In 2021, when museums in New York City began reopening after COVID-19 closures, Jane August started a cultural project to visit and record every museum in the city through short video logs. She first estimated the project would take three years. So far, she has visited 136 museums, with about 64 left. The total changes as new museums open or older ones change significantly. August, a licensed New York City tour guide, began the project to reconnect with the city’s cultural life. Her videos, mainly on TikTok, now have about 40,000 followers. She has shown both large museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and smaller ones like Poster House, the Tenement Museum, and the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum.

August often visits during weekday afternoons, using free admission days and library passes to save money. Staten Island museums, including the Alice Austen House and Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, are among her favorites. She has noticed trends such as more programs for younger visitors and fewer traditional chronological displays. August said these changes, together with social media attention, help smaller museums attract more visitors. She stated that the most valuable part of her work is meeting curators, museum supporters, and community members. Although the project requires long travel and persistence, she believes it gives a deep understanding of both the museums and the city’s neighborhoods.