Keys to the City Scavenger Hunt: On Location in New York

Calling all New York City film buffs! Explore one of the world’s most cinematic cities, discover legendary landmarks, and feel the movie magic as you and your team solve clues in our daylong scavenger hunt.

In honor of the Museum’s 100th birthday, teams will solve clues in connection with the Museum's centennial exhibition, This Is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture. Manhattan has served as a backdrop for countless movies, from West Side Story to Rosemary’s Baby to The Royal Tenenbaums to The Wolf of Wall Street. In one adventurous day, you’ll experience New York City stories as told by directors, screenwriters, and cinematographers.

It takes grit and determination to make it in both the film industry and New York City. Do you and your team have what it takes to hold the Keys to the City?

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

10:00 am | Registration & Clue Packet Pick-up at Museum of the City of New York

10:00 am to 2:00 pm | Scavenger Hunt through midtown and uptown Manhattan between 34th and 125th Street

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Closing Party & Award Ceremony back at the Museum of the City of New York

HOW THE HUNT WORKS:

Teams of at most 10 and at least 2 players start from a location of their choosing to decipher clues to identify sites in midtown and uptown Manhattan between 34th and 125th Street. Please contact us at [email protected] if you don't have a team but are interested in participating.

Team members must register individually, please note that registration closes at 11:59pm on Thursday, October 12.

Children are permitted to participate, but please note that there are some adult themes in the clues.

Teams are welcomed to plan their routes to track down clues using various modes of transportation—from cabs, to buses, to Citi bikes.

Clues are worth different point values depending on difficulty and distance. Teams do not have to visit every site; rather, the objective is to earn as many points as possible in the allotted time.

Teams must photograph all of their members at the clue sites and post their pictures to a team-designated Instagram account to earn points.

Please have your Instagram handle ready in advance – View instructions on how to create an Instagram account here.

In case of rain – The scavenger hunt will be rescheduled to Sunday, October 15 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Please note that no refunds will be offered if the event is moved to the rain date.

TICKETS:

Individual Tickets:

Adults (18 and over): $60

Youth (7-17): $30

Children 6 & Under: Free

Ticket Package:

Family (for 2 adults and up to 3 youths): $165 per family

Host or Publisher Museum of the City of New York