Museum of the Moving Image: A Family Guide (Queens, NY)
The Museum of the Moving Image is a hands-on film and television museum in Astoria, Queens, where children do not just watch movies but make them, which turns a rainy afternoon into a real lesson in how screens actually work.
Overview
The museum's core exhibition, Behind the Screen, spreads more than a thousand artifacts and dozens of interactive stations across two floors, letting kids record their own sound effects, animate a short flipbook, and try a green-screen effect. Families move at their own pace between the touchscreens and the vintage cameras, costumes, and props, and often finish with a film in one of the on-site theaters.
Why Kids Love It (and What They Learn)
Cultural Awareness: Seeing how movies and television have been made across more than a century helps children understand the media they watch every day and the many hands behind it.
Creativity and the Arts: The animation, sound, and green-screen stations let kids step from audience to maker and try the craft of filmmaking themselves.
Happy Day Play’s Tips and Tricks
Aim for a Thursday between 2 and 6pm when admission is free, and head straight upstairs to the Behind the Screen stations before they fill with school groups.
Give older kids time at the sound-effects and video-editing booths, which reward patience, while younger ones will gravitate to the flipbook machine and the interactive video-game area.
Check the screening schedule when you arrive, since a short film is a low-cost way to rest little legs
Mon Amour cafe in the lobby is handy for a snack without leaving.
Know Before You Go
General Admission: Adults $20; Seniors 65+ $12; Students $12; Youth 3-17 $10; under 3 free; free Thursdays 2-6pm. See all discounts here.
Add-Ons: Screening tickets $17.50; membership
Stroller Friendly: Stroller parking is available in the lobby but not permitted in most exhibits.
Nursing Rooms: No private nursing room. Please inquire directly for the best location.
Family Restrooms: No listed family restrooms, but accessible and gender-inclusive options are located within the building.
Food: Yes - Mon Amour Coffee & Wine cafe in lobby
Sensory Inclusion: The Museum has sensory kits available upon request at the front desk. Sensory Friendly Screenings happen the first Saturday of the month at 11:00 a.m. Please confirm for details.
Getting There and Parking
Take the M or R subway to Steinway Street and walk a few blocks; some street parking is available in the surrounding Astoria neighborhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Museum of the Moving Image good for toddlers? The museum is aimed at ages 3 and up, and while toddlers can enjoy the flipbooks and open space, the interactive stations reward preschoolers and older kids most.
How much does it cost? About $20 for adults and $10 for youth 3 to 17, with under 3 free and free admission Thursdays 2 to 6pm; screenings cost extra.
Is it indoor or outdoor? It is entirely indoor, which makes it a strong rainy-day choice.
Is there parking? It is easiest on the M or R to Steinway Street, with some street parking nearby in Astoria.
How long should we plan to stay? Two to three hours, longer if you add a screening.
Contact Info
movingimage.us | (718) 777-6800 | @movingimagenyc | 36-01 35th Ave, Queens, NY 11106
