It's on 1 of my list. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- Address141 Wooster Street (New York Earth Room) & 393 West Broadway (Broken Kilometer)
- From my guide, updated September 2026.
I brought my mom here on her first visit. She still talks about it.
Dia Art Foundation is a collection of spaces across the world that showcase large-scale, unconventional art. Founded by art enthusiasts in 1974, Dia prioritizes spacious installations.
In NYC they have the New York Earth Room, a loft at 141 Wooster Street in SoHo filled with 250 cubic yards of dirt. That’s it, that’s the sculpture! The art piece was created by Walter de Maria in 1977 and is one of the most unusual museums in NYC.
After admiring the Dirt Museum, take a 5-minute walk to another unique art piece titled the Broken Kilometer. It consists of 500 polished brass rods scattered across the floor, slowly oxidizing since 1979. Like the Earth Room, the artist doesn’t provide a specific meaning and leaves it up to the viewer to interpret the work for themselves.
I’ve sent dozens of friends here. Not one has complained.