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Morgan Library & Museum facts for kids
The main building
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| Former name | Pierpont Morgan Library |
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| Established | 1906 (private library) March 28, 1924 (public institution) |
| Location | 225 Madison Avenue (at East 36th Street), Manhattan, New York City |
| Type | Museum and research library |
| Collection size | 350,000 |
| Visitors | 274,000 (fiscal year 2019) |
| Founder | J. P. Morgan |
| Architect | Charles Follen McKim (main building) Benjamin Wistar Morris (main building annex) Isaac Newton Phelps (231 Madison Avenue) Renzo Piano and Beyer Blinder Belle (expansion) |
| Public transit access | Subway:        at Grand Central–42nd Street at 33rd StreetBus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M34 SBS, M34A SBS, M42, Q32 |
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J. Pierpont Morgan Library
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| Location | 225 Madison Avenue at East 36th Street< Manhattan, New York City |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000544 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1966 (main building) |
| Designated NHL | November 13, 1966 (main building) |
The Morgan Library & Museum is a special place in New York City. It's both a museum and a research library, located at 225 Madison Avenue in Manhattan. It was first built in 1906 as the private library of a famous banker named J. P. Morgan.
J. P. Morgan loved collecting rare books and art. His collection grew so large that he needed a special building for it! After he passed away, his son, John Pierpont Morgan Jr., opened the library to the public in 1924. This was so everyone could enjoy the amazing treasures inside.
Over the years, the Morgan Library has grown with new buildings and spaces. Famous architects like Charles Follen McKim and Renzo Piano have helped design its different parts. Today, it holds over 350,000 objects, including old manuscripts, rare books, drawings, and musical scores. It's a place where you can explore history, art, and literature all at once!
Contents
Discovering the Morgan Library's Past
The land where the Morgan Library stands today used to have several homes belonging to the Phelps family. J. P. Morgan bought one of these houses in 1880. He spent many years collecting thousands of rare and beautiful items.
How the Library Building Came to Be
By 1900, J. P. Morgan's collection was so big it didn't fit in his house anymore! He decided to build a special library just for his treasures. In 1902, he hired Charles Follen McKim, a famous architect, to design it. Morgan wanted a "gem" – a perfect, simple building.
The library was built using beautiful pinkish-gray Tennessee marble. It was put together with a special method called "dry masonry," which means the marble blocks fit together so perfectly that they needed very little mortar. This made the building incredibly strong and beautiful. Construction finished in 1906.
From Private to Public: A Museum for Everyone
J. P. Morgan first used his new library in 1906. It was a private space where he kept his most valuable items. He even hosted important meetings there, like during the Panic of 1907 when bankers met to solve a financial crisis.
After J. P. Morgan died in 1913, his son, Jack Morgan, decided to make the library public. This was his father's wish: to share the collection with the "American people." So, in 1924, the Pierpont Morgan Library officially became a public institution.
At first, only researchers could visit, but eventually, it opened to everyone. The library continued to grow, adding new buildings in 1928, 1962, and 1991. In 2006, after a big expansion, it was renamed the Morgan Library & Museum to show that it's both a library and a museum.
Exploring the Morgan's Amazing Collections
The Morgan Library & Museum is home to over 350,000 objects! It's like a treasure chest filled with unique and rare items from different times and places.
Ancient Manuscripts and Letters
One of the most famous parts of the collection is its illuminated manuscripts. These are handwritten books, often from the Middle Ages, with beautiful drawings and decorations. Some of them are over a thousand years old!
- The collection has more than 1,100 illuminated manuscripts.
- Famous examples include the Morgan Bible and the Hours of Catherine of Cleves.
The museum also has original writings from famous authors. Imagine seeing the actual handwriting of:
- Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
- Walter Scott's novels
- Poems by John Keats and Edgar Allan Poe
- Writings from Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, and Ernest Hemingway
You can also find letters from important historical figures like Napoleon and famous artists like Vincent van Gogh. There's even a rare 1516 letter that describes the Southern Cross constellation for the first time!
Musical Treasures
If you love music, you'll be amazed by the Morgan's collection of musical manuscripts. It includes original scores and letters from some of the greatest composers in history:
The collection even has the original scraps of paper where Bob Dylan wrote down the lyrics for his famous songs "Blowin' in the Wind" and "It Ain't Me Babe"!
Rare Books and Ancient Artifacts
The Morgan has some of the earliest printed books ever made, including three rare Gutenberg Bibles. These Bibles are among the first books printed using movable type.
You can also see:
- Ancient Egyptian artifacts
- Original drawings for The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- Ancient cylinder seals from the Near East, which were used to make impressions in clay.
The museum also has a collection of children's books, including early versions of famous stories like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Visual Art and Drawings
The Morgan's art collection includes paintings by "Old Masters" like Hans Memling. It also has a huge collection of drawings and watercolors, with about 12,000 pieces!
- Drawings by French masters like Antoine Watteau and Jacques-Louis David.
- Watercolors by William Blake.
- Etchings by Rembrandt van Rijn.
The museum also has a photography department, showing works from different periods and styles.
Other Unique Objects
Beyond books and art, the Morgan has many other interesting items:
- Royal jewels
- Old German silver pieces
- Chinese porcelain
- Ancient Babylonian figures
- Stage and costume designs
What to Do at the Morgan Library & Museum
The Morgan Library & Museum isn't just for looking at old things; it's a lively place with lots of activities!
Exhibitions and Events
The museum hosts many temporary exhibitions throughout the year, focusing on different topics from its vast collection. This means there's always something new to see!
You can also enjoy:
- Concerts and musical recitals in the Gilder Lehrman Hall.
- Lectures and talks by experts.
- Guided tours of the permanent collection.
Visiting the Museum
The Morgan Library & Museum welcomes about 250,000 visitors each year. You can reserve tickets for free admission on Friday evenings. College students can visit for free on the first Sunday of each month.
The Buildings of the Morgan Library
The Morgan Library & Museum is made up of several buildings, each with its own history and style.
The Main Building: A Marble Masterpiece
The original building, designed by Charles McKim, is a beautiful example of Classical Revival architecture. It's made of stunning Tennessee marble. Outside, you'll see two lioness sculptures by Edward Clark Potter guarding the main entrance.
Inside, the main building is very grand. It has a colorful rotunda (a round room) with murals on the ceiling. This rotunda leads to three main rooms:
- The West Room (Morgan's Study): This was J. P. Morgan's private office. It has low wooden bookshelves, a marble fireplace, and walls covered in red fabric.
- The North Room (Librarian's Office): This room used to be the librarian's office and now displays ancient Roman, Greek, and Near Eastern objects.
- The East Room (Library Room): This is the largest room, with three levels of bookcases filled with books. It has a beautiful fireplace from the 15th century and murals on the ceiling.
The Annex and Other Structures
Next to the main building is an annex built in 1928, also made of Tennessee marble. It provides space for offices, exhibitions, and a research library.
Another important part of the complex is 231 Madison Avenue, an old brownstone house. This house was once owned by J. P. Morgan Jr. Today, it houses the Morgan Shop and the Morgan Dining Room. The attic of this house is home to the Thaw Conservation Center, where experts work to preserve the museum's collections.
In 2006, new glass and steel buildings were added, designed by Renzo Piano. These modern structures connect the older buildings and provide new galleries, a reading room, and an auditorium called Gilder Lehrman Hall. Much of this new space is actually underground, including special storage rooms for the collection, dug deep into the bedrock!
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Library (east) room
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Rotunda (center) room
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Study (west) room
How the Morgan Library & Museum Works
The Morgan Library & Museum is run by a special non-profit organization. Its main goal is to protect and share the amazing artworks and historical items it holds.
Leadership and Staff
Colin Bailey has been the director of the museum since 2015. The museum is guided by a board of trustees, which includes important people who help make decisions about the museum's future.
Many dedicated staff members, like librarians and curators, work to care for the collection and make it available to visitors and researchers.
Funding the Museum
When it first became public in 1924, the library received a special fund of $1.5 million. This fund has grown over the years and helps the museum continue its work. Donations from generous people also help support the museum's programs, exhibitions, and conservation efforts.
Images for kids
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The library c. 1910, shortly after its completion
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J. P. Morgan's body being brought to his home and library after his death in Rome
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Interior of the East Library
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Ceiling of the main building's rotunda
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The Madison Avenue entrance building, which was completed in 2006
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One of the illuminated manuscripts
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A Gutenberg Bible on display at the Morgan Library
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The interior of the Renzo Piano addition
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Interior of one of the 2006 annex buildings
See also
In Spanish: The Morgan Library & Museum para niños