Best Bronx Cultural Sites

Best known for his poetry and short stories, American writer/editor and (harsh) literary critic Edgar Allan Poe spent the last years of his life in the Bronx (1846 - 1849), residing in a small wooden farmhouse, now known as The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage. Back then, the area was a bucolic paradise of rolling hills and the babbling Bronx River; Poe's home had a view of the Long Island shores. The author penned many of his most famous works there, including: "Annabel Lee," "The Bells" and "The Cask of Amontillado."

The little home has since been restored to its original appearance and decorated with authentic period furnishings by The Bronx County Historical Society, and sits at the intersection of Kingsbridge Road and the Grand Concourse. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students, children, and seniors.

The Bronx Music Heritage Center (BMHC), founded by the Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco), is committed to celebrating, preserving and promoting Bronx music, artists and history through a multitude of programs, including: live music performances, readings, film screenings, educational art programs, art installations and music history trolley tours of the neighborhood. Guided by the BMHC Music Advisory Board -- which includes Grammy winners, music historians, artists and community members -- the BMHC spurs neighborhood revival and provides free cultural programs for the community. For details on upcoming events and programs, click here.

The Bronx Documentary Center (BDC) is a non-profit gallery and educational space that deals with the themes of justice, education, community-building, and positive social change. What was once a dream of providing the South Bronx with access to high-quality documentary work is now one of the leading Bronx-based cultural organizations with over 25 major exhibitions, film screenings and other public programs. To view the BDC's upcoming events, click here.  

Welcome to the oldest surviving residence in the Bronx! Built in 1748, Van Cortlandt House was the rural manor of a large and prosperous wheat plantation, but during the Revolutionary War, George Washington used the house as headquarters not once -- but twice! The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York took over stewardship of the building in 1896 and has been operating the house as a museum since then. Today it is furnished with decorative arts and Van Cortlandt family collections.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts not only features innovative contemporary art exhibitions, but also uses them as a catalyst for cross-cultural dialogue, connecting a diverse group of visitors to the same urban experience. The museum's permanent collection showcases artists of African, Asian, and Latin American ancestry, which provides a forum for the voices of those who are typically underrepresented in a traditional museum setting. In accordance with its universal mission, the museum now has a free admission policy for all.