and many more. The Museum’s first exhibition will be entitled “For the Love of All Things Dog” and combines select works from the AKC’s own collection and that of the Museum.
Throughout the Museum, visitors will experience exhibits that bridge the digital and physical elements of the artwork and bring new life to the collection. Spanning two floors with a double height atrium space at the stair, the gallery includes interactive exhibits such as:
• “Find Your Match” kiosks that take your photo, aligning its likeness with a dog breed.
• Visitors can also try to train a digital service dog named “Molly” at the “Train A Dog” exhibit.
• “Meet the Breeds®” touchscreen tables that allows visitors to explore breeds’ features, traits, history and representations in the collection.
• “Story of A Breeder” which highlights responsible breeders and how to find one.
The Museum has an app that serves as a helpful guide for visitors, providing general information about the Museum and important highlights such as current shows, upcoming events, and “Best in Show”. The app is also equipped with augmented reality experiences, including a scavenger hunt and a museum tour led by a virtual dog named “Arty”. It creates a new user for kids and kids at heart.
The AKC Museum of the Dog, founded in 1982, was originally housed in The New York Life Building located at 51 Madison Avenue as part of the AKC Headquarters. In 1987, the Museum was moved to West St. Louis County, MO. The AKC was instrumental in founding the Museum and believes in its mission to protect and to share the amazing works of art donated by participants in the dog sport over the last 35 years.