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Visiting the Morgan Library and Museum in Manhattan

March 11, 2015 By Katie MacLeod 12 Comments

The Morgan LibraryJ.P. Morgan.  To most people, the name belongs solely to an investment bank, one of those financial institutions frequently in the pages of the press.  But to in-the-know New Yorkers and savvy city visitors, it means something quite different: a hidden cultural gem in the middle of Manhattan.

The Morgan Library and Museum, which sits on the corner of 36th and Madison Avenue, is every book lover’s dream.  It began in the 1890s as the private collection of Pierpont Morgan, who was not only the country’s most influential financier, but also a voracious collector of art in all its forms, from manuscripts and drawings to rare books and ancient artefacts.  The collection became public in 1924, thanks to Morgan’s son, J.P. Morgan Jr., and has been open for viewing ever since.

Even from the outside the Morgan gives off an air of mystery, a European palazzo-style structure married to a modern entrance of glass and steel.  Inside, the lobby is open and airy, with a four-storey glass courtyard that when I visited featured an art installation of brightly coloured panes of glass.

What I had really come for, though, was the library, designed by Charles McKim at the request of Morgan in 1906.  You enter through an opulent rotunda, all marble columns and frescoed ceilings, flanked by doorways to the West Room, Morgan’s red Renaissance-style private study, and the East Room, which for years was known simply as Morgan’s Library.

Inside the Morgan LibraryI can’t be the only bookworm in the world who at one point has dreamed of owning a bookcase that doubles up as a secret doorway (I blame Enid Blyton and the Famous Five), and the East Room of the Morgan Library has two, leading up to the second and third floor balconies.  The room is beautiful, with inlaid walnut bookshelves stocked full of rare books reaching up to the painted ceiling – bibliophile heaven if ever I saw it.

There were rare copies of Dickens and Wilde; tiny-sized children’s books; musical scores from famous composers; and even a Gutenburg Bible (the Morgan owns three copies), the first substantial book printed from movable type in the West.  For someone with even the slightest interest in the written word, the Library is fascinating, and I was in my absolute element.

Aside from the permanent displays in the Library, the Morgan has a revolving host of exhibitions throughout the building, showcasing different details of the extensive collection owned by the museum.  Having recently visited Gettysburg, it was interesting to explore the ‘Lincoln Speaks’ exhibition, which focused on the President’s passion for and mastery of language, and how his words shaped history, through displays of his letters, notes, and books he owned.

I strolled through the other exhibitions too, from one featuring modern drawings and sketches (there were a few Lichtenstein’s) to another displaying oil paintings of France, but before I ventured out into the snow again, I found myself back in the East Room of the Library.  Because which book lover could resist the lure of three floors of books?  Not this one, that’s for certain.

Morgan Library fireplace

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What do you think of the Morgan Library? Do you know of any other lovely libraries out there worth visiting?

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Comments

  1. Kelly says

    March 11, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    This is so cool! I’ve been to NYC quite a few times and have never even heard of this. Adding it to the list of places to see on my next trip, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Katie MacLeod says

      March 16, 2015 at 1:03 pm

      It really is, Kelly! You should definitely visit the next time you’re in the area, it’s amazing 🙂

      Reply
  2. Book Guy Reviews says

    March 11, 2015 at 2:48 pm

    This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing! If you’re ever interested in some great book reviews and musings, be sure to follow! Thanks!!!

    Reply
    • Katie MacLeod says

      March 16, 2015 at 1:04 pm

      Thanks, I’m a complete bookworm so I’ll definitely check out your site 🙂

      Reply
  3. carlabeans says

    March 16, 2015 at 9:29 am

    No way! I’ve seen pictures of that library before and didn’t know it was in Manhattan. So beautiful! And just like you, I’m also a bookworm with big dreams of owning a bookshelf/secret doorway! 🙂

    Reply
    • Katie MacLeod says

      March 16, 2015 at 1:05 pm

      It’s so beautiful, I loved it! And nice to know there are other people out there that also have dreams of bookshelves that act as secret doorways hehe! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Elizabeth says

    October 2, 2016 at 3:40 am

    This post really helped me enjoy a quick trip to NYC! We had a great time at the Morgan. I’m ashamed to say, despite being a bookworm, I didn’t know about this place before! Also, The Famous Five were my favorite childhood books! I traveled to Corfe Castle because of them. It was fun searching for the hidden doors you mentioned at the Morgan. Thanks for this post!

    Reply
    • Katie MacLeod says

      October 3, 2016 at 10:31 am

      I’m so glad this post helped you during your visit, Elizabeth! The Morgan is definitely not on the tourist trail, and not well advertised – I had never heard of it before I moved here. (And it’s always nice to hear from fellow Famous Five fans – Corfe Castle is amazing, I loved going there as a child!)

      Reply
  5. Adrienne says

    March 9, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    I just found your site, via A Suitcase Full of Books, and I love it! I’m going to NYC next week and this library just made it into my itinerary, thanks to your post. I love to visit beautiful libraries when I travel. I live in the DC area, so I’m partial to visiting the Library of Congress, which I know is kind of an obvious one, but it really is so amazing. I think of it as a temple to knowledge, with the beautiful architecture adorned with quotes/maxims about knowledge and wisdom. I love that place.

    I’m also a big fan of the Salt Lake City Library. It’s gorgeous and has an original, HUGE version of John James Audubon’s bird illustrations.

    Reply
    • Katie MacLeod says

      March 12, 2017 at 10:08 am

      Hello Adrienne, I’m so pleased you stumbled across the blog! The Morgan Library is beautiful (and a few other bookish favourites of mine here are the NY Public Library, The Strand, and the Library Bar at the NoMad Hotel). I’ve been to DC a few times but I’ve never been to the Library of Congress – I’m adding it to my list right now 🙂 Enjoy your time in NYC!

      Reply

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I'm Katie, an expat Scot in the States, and the journalist behind Stories My Suitcase Could Tell, the travel blog which inspires you to explore the world. Read More…

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