Fodor's Expert Review New York City Police Museum
Editor's Note: This location is no longer in operation.
Why are police called cops? Why does a police badge have eight points? When was fingerprinting first used to solve a crime? The answers to these questions and much more can be found at this museum dedicated to New York's finest. The force's history from colonial times to the present is covered through the permanent "9/11 Remembered" installation—which includes a video featuring interviews with first responders to the attack—as well as rotating exhibits. The Hall of Heroes honors police officers who have fallen in the line of duty. The Junior Officers Discovery Zone, an interactive children's exhibit, includes a model of a mobile crime lab, a police car, fingerprint labs, and other tools used for investigations. Special events include a vintage police-car show the first weekend in June. At press time, the museum remains closed due to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy; a small, temporary exhibit is located at 45 Wall Street. Call or check online for reopening date.
