The Skyscraper Museum is located at 39 Battery Place

In its relatively small space, the Skyscraper Museum is home to some of the biggest exhibits. Situated at the southern end of Battery Park City, in a building shared with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the modest and very modern museum houses a robust history of amazing human engineering in the form of towers, from oldest to grandest to the absolute tallest.

The Skyscraper Museum opened its permanent space in 2004, in the heat of the downtown rebuilding effort that followed 9/11. Its 5,800 square feet and affordable entry fee of just $5 make it manageable and appealing in a city full of far more lofty admissions. It is worth the visit, if only to behold the beautiful space designed by prestigious local firm Skidmore Owings and Merrill. The lofty ceilings, reflective floors, and clever lighting give the sense that less means more -- more details and more flexibility.

Exhibits change about yearly -- currently a visit will reveal an interesting architectural and historic take on New York's Garment District, called "Urban Fabric." It will be replaced in early 2013 by a centennial exhibit for the landmarked Woolworth Building, completed in April 2013, which many consider the city's most beautiful and well-preserved skyscraper.

As the birthplace of the skyscraper, Lower Manhattan is permanently represented through both a history of tall buildings, and a dedicated room for the World Trade Center. The latter, called "The Twin Towers and the Twentieth Century," examines the famous site's past, present, and future incarnations, including its many phases of construction. Original scale models of the two WTC developments make for a fascinating comparison, as do scores of building photos, videos, a "wind-tunnel model" of the first WTC site, and an interactive touch-screen computer to learn more about the WTC and other major skyscraper projects.

One particularly fascinating exhibit is the 1973 New York Times review of the original WTC and twin towers by critic Ada Louise Huxtable, and architect Minoru Yamasaki's response letter to her. The level of detail and appreciation for the development in context of the early 1970s provide a unique glimpse into the architectural thought process (and rebukes) several decades ago, when modernist styles were taking root across metropolitan areas.

The Skyscraper Museum hosts regular book talks, exhibition lectures, weekend family events, and special school programs for kids of all ages; click here to learn more. Email programs@skyscraper.org for additional details and to RSVP for events.

The museum is included in the Downtown Culture Pass, which provides entry to several Lower Manhattan museums and other attractions for one price.

The Skyscraper Museum (www.skyscraper.org), 39 Battery Pl., (212) 968-1961, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Admission is $5; $2.50 for students and seniors.

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