Metropolitan Museum Tops 5 Million Visitors, with a Little Help from Picasso and Vermeer

Upon closing the books on its 2010 fiscal year (which ended yesterday), the Metropolitan Museum of Art has tallied its attendance clickers and found reason to celebrate. In the past twelve months, the institution saw 5,240,000 visitors, making it the first year since 2001 that the Met has surpassed the five million mark. The annual attendance figure, which includes visitors to The Cloisters and gardens, is among the highest in the museum’s 130-year history. For director Thomas P.