I visited this museum in 2008 and remember really enjoying it and being fascinated by the history of the early skyscrapers. I can't clearly remember how the displays have changed since then but there didn't seem to be so much early material on display this time. It is a TINY museum but the whole central area of the room is currently taken up with a temporary exhibition about sustainable building materials. Around the edge there is some stuff about early skyscrapers and quite a lot about the World Trade Center. The most interesting thing was a screen showing panoramic photos of Manhattan through the decades, which you could swipe to show how it has changed. On the plus side, in 2008 it cost me five dollars and now it is FREE, although you do have to show ID at the entrance for some reason. (UK driving licence was accepted.) The shop has an interesting range of books on New York social history and architecture.

I visited this museum on a guided tour and while very small it was extremely interesting. The exhibits are very reading intensive if not on a tour and they do change frequently so be sure to go see one that is interesting to you. Will probably not take more than 1 hour to go through and they often offer free admission.

This fascinating little museum is situated a stones throw from Battery Park so if you're visiting there, or are going to the nearby 9/11 memorial plaza, the Skyscraper Museum is worth a bit of your time as well. Though it's not big (well, it's just a single room) it's packed with fascinating facts and figures about skyscrapers all around the world, not just in New York. With models, photos and illustrations throughout, it tells the story of how buildings have evolved from the cathedrals and temples of yore, to the gigantic buildings of modern times, and even a fascinating section about the increased use of wood in modern buildings as an ecological solution to using concrete and steel. As my wife works in civil engineering this was a fascinating place for her, and the museum has a pretty cool shop if you want to pick up a skyscraper-related gift or two. Best of all, this is one of the (few) free attractions in New York, all the more reason to give it a try (though younger kids will probably find it a bit boring tbh).

Worth a visit if you are in area of The Battery. It is a small museum and they change their exhibits often. Their architecture and NYC building history bookstore is great. Some of the curation could be better - they seemed to pitching wood for skyscrapers and some could use refreshing. It was free admission the day we went. You need to get timed tickets (it's small).