NYC 2026 Trip--Rise NY

My son picked out RiseNY as an attraction he wanted to see. It was in the Times Square vicinity, so near the theater where we saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The attraction is part museum and part theme-park ride. The experience starts with a fancy video telling the story of the first subways in New York, which opened in 1904. The first underground tracks ran from City Hall in the south of Manhattan up to 145 Street in Harlem.

Subway station exhibit

The museum part of the attraction goes through the history of New York, including the time that Alexander Hamilton spent there as a lawyer and the founder of the Bank of New York. By his portrait were several buttons that promised descriptions of his activities, including with his famous duel with Aaron Burr. When I pushed one, the portrait began speaking!

That "still life" isn't always still

Nearby is a picture of the famous Charging Bull statue in the Financial District and a replica of the recently (2017) installed Fearless Girl statue, also in the Financial District.   

Art in the Financial District

A display describes the famous tall buildings in New York City.

Woolworth and Chrysler Building (corporate sponsorship even then?)

The next exhibits covered the cultural impact of New York City, mostly in television. Recreations of The Honeymooners apartment and the Friends couch are on display. 

Recreation of the main set of The Honeymooners

Relaxing on the Friends couch

Many late night shows are recorded and broadcast from New York. One display shows the famous visit of the Beatles to The Ed Sullivan Show. Also on the stage is one Cab Calloway's Zoot suits. 

British invasion!

Cab Calloway's finest

The next rooms were dedicated to Broadway and fashion. One display shows costumes from Aladdin, Wicked, and Phantom of the Opera, all extremely popular musicals.

Broadway fashions

Other fashions were on display as well.

The final part of Rise NY is a motion ride that takes riders through the sweeping vistas of New York City. It was very impressive, reminiscent of the Harry Potter rides at Universal Studios, though with less action and danger. It was a great overview of all the amazing parts of New York City.

The exit was through the gift shop (naturally) though we didn't buy any souvenirs here.