The Morgan Library & Museum is where the financier J. P. Morgan kept the books, manuscripts and drawings he collected, and its interiors are among the most beautiful in New York City. The original library, designed by McKim, Mead & White and completed in 1906, is a Renaissance-style palazzo of marble, with a three-tier East Room of bookcases, a ceiling painted with murals and Morgan's own study, hung with tapestries and old master paintings. Today it is a public museum of manuscripts, rare books, drawings and prints, with holdings that include three Gutenberg Bibles, medieval illuminated manuscripts, original manuscripts by famous authors and a major collection of Rembrandt and other European drawings. A modern entrance pavilion by Renzo Piano, added in 2006, links the historic buildings.
The core experience is the historic library itself. Morgan's study and the East Room, with its tiers of locked bookcases behind bronze grilles, give a vivid idea of how an extraordinarily rich man curated a private world. Rotating cases show treasures from the collection: a Gutenberg Bible, illuminated Books of Hours, a Mozart manuscript or a letter from a famous poet may be on view depending on the season.
The Morgan holds the manuscript of a Christmas classic by Charles Dickens, music manuscripts by Beethoven and Bach, and thousands of drawings from the Renaissance onward, and it displays them in changing exhibitions that are often superb. Because the works are fragile, rotation is constant, so a repeat visit rarely shows the same thing twice.
The Piano pavilion and the newer galleries host the museum's temporary exhibitions, which are thoughtful and tightly focused, whether on a single artist's drawings, a period of manuscript illumination or a great writer's papers. A modest café under a glass ceiling and a gift shop sell literary and bibliophile goods.
The museum also runs concerts and talks, which suit the setting well. The scale is a major part of the appeal: it is compact enough to see in about ninety minutes to two hours, and the quality of the objects and rooms means it feels richer than the time suggests.
Practicals and fit
The Morgan is at 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street in Murray Hill, a short walk from Grand Central, the Empire State Building and Bryant Park. It is closed on a couple of days of the week, so check hours before you go, and tickets can be bought in advance.
It pairs well with the Frick or the Met for a manuscript-and-drawings day, and with a walk through Midtown's quieter streets. It is a natural rainy-day choice, an excellent option for anyone who finds the great encyclopedic museums overwhelming, and a welcome complement to the Met and the Guggenheim on a New York art trip.
It helps to treat the Morgan as two visits in one: the historic rooms for atmosphere and the exhibitions for substance. Look up in the East Room, where the painted ceiling and the tiers of books are easy to miss while you study the cases. Check what is on show before you book, because the temporary exhibitions can be superb and sometimes draw crowds. A visit also suits those who want something calmer than a major gallery, with plenty of places to sit.
What to expect
The experience
A historic private library with a palatial East Room, rare books, manuscripts and drawings, rotating exhibitions and a café. Buy admission through the venue's site.
Best time
Weekday mornings, when the East Room is quiet.
How long
Ninety minutes to two hours.
Tips
Confirm closing days before you go. Start in Morgan's study and the East Room, then see the exhibitions, and have lunch in the café under the glass ceiling.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Book lovers and anyone who enjoys beautiful interiors.
- Families
- Older children who like books and history.
- Couples
- A quiet, elegant rainy-day visit.
- Pair with
- Grand Central Terminal, Bryant Park or the Empire State Building.
- Time needed
- Under two hours.
Good questions
What can I see at the Morgan?+
Morgan's original library and study, rare books including Gutenberg Bibles, illuminated manuscripts, literary and music manuscripts, and drawings, plus changing exhibitions.
Who designed the building?+
The original library was designed by McKim, Mead & White and completed in 1906. Renzo Piano designed the modern pavilion added in 2006.
How long does a visit take?+
Most visitors need ninety minutes to two hours.
Is it a good rainy-day option?+
Yes. It is compact, indoors and in Murray Hill, close to Grand Central.
Where is the Morgan?+
At 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street in Manhattan.
