Press

Media Contact: 
JP O’Hare 
(518) 474-1201 
Press@nysed.gov 
www.nysed.gov 

Join the New York State Museum in ringing in the Year of the Snake with vibrant new displays, a refreshed Tuck High Co. exhibition, and fun, family-friendly activities! The Museum will host two special Lunar New Year celebrations, giving visitors of all ages a unique opportunity to learn about the oldest continuously operating business in Manhattan’s Chinatown before its closing in 1980, the historic Tuck High Co.

Family-Friendly Lunar New Year Celebration: Storytime, Tour, and Craft

• January 26, 1:00 p.m.
• January 29, 11:00 a.m.
• New York Metropolis Hall
• FREE

Bring the whole family to immerse yourselves in the sights and sounds of Lunar New Year! Enjoy a special story time celebrating Spring Festival traditions and take part in a festive craft to welcome good luck in the year ahead. Then, join Senior Historian and Curator Ashley Hopkins-Benton for an engaging, behind-the-scenes tour of the Tuck High Co. store installation. Learn about how three generations of the Lee family served the Chinatown community, and discover the fascinating artifacts, fixtures, and stories that made this landmark shop an essential part of New York State’s history.

“We’re thrilled to invite families to explore the fascinating history of Tuck High Co. while celebrating the Lunar New Year,” said Ashley Hopkins-Benton, Senior Historian and Curator of the New York State Museum. “This is more than just an exhibit—it’s a chance to connect with the vibrant cultural heritage of Chinatown, embrace new beginnings, and spark curiosity in visitors of all ages.”

Established in 1879, Tuck High Co. was the oldest continuously operating store in Manhattan’s Chinatown until it closed in 1980. Thanks to a partnership with the Lee family, the store’s original fixtures and contents have been preserved and on view at the New York State Museum since 1981.

This Lunar New Year, visitors will see the results of the first phase of a multi-year preservation and reinterpretation project. After more than a year of dedicated conservation work—cleaning and assessing the artifacts—Museum staff have added new interpretive panels to illustrate Tuck High’s role in Chinatown’s history and its connection to today’s ongoing family-owned businesses. For those who can't make it to Albany to experience Tuck High in person, the Museum has unveiled a cutting-edge 3D scan flythrough for an up-close look at the exhibit. Additional presentations offer dynamic and detailed explorations of the iconic space, bringing its rich history and artifacts to life from anywhere in the world.

Among the exciting additions is the sculpture Ginger Jar, from the series Passages (those that carried us) by Vivian Chiu. This remarkable new acquisition is crafted from pieces of wooden crates once used to ship porcelain from China to Wing on Wo & Co.—a neighboring shop founded in the 1890s. Visitors can also see a newly acquired “Togetherness Tray, Second Edition,” by Tiffany Saw for Wing on Wo & Co., symbolizing the sweet abundance and unity that Lunar New Year brings.

Lunar New Year traditionally begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar. Customs often include cleaning the home to welcome fresh beginnings, decorating with flowers and red accents for prosperity, giving monetary gifts in red envelopes, and enjoying festive fireworks. Starting January 26 and continuing through February, the windows of Tuck High Co. will be adorned with Spring Festival decorations, offering a glimpse into these time-honored traditions.

About the Cultural Education Center  

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 480 million years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website.

Visit the New York State Library  website for a complete list of upcoming programs. To receive news, resources, and other updates, please subscribe to the quarterly newsletter.  

New York State Archives holds many of the oldest and most important archival treasures in the nation. The Archives preserves and makes accessible over 250 million records of New York’s State and colonial governments dating from 1630 to the present. The State Archives provides free access to photographs, artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and other materials that tell the story of New York’s history via its Digital Collections on the Archives website.

Archives Partnership Trust was founded in 1992 to build an endowment and provide project support to enhance humanities programs, increase access to these outstanding treasures, and continue the preservation of New York's historical records. Since its founding, the Partnership Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has supported exceptional projects and programs. These include the Research Residency Program, the Student Research Awards Program, history conferences, special exhibitions, public education programs, book signings and lectures, publications, teacher training institutes, preservation projects, and more.

The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.  

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