New York’s oldest museum, founded in 1804, provides a comprehensive look at the New York of yesteryear. Rather than focusing on one particular niche, exhibits here encompass all aspects of old-school Gotham, with permanent holdings including clothing, theater memorabilia and other artifacts of daily life. in the past few years, the society has staged shows on the Selma to Montgomery March, Superheroes and the photography of Annie Leibovitz. — Dan Q. Dao