(Morristown, NJ) -- Museums New York recently named the Morris Museum a Top Ten USA cultural destination for its Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata exhibition. A 60-piece selection of the 700-piece collection is currently on view, and daily demonstrations of several of the objects are performed Tuesday – Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday at 2 p.m. A selection of the objects in the collection can also been seen and heard on the museum’s Web site: www.morrismuseum.org.

The Guinness Collection was recently acquired by the Morris Museum and is one of the most important of its kind in the world. The musical machines and mechanical figures vividly document the beginning of today’s home entertainment industry. The museum plans to build a new suite of galleries that will house the entire collection. These displays will be the first of their kind to be seen in a major museum in the western hemisphere.

“For our Top Ten USA column, we review exhibition information from museums all over the country,” said Susan Delson, editor-in-chief of Museums New York. “Based on content and geography, we draw up a list that will appeal to museum-goers with varying interests. The Morris Museum's remarkable collection of automatons is certainly something our readers would want to know about.”

“The Morris Museum is delighted to have the exhibition of mechanical musical instruments and automata selected by Museums New York as one of the Top Ten exhibitions in the United States,” said Steven H. Miller, executive director of the Morris Museum. “As an important cultural asset, it has made the Morris Museum a unique international destination. Our visitors enjoy these extraordinary, entertaining works of art.”

Covering over 900 museums, Museums Magazine is the premier authority for museum-goers and cultural art enthusiasts. Published for New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, Museums Magazine reaches up to 10 million readers per year. 

Founded in 1913, the Morris Museum explores and celebrates the arts, sciences, and history through exhibitions, educational programs, performing arts and special events. The museum serves over 211,000 adults and children each year.

The Morris Museum, located at 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown, NJ, is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Admission to the museum is $7 for adults and $5 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is always free for museum members and is free to the public every Thursday between 1 and 8 p.m. For more information, call 973.971.3700 or visit www.morrismuseum.org.     

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