In Love with the New York Public Library
How could I not fall madly in love? I’m an avid reader and a batty book lover, and the New York Public Library is one of the world’s great libraries. Each year, millions from across the globe are also smitten by this masterpiece of Beaux-Arts design.
Located in midtown Manhattan, the library, along with its lions, is a beloved New York City landmark. NYPL actually designates the entire New York public library system (the nation’s largest), with four scholarly research centers and 88 neighborhood branches. The iconic 42nd Street library is the main branch, and its official moniker is the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. I’ll call it the library, for short.
The NYPL serves more than 17 million patrons a year and is home to an astounding number of first editions and rare manuscripts. Among them are George Washington’s original Farewell Address, an original copy of the Declaration of Independence, and a Gutenberg Bible.
Building the New York Public Library
Former NY Governor Samuel Tilden thought New York City needed a free library, and in 1886, he left most of his fortune to establish one. The money sat untouched in a trust for several years, until two trustees came up with the idea of merging the Astor and Lenox libraries to create the New York Public Library.
The library’s site was originally the Croton Reservoir, a two-block section of Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets. It’s early blueprint was a quick sketch on a scrap of paper by John Shaw Billings, the library’s first director. His plan called for an enormous reading room topping seven floors of stacks and the most rapid library delivery system in the world.
The city’s most prominent architects competed to design and construct what was, at the time, the largest marble structure in the U.S. The monumental library took 16 years to build. For the first two years, builders prepared the site. Craftsmen and artisans spent the last five working on the interior. The immense collections needed 75 miles of shelves. The eventual cost? $9 million. (Figuring in inflation, that would be about 27 million dollars today. Phew!)
President Taft presided over the official dedication ceremony in May of 1911. On opening day, more than one million books were on the shelves, and the library saw between 30,000 and 50,000 visitors.
Patience and Fortitude
Patience and Fortitude are the pair of marble lions on either side of the library’s front steps. Once called “New York’s most lovable public sculpture,” their affectionate nicknames are apt. The Lions stand patient witness to scads of library visitors and parades, and endure with fortitude necklaces of seasonal wreaths, as well as top hats, Yankee caps, and such. They never even make faces at the countless tourists who take their picture without asking first.
First dubbed Leo Astor and Leo Lenox after the NYPL founders, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia named them Patience and Fortitude during the 1930s. He felt New Yorkers would need these qualities to survive the Depression. The names have stuck. Patience protects the south side of the Library’s steps, while Fortitude defends the north.
As a tribute to the Lions’ popularity and all that they stand for, the New York Public Library adopted them as its mascots. Trademarked and featured in the logo, Pati and Forti are still feeling frisky after a 2004 cleaning and restoration.
DeWitt Wallace Periodical Room
Not least of the library’s architectural gems is the DeWitt Wallace Periodical Room on the first floor. I loved its dark wood paneling, elegant chandeliers, and gorgeous murals, all shining in the golden glow of a dozen metal lamps. 13 paintings depict buildings associated with important turn-of-the-century New York publishers. Along the walls you will find the Hearst building, the McGraw-Hill building, and the original offices of the New York Times and the New York Herald, among others.
Named for Reader’s Digest Magazine founder Dewitt Wallace, who spent many hours there reading and condensing articles from the library’s collection, he also ensured its maintenance. The fund he established paid for a 1983 restoration and the creation of the 13 wall murals by contemporary New York artist Richard Haas.
McGraw Rotunda
On the 3rd floor, look up to see the McGraw Rotunda’s soaring ceiling. The ceiling mural, Prometheus Bringing the Gift of Fire, is a symbolic reference to the library’s role in bringing the world of knowledge to New York City residents.
Rose Main Reading Room
Will the library’s wonders never cease? The most well-known room in the New York Public Library, and rightly so, the Rose Reading Room is truly stunning. It’s a huge space, dominated by the remarkable Renaissance-style coffered ceiling. Luminous blue skies beset with rosy clouds float overhead. The massive windows bring in natural light. It all helps create a serene, airy atmosphere that seems far from the hustle and bustle of the world just outside. It’s a perfect place for serious study and research. Or just serious contemplation of the ceiling.
The Library Way
Before you even get to the library, you have a treat in store. Be sure to approach from the east and walk along 41st Street. The Library Way is the two-block stretch of 41st between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue. You’ll have a great view of the front of the library, and you can meander along finding your favorite quotes about reading, writing, and literature.
The Library Way is a celebration of writers, readers, writing, and art. A collaboration between the NYPL and the Grand Central Partnership, it is indeed between Grand Central Station and the Schwarzman Building. A committee chose 96 lovely literary quotes, and sculptor Gregg LeFevre cast each one in bronze. Beautifully detailed, each one is worthy of contemplation, for the artistic design as well as the words.
You can see a complete list of all the quotes and their authors here. In order to have the full experience, a New York Public Library visit really must include a jaunt down this street paved with art and literature.
Pro tip: Visit Grand Central Station, another Beaux-Arts beauty, then walk 3 short blocks to the library, turning on 41st Street to take the Library Way. GCC and the NYPL are two great free attractions, and you can see them both in one day. Be sure to look up: the iconic Chrysler Building is located at 42nd and Lexington, right across from the station (exit on the Park Avenue side). It’s lovely at night. If you’re there on a weekday, pop in for a look at the Art Deco lobby. (Thanks to MadHattersNYC for the Chrysler lobby tip, and suggesting we take the Library Way!)
How the New York Public Library is remaining relevant in the digital era
How about by taking classic novels and transforming them into animated Instagram Stories? Enter “Insta Novels,” created in partnership with New York ad agency Mother. Insta Novels have a fun, visually-driven format to engage younger readers.
The Insta launch was Lewis Carroll’s Alices Adventures in Wonderland (a personal favorite) in August of 2018. Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass followed, as well as some heavy hitters: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Poe’s The Raven, and Kafka’s Metamorphosis. Find them in the highlights section of the New York Public Library’s Instagram account.
The Morgan Library and Museum
During my time in NYC I visited another library, the Morgan. I attended on a free first Friday. The free factor was great, but the old part of the house and the original library were not available to view. Disappointing.
The museum featured an exhibit on Mary Shelley and Frankenstein, as well as drawings from Tintoretto’s Venice. I was most excited about this little jewel of an El Greco painting that was part of the Tintoretto exhibit.
More in New York
- Grand Central Terminal, another Beaux Arts beauty in NYC
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Egyptian Galleries
- New York Street Art and Good Food on the Lower East Side
- The Neue Galerie, home to the Woman in Gold painting
- Visiting some iconic sights in Central Park
- Misadventures in the NYC Subway
- Christmas in Midtown
- Holiday Windows in NYC
More Historic Architecture
- The Henry Overholser Mansion in Oklahoma City
- The Louis Sullivan-designed Wainwright tomb, and more historic structures in Bellefontaine Cemetery
- Downtown LA‘s incredible historic buildings
- The historic Nanaboujou Lodge on the Minnesota North Shore
- Historic districts in Kenosha, Wisconsin
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Love the beautiful pics. Would never have imagined it to be so beautiful inside. Hope we get a chance to go there one day.
Would love it if you came to the States, Oli! Thanks for the kind words. The interior really is one beautiful surprise after another.
I truly enjoy your style of writing Cynthia. I can’t believe that I was right across the street from this magnificent library and didn’t have the time to explore it further. I will definitely put it on the list for our next visit to NYC.
What a wonderful compliment, thank you, Sue! You won’t regret making a visit to the NYPL, and if you can, be sure to check out the Library Way too. It adds so much to the experience!
Loved this post, Cynthia. Libraries, no matter whether big or small, modest or rich, are places for incredibly special moments – and the New York Public Library sounds and looks like a unique, amazing experience! Your pictures are beautiful – thanks so much for having taken us for a visit of the NYPL! #WorldBookDay
I can tell you are fellow book lovers 🙂 Thank you for reading and for being so supportive and kind. I needed the reminder it was #WorldBookDay too!
Great post Cynthia! I love libraries so this looks like an absolute dream to me… 🙂
Thanks much, Sheree! If you’re a bibliophile you’ll love the NYPL.
This brings me back. It is such a wonderful library. Beautiful really. The Halls and decor are gorgeous. Awesome post, love the pictures and recommendations. I’ll ping this for sure !
Ah thank you, Paolo! It is really an incredible place. I’ll be back the next time I’m in New York.
I’ve been in New York so many times, yet I never visited the Public Library which looks quite stunning. I think the “insta novels” are a great invention for engaging the younger readers.
Anda, how lovely to hear from you! I think many people have been in New York yet never made it to the library. I hope I’ve inspired you to visit, it’s really worthwhile. I was really engaged by the Insta Novels too, though personally I still read the real, physical books! I need some time away from staring at a screen. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Next time when I visit NY, shall surely visit the library. I didn’t know such a great collection was there. I am from India.
You’ll love it, Vijay!
How I love libraries! This is going on my NYC list to visit! It reminds me of the Library of Congress, with the lovely ceiling art. And the sidewalk signs look fun!
That’s great to hear, Sharon! I know you like architectural details, so I think you would find the New York Public Library a treasure trove.
Such a nice article Cynthia! I’ve been to NY twice about 10 yrs ago, and I regret that we didn’t stop in to see this library! There is just something about being in a library. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank you, Shannon, when you get back to NYC you should visit.
Fabulous info, Cynthia. I went straight to NYPL Insta account to check out The Raven! Stunning interiors. I must head in there on my next visit to NYC.
So glad to hear that, Shona! I think their InstaNovels are a cool idea, and The Raven was a fun one. Let me know when you visit, I think you’ll really enjoy it.
Great post, I’ve walked past the New York Public Library before but never actually been in, what a shame! it looks incredible! thanks for all the information have pinned for a future visit 🙂
Great photo of the Chrysler Building too!
Garth, I really appreciate your stopping by! You must go in, the interiors will just blow you away. Thanks for pinning 🙏
I’m a big library fan and the NY library is definitely on my list! So nice to learn more about the history, it’s readers and preservation! #FeetDoTravel
A fellow bibliophile! You’ll really enjoy this one, Lorelei.
There is something beautiful about books isn’t there, and a building that houses so many stories, well, that sounds like a place I need to be. Love the story you have provided, it’s brought this place to life. Pinned, thank you so much for sharing 😀 #feetdotravel
Thank you, Angie! What a nice comment. The older books, especially, are very beautiful, works of art in themselves. I love books, and I still prefer to read actual ones (rather than digital).
Great post! I’ve always heard about this library but haven’t had the chance to visit. Someday I’ll have to make it there 🙂
Hi Emily, thanks for reading! I really think you would enjoy the NYPL if you get the chance to visit.
Oh yes!! What’s not to love, an amazing place (my inner 20-yo so gets why Carrie Bradshaw wanted to get married here, haha). I’m still gutted I didn’t make it there when I was in NYC. Next time I will have to prioritise it.
#FeetDoTravel
It would be an incredibly stunning wedding venue! I’ve seen photos of weddings in every part of the library, from the hallways on the first floor to the Salomon Room on 3rd. It’s so centrally located it’s easy to stop by. Hope you get a chance to visit next time, and thanks so much for your comment!
How wonderful, we’d spend hours in there! The decor is so spectacular, what a building!
Why hello there! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! You could easily spend hours. I’d like to go back 😉
This is another great post Cynthia, and like me I’m sure that this post will draw visitors to the New York Public Library from the direction of Library Way. It’s hard not to be impressed with the fact that the library contains several original historic manuscripts. But for me, I’m all about the atmosphere created by the wood shelves and coffered ceilings in The Rose Reading Room. It looks like the perfect place to study or read a book.
Thanks for the lovely comment, Dorothy, I certainly hope that is the case! The rare manuscripts and first editions available at this location and the 3 other research centers are really mind-blowing. But yes, the atmosphere…I’d love to while away a few hours there reading.
Loved reading this, Cynthia! So informative and well-researched! I didn’t know that George Washington’s Farewell Address was there, I definitely have to make a special trip back to see it.
Thank you, Lauren, really appreciate you stopping by! They have a lot of early Americana like the Farewell Address and the Declaration of Independence. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t take a look at the Gutenberg Bible, I assume it was on display somewhere. Oops, gotta go back 😉
YES of course! I’m so glad we connected. You absolutely have to come back! And when you do, I also recommend stopping into the Morgan Library if you haven’t been, it’s relatively close-ish to the NYPL and they have some amazing art exhibits and rare collections (Dickens’ manuscript for A Christmas Carol was there when I went) on display, too!
That is a definitely Must See place for us for NYC visit! Gosh, We’d never leave the library!!! Rose Reading room looks so magnificent!!!
It would be easy to spend a lot of time there! Eventually, you’d get hungry, though. 😉 The library and especially the Reading Room are scaled to impress.
Such a nicely written description of the NYPL. It is now on our list of things to see when we visit NY. Thank you
I’m so glad to hear that! It is truly one of my favorite places in New York and I think you would really enjoy it!
It looks sooooo beautiful 🤩 wish I’d gone when I was in nyc!
I guess you’ll have to go back! 😉
Hi Cynthia,
This is a fantastic post! I love the NYPL so much, and you have just done a marvelous job of writing about it!
I’ve learned a lot of new things about it!! I’ve never been on the Library Way. It’s a must – do now… I usually take a cab there and back..
I also love that the mural of Prometheus Brining the Gift of Fire references to the Library brining knowledge to the city’s residence!
I can’t wait to read more of your posts! Sharon
Thank you, Sharon, I’m glad you could learn a little something new about a favorite spot. You really have to take the Library Way, and set aside a little time for it. There are plaques on both sides of the street. You’ll love it 🙂
Absolutely wonderful as always Cynthia. This was so well researched with great detail. Loved the ceilings and the study hall is so impressive and extravagant. It’s one to add for sure when I finally get to New York, and as a Free attraction all the better. I did feel a little sorry for the lions what with those tourists forever bothering them. Great work.
John, you’re too kind! You would be crazy about this building, it’s just one wonder after another with all the architectural details. There was another huge room with a glass panel ceiling, the Salomon Room, hard to really get a good picture of. And there were rooms we didn’t even go into. I’d certainly like to go back. I know, the poor lions, they do have a lot to endure. Lucky they have all that patience and fortitude 😉
Very good Cynthia. I love a good giggle. You have me sold on the library. Plus Beata loves books and libraries so would be an easy sell for her. She’s not so amazed by architecture as me. Or should I say obsessed.
What a lovely post with so much of information. I love libraries and this one is so beautiful. I loved the Rose reading room. I have been to New York a couple of times, but a bit in rush. I would love to spend some time in the library. Thank you so much for this lovely post.
Thanks for reading and for your kind comment! Even on a short trip, I think an NYPL visit is so worthwhile. I’d like to go back, because there was still more to see. It would be a great place to just sit and contemplate for while!
That sounds so lovely, sitting and contemplating in a library. I have added NYPL to my
Oops 🙊 the comment got sent before I could finish it. I have added NYPL on my list of places to go.
That happens to me, too! 😉 Thanks again for reading, I appreciate your support.
That’s my old neighborhood. I used to live about 5 minutes from there. Love the library and all the details inside. I got to attend a party inside once which was amazing. The literary walk is fun too.
That would such a fun neighborhood to live in! Always something to do, though you might get sick of the crowds. A party in the library would be wonderful—I guess they rent out the Salomon Room for weddings and other events. Such an amazing space. Thanks much, Anisa, for taking the time to read and comment.
We love the NYPL. Next time, come to the Brooklyn Library at Grand Army. I love the history behind NYC buildings. Great photos of the Beaux-Arts!
Thanks Kemi, I’d love to do an all-out library tour! So many gorgeous historic buildings in New York. Really want to get to Brooklyn, too.
We have only ever gone in a few times and we live here. This has inspired us to take another look – we want to see the original Winnie the Pooh toys that are apparently on display.
Yes! I forgot to even look at those. They’re on the bottom floor. I was too busy going gaga over all the show-stopping interiors. There’s so much to see, several visits really are needed. If I lived in NYC I think I’d just go hang out there and work!
I think we avoided it because the first 3 years the best bits were hidden under scaffolding. We’ll have to go back soon.
Look forward to hearing about the Winnie the Pooh exhibit. Thanks for stopping by, really appreciate it!
Beautifully written with tons of great information! Well done!
Thank you! It was such a pleasure doing some research to learn more about this historic building!
A great piece! Makes me want to visit
Hi Deb, thank you for stopping by! You do have to get to this side of the pond and visit 😉
What a great, detailed description of the library! We never get tired of looking at it, it’s one of our favorite buildings in the city. They throw themed parties in the evening as well as part of the Library After Hours program. Fun fact: that’s where Nate Berkus got married!
Ah thank you, I know it’s one of your faves, and I so appreciate your sending us along the Library Way. It’s not to be missed, I loved it. I was stopping at every plaque. That other person was like, hurry up, what are you looking at??
As a bookworm I found your post delightful. The library is amazing!
Thank you, Nikki! Since you’re a bookworm you would really love the NYPL. Soooooo many books, and all in this incredibly beautiful space. It’s a bibliophile’s dream!
It looks like heaven yes it’s on my ever growing bucket list.