Rose Museum facts for kids
The Rose Museum is a special place that tells the story of Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, New York City. It's a small museum located right inside Carnegie Hall, on the second floor. The museum first opened its doors in 1991.
It was created with help from the Susan and Elihu Rose Foundation. Inside, you can explore over 2,500 feet of historical records. These records include more than a hundred years of concert programs from Carnegie Hall. When the museum opened, the idea was to have a main collection and also change some exhibits regularly.
The museum also shares the story of how Carnegie Hall almost faced a difficult future. This happened after Lincoln Center was built and Carnegie Hall was sold in the late 1950s. A famous musician named Isaac Stern led a big effort to save the hall. Because of these efforts, the government bought Carnegie Hall in 1960. Then, in 1962, the building was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place.
Amazing Collections at the Museum
The Rose Museum has many cool items that music lovers will enjoy. Imagine seeing a program from the very first concert of the Vienna Philharmonic! That concert happened on March 28, 1842.
Other special items include:
- A program signed by The Beatles from one of their shows.
- A ring that once belonged to the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
- Eyeglasses worn by another great composer, Johannes Brahms.
- One of Richard Strauss's notebooks, with ideas for an unfinished poem called Danube.
- A clarinet owned by the jazz legend Benny Goodman.
- Batons used by famous conductors like Leonard Bernstein and Arturo Toscanini.
The museum also displays a sparkly jacket worn by the legendary performer Judy Garland. You can even see the trowel that was used to lay the very first stone of Carnegie Hall!
Exploring Past Exhibits
The museum often changes its exhibits to show different parts of Carnegie Hall's history. These exhibits have featured many important people connected to the hall.
Some of the famous individuals and topics highlighted in past exhibits include:
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Honoring his visit to New York City for the opening of Carnegie Hall.
- Marian Anderson: Celebrating the first African American singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera.
- George and Ira Gershwin: Marking 100 years since George's birth.
- Leonard Bernstein: A tribute to the famous conductor and composer.
- Andrew Carnegie: Honoring the man who built Carnegie Hall, on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
See Also
- List of music museums
