At 225 Madison Avenue in Murray Hill, the Morgan Library & Museum combines a museum and research library in the former private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan. Its Italian Renaissance-style rooms are a draw in their own right, especially the East Room, with three levels of walnut bookcases. Inside, look for illuminated manuscripts, early printed books, drawings and handwritten music, including three Gutenberg Bibles and works by artists such as Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci. Rotating exhibitions bring items from the collection and other cultural subjects into focus.
A private library becomes a museum
The Morgan began as the private library of financier and collector John Pierpont Morgan, who lived from 1837 to 1913. He gathered illuminated manuscripts, early printed books, historical documents, drawings and prints. His collection became the foundation of the museum and research library that occupies the site today.
Architect Charles McKim, of McKim, Mead and White, designed the original library in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo. The building is now part of a complex that also includes a 75,000-square-foot expansion designed by Renzo Piano. The original library has been restored, and the site serves as a museum, research library and venue for cultural events.
The East Room and Morgan’s study
The East Room is one of the historic library’s defining spaces. Its three tiers of walnut bookcases rise beneath a vaulted ceiling decorated with zodiac imagery. A 16th-century Dutch tapestry adds to the room’s collection of historic furnishings and decoration.
Morgan’s personal study is another room to see. Together, the historic rooms preserve the setting of a private library, with books and artworks displayed among rich woodwork and tapestries. Look carefully at the rooms themselves as well as the objects on view.
Manuscripts, books and works on paper
The collection spans literature, history, art and music. Among its notable items are three Gutenberg Bibles, the only known manuscript fragment of John Milton’s Paradise Lost, and a copy of Frankenstein annotated by Mary Shelley. The Morgan also holds letters by John Keats and Thomas Jefferson, Henry David Thoreau’s journals, and manuscripts and letters by writers including Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë.
Works on paper include drawings by Dürer, Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, Blake and Rembrandt. The collection also has handwritten musical scores by Mozart and Beethoven, along with literary and musical manuscripts in their creators’ hands. Displays change, so a particular work may not be on view during every visit. Rotating exhibitions draw on the collection and also cover other subjects in art and culture.
Planning a visit
The museum is at 225 Madison Avenue in Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood. Timed-entry tickets are recommended in advance, especially for weekends, when the museum can be crowded. A free audioguide is available to help you explore the rooms and collections.
Friday evening admission is described as free in the available details, but the stated hours for that offer do not match. Check the museum’s website before making it part of your plans. Allow at least an hour to see the historic rooms and explore the displays; an exhibition or event can add to your visit.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is the Morgan Library & Museum?
It is at 225 Madison Avenue in Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood.
How much time should I allow for a visit?
Allow at least an hour to see the historic rooms and collections. An exhibition or event can add time.
Does the Morgan have an audioguide?
Yes. A free audioguide is available.
