The Metropolitan Museum of Art may be one of the biggest and best-known museums in the world, but there is a feature of the museum that is still a bit of surprise to visitors. NY1 Arts and Culture Reporter Stephanie Simon explains why now may be the best time to check it out.

It is a bit of a hidden gem, but as visitors slowly discover the Met's magnificent rooftop garden, it's also being unearthed in another way – by French artist Pierre Huyghe.

"What Huyghe has done this year is excavate our roof garden,” says Ian Alteveer, The Met’s Associate Curator for Modern and Contemporary Art. “He's removed about 20 of the granite paving blocks that normally lie on the surface of the roof to reveal the interesting terrain that lies below them in a way as a nod to some of the ways in which certain works of art in our collection have come to us. They've been buried perhaps."

This roof garden has been open to the public since 1989 with various exhibitions. However, three years ago, the Met made a change.

"To ask the artists who participate to address the site in all of its specificities, whether it's a reference to the history of the museum below us, to our fantastic view of New York City, to the history of the skyline, the history of Central Park," Alteveer says.

At first glance, it may be hard to connect the dots to the Met's home, Central Park, but follow me here. Think of the puddles as mini ecosystems. And a particular rectangle could easily be a view of Central Park surrounded by a concrete city.

The artwork was inspired by the Met, but also another museum just across the park.

"The Museum of Natural History,” Alteveer says. “And one thinks of natural history with this exhibition."

Like the aquarium.

"Which is open to the elements, in a way.” Alteveer says, “And it has inside of it a 500 pound improbably floating stone. It's actually a piece of lava."

I am often surprised how few visitors find their way to the roof, though I admit it can take a while to find the right elevator. This particular installation is a great reminder of one of the museum's most beloved treasures - its view of the city and Central Park.

The installation is up through November.