By Danielle Oteri
Museum Travel Expert, about.com
[post_ads_2]The 2006 renovation of The Morgan Library & Museum created a contemporary museum experience for visitors including a link between all the buildings and spaces for special exhibitions, performances and lectures. Inside the original 1906 building once known as "Mr Morgan's library" some of New York's best secrets lie waiting to be discovered.
The Renzo Piano designed atrium unites the old
library, the annex built on the spot where J.P. Morgan once lived and
the brownstone where his son Jack Morgan lived. J.P. Morgan was
America's most famous banker and a collector of art and manuscripts.
Pieces of his collections can be found in other museums, most notably
the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but his greatest treasures remain in the museum. In 1924, the collection was opened up to the public.
Here is a room-by-room guide to the secrets of The Morgan.
The Rotunda
Once the main entrance to the library, the space was heavily influenced by the Italian Renaissance.
The paintings in the rotunda's dome were
inspired by the paintings that Raphael did for Pope Julius II in the
Stanza della Segnatura. Like the Pope who was also the patron of
Michelangelo, Morgan saw himself as a patron of the arts.
The Librarian's Office
[post_ads]The
small room north of the rotunda flanked by lapis lazuli columns was the
librarian's office until the 1980s. The most famous among all the
Morgan's librarians was Belle da Costa Greene (1879-1950) who Morgan
hired in 1905 to manage his collection of rare books and manuscripts.
Later she became the first director of the public museum, a rare
position of power for a woman at that time. Even more surprising is that
Greene concealed her racial identity
that classified her as "colored" on her birth certificate. She had
changed her name to claim a false Portuguese ancestry she used to
explain her darker skin. Though Greene's father was famous in academic
circles for being the first African-American to graduate from Harvard
College as well as the first black librarian and professor of the
University of South Carolina, she felt her racial identity would have
held her back from the accomplishments she earned in the art and rare
book world at that time.
Mr. Morgan's Study
J.P.
Morgan used this room as his personal study and it is here where a
pivotal points of American financial history were discussed and debated.
When the Panic of 1907
broke out, Morgan was in Virginia, but attached his private car to a
steam engine and returned to New York overnight. For the next few weeks
he worked with advisors in the library and study and worked out the
rescue and demise of several institutions. Later his role in the crisis
was criticized and he became the face of the miserly banker whom Frank
Capra may have used as the model for the character of Mr. Potter in the
classic film,"It's a Wonderful Life."
Inside the study is Mr.
Morgan's vault which is open to the public. Lesser known is that the
bookcase immediately to the right of the vault is false. Look for the
seam and hinge that reveals the place where the hollow case swings
open.
The Library[post_ads_2]
A grand two-tiered
library displays thousands of books. Look on either side of the main
entrances for light leaking underneath the walnut bookcases. Each is
actually a door which lead to concealed staircases behind the books.
Often during parties, Morgan liked to seem to appear out of nowhere
after descended from behind the stacks.
The library's ceiling
contains zodiacal signs that are arranged in a way that was personally
meaningful to Morgan. The two signs immediately above the entrance are
Aries and Gemini which correspond to his birthdate and second marriage.
These would be considered his two lucky stars. Directly across from
these Gemini is Aquarius, the sign under which is first wife and true
love of his life had died. Across from his Aries is Libra, the sign
which he was assigned when he joined the very secret Zodiac Club.
Formed in 1865, the Zodiac Club is an invitation only clubs that meets
for dinner once a month. They are still in existence today and past
members include the wealthiest tycoons and power brokers in history.
J.P. Morgan was initiated as Brother Libra in 1903. His son took over
the seat when he passed away and kept the brothers of the Zodiac
supplied with France's finest wine throughout Prohibition.
Address
225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street New York, NY 10016
Phone
(212) 685-0008
Admission
$18 Adults
$12 Children (13–16)
$12 Seniors (65 and over)
$12 Students (with current ID)
Free to members and children 12 and under (must be accompanied by an adult)
Admission is free on Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
$12 Children (13–16)
$12 Seniors (65 and over)
$12 Students (with current ID)
Free to members and children 12 and under (must be accompanied by an adult)
Admission is free on Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Hours
Tuesday through Thursday:
10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
