The Morgan Library is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Full of rare books and exquisite manuscripts that made up J.P. Morgan’s collection, it is a must-see for any book lover on a visit to New York City!
History
J. P. Morgan was a Gilded Age tycoon, making his fortune in the banking world of the late 19th century. He began collecting rare manuscripts, books, and prints in 1890 and by 1902, he began construction on a grand building to house his growing library. Completed in 1906, this Italian Renaissance-inspired building is still considered one of the most beautiful in the city.
Mr. Morgan’s choice of a librarian also made history. Belle da Costa Greene was a black woman who passed for white. She worked at the library for forty-three years, first for Mr. Morgan and his heirs and then as the inaugural director of the Pierpont Morgan Library.
Eleven years after Mr. Morgan’s death, his son made the library a public institution and opened it up to visitors. It now houses his collection as well as serving as a cultural icon in midtown Manhattan.
Visit
The Morgan Library and Museum is located just south of Grand Central Terminal and within walking distance from Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center. Buy your tickets in advance to ensure you can enter when you prefer. The entrance is on Madison Avenue.
Walk though the lobby to the courtyard leading to the amazing rooms (look at this map to plan your tour).
I recommend starting your tour at Mr. Morgan’s study. You can just imagine him sitting in this room and working on his important deals while being surrounded by his favorite things.
Don’t miss the vault in the corner of the room where he kept his most prized possessions.
Next head through the rotunda, pausing to read the exhibits.
The rotunda leads directly into the main room of the library. It is one of the most gorgeous rooms I have visited!
Wander its shelves where you will see old favorites and see what of the collection is being exhibited.
I spent a good thirty minutes here looking at each and every item! It’s not just books – he had a fabulous collection of rare letters like this one from Mary Queen of Scots and one from Virginia Woolf.
Don’t miss the mask of Belle da Costa Green! This is what she actually looked like!
Head back out into the rotunda and take a right to enter Belle’s office. What a tribute to her and her impact!
Her office is full of some of Morgan’s oldest items from ancient times.
Head back to the courtyard and don’t forget to check out the rotating exhibit spaces in the other galleries. When I visited, there was an amazing exhibit on Renior’s drawings. It’s there through February 8th of 2026 so you still have time to see it! It was excellent!
If you have kids with you, don’t miss the adorable Morgan Book Nook!
All literary lovers must visit the museum shop before leaving. It is one of the best museum stores I have visited!
If you can’t make it in person, take the virtual tour of the library here!
The Morgan Library and Museum is a must-visit site for all book lovers!
Helpful hints:
- Cost: $25/adults; $13/youth; free/12 and under
- Recommended for: ages 13 and up
- Tour time: 1 hour
- Gift shop located onsite and online (don’t miss it!!)
- Transportation: Walking distance from most of Midtown (Rockefeller Center, Times Square) and Grand Central Terminal.
- Dining options: The library has its own onsite cafe. One of my favorite restaurants is nearby – Serafina’s.
- Nearby hotels: Of course, being in NYC, there are tons of hotels nearby. One that would pair well with the library is The Library Hotel. I have always wanted to stay here! The nearby Langham Hotel is also a good option.
- Nearby attractions include: home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt (125 East 36th Street), home of Edith Roosevelt where Theodore courted her (114 East 36th Street), New York Public Library, Bryant Park, Times Square, Grand Central Terminal (don’t miss the lobby dedicated to Jackie Kennedy Onassis), Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center
Books to Read:
All links are Amazon affiliate links. You can visit my Bookshop.org shop to support independent bookstores and creators. You can also visit the library’s shop to purchase books.
Adults/Young Adults:
- The Morgan Library & Museum: Director’s Choice
- J. Pierpont Morgan’s Library: Building a Bookman’s Paradise
- Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian’s Legacy
- The Personal Librarian
- Belle Greene: A Novel of America’s Most Famous Librarian
Kids:
