On this day in 1959, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum opens on New York’s Museum Mile, at the edge of Central Park. It took 13 years and more than $2 million for Frank Lloyd Wright to build the Guggenheim. Despite failing eyesight, Wright lived to finish the design, but the building wasn’t completed until after his death. The museum, which is famous for its curved walls, sloped floor, and spiral gallery, has become one of the city’s most popular attractions, and is home to one of the world’s top collections of contemporary art.

* Watch a video tour of the museum.

* See a video of an installation within the Guggenheim by Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang.

* the first season of Art21 included video of Matthew Barney installing Cremaster in the Guggenheim. Read Barney’s explanation as to why he used the Guggenheim, and watch video.

* Artist Kara Walker describes her process creating an installation in the Guggenheim. You can also watch video of this installation.