Both the library and the museum were gorgeous. I came here for the Tarot Cards exhibit and was deeply satisfied by the richness of what I saw, from Renaissance European tarot decks to hand-drawn copies of the Thoth Tarot. Everything was beautiful and enchanting. I was also fortunate to join the 2 p.m. guided tour of the library. It was enriching to learn about the connections between the collections of rare books and artworks and J.P. Morgan's religious background. I truly loved the experience. read more

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It was pure coincidence that Jamie W and I came here on the same visit to NYC in which we saw the brilliant revival of "Ragtime" at Lincoln Center. The Morgan Library is the setting for the bullet-ridden plot climax, and one of the characters even describes the building's architectural fortitude. I had been wanting to come here for some time, but it took drizzly weather to motivate us to take action. Completed in 1906 as the private library of the banker J.P. Morgan, it's on Madison just a few blocks from the other Gilded Age masterpieces, the New York Public Library and Grand Central Terminal. Presuming we would see the foreboding double doors Coalhouse Walker faced in the show, we were pleasantly surprised by the openness of the glass-enclosed central court designed by Renzo Piano. There's a cafe that takes advantage of the incoming light, but we took a pass on it since we just ate at Grand Brasserie. Instead we took advantage of the glass elevator to take us to the photographic exhibition of Peter Hujar, the late artist who captured New York's bohemian and queer scenes through striking black-and-white portraits (Photo 6). The main event, however, is the historic McKim Building: It was the original private library, and in typical grandeur, features three stories of tiered, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, magnificent fireplaces, ornate ceilings, and a gorgeous Rotunda (Photo 5). Morgan's study is the West Room with walls covered in rich red damask (Photo 4) and a vault dedicated to his most valuable books, manuscripts, and art objects (Photo 8). Admission is $25 for adults. RELATED - Exploring NYC? Here's a collection of non-culinary places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/XMJZUPgXsX read more

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This place is a hidden gem for anyone who loves history, books, and unique architecture. The combination of a library and museum makes it a fascinating place to explore. One of my favorite features was the collection of old books and the hidden staircase, which added so much character and charm to the experience. There are plenty of beautiful spots for photos, and every room feels like a step back in time. Whether you're interested in history, architecture, or simply looking for a unique place to visit, this is definitely worth the stop. I enjoyed walking through the exhibits and learning about the history while admiring the impressive collection of books and artifacts. Highly recommend for history lovers, book enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a memorable experience. read more

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Definitely a treasure place. Small but great collection. Didn't expected this grand but very impressive of all the Morgan's library. Such depth and well displaced that make you feel like you're actual there at that period among the displace items. There several galleries but I really enjoyed and admired the Morgan's library the most. There is a garden and big cafe atrium for cafe and restaurant, quite lovely and airy. Glad that I found and went here to check it out. Love it. read more

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This place was really cool. Lovely cafe for a rainy day as well as a stunning museum that won't take you too long to get through. Only had time to try the later but it was good. Would definitely recommend and hoping to come back to try the high tea. read more

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Probably one of the best Libraries in the City. J.P.Morgan was the BOSS. Wow what a collection, rare books, artwork, manuscripts, drawings and stunning architecture. You can spend an hour and half pleasantly and have tea or a bite to eat. It's worth the entrance fee. read more

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This is truly one of the most stunning libraries we've ever seen and it's a great place to spend a half-day. The building itself is gorgeous and is covered head to toe with artwork and stacks of books. There's so much to see here from rare texts to paintings to sculpture to ancient cuneiform tablets. My wife and I absolutely loved coming here and it's also great that they have discounted admission for teachers. This is a must-see! read more

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Easy way to spend a few hours and see how wealthy people during the gilded age helped society. The collection of books is phenomenal and the architecture is amazing read more

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This museum was beautiful! It's not as large as other museums in NYC, so it may get overlooked, but I loved learning about the history here of J.P Morgan and Belle da Costa Greene, one of the most prominent librarians. If you're a book lover, you will love seeing his personal collection and will recognize many of the names. This museum takes you back in time, over 100 years, and it is so in tact and such a beautiful site to see. Highly recommend visiting this library while out and about in the city. read more

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I was so excited to visit this museum over the summer, and it did not disappoint! I'm a huge Jane Austen fan, so when I heard about the Jane Austen exhibition, I knew I had to visit. The exhibition was curated so thoughtfully, with an overview of the time period, actual letters/notes written by Austen, pieces from her wardrobe/jewelry, and book quotes! I had a wonderful time wandering through, and the general excitement in the busy exhibition was palpable. The rest of the museum was also so fun to explore! There was live music in the main dining area. J.P. Morgan's library area was ornate and featured a wide collection of rare books and manuscripts. The artwork covering the walls was awe worthy and splendid. There was also an expansive gift shop with fun trinkets. This was such a beautiful spot with well-curated exhibitions and a remarkable library! read more

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Morgan Museum & Library was an experience that was captivating. As a fan of libraries, as well as museums, this was a very memorable treat. There is also an app that can be downloaded to get an audio tour to guid you through the library and museum. If you desire refreshments, the cafe is very lovely with plenty of seating to sit, and share. Having a Dad that was trained in playing classical piano, had to phone him to let him know I saw an original document of Chopin's performance Paris. That blew my mind. We both were excited, and it was fun to share that moment with my Father. The decor of the various rooms in the museum are exquisite even in our current time of today. The red room is a site to behold. Brilliance of the hand painted ceiling in the early 1900's. The artwork, artifacts, rare collections of books from 1400-1500's is a site to behold. Not to mention the collection of bibles from the 1500's I believe. These are a few of the collections. Gutenberg bible 1454-1455 Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn 1655 Auguste Renoir 1884-1885 Commentary on the Apocalypse St. Beatus of Liébana 940-945 Fascinating original autograph manuscript  Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt Johann Sebastian Bach 1731 Bella Dacosta Greene (librarian) story was intriguing, be sure to read about it. Don't want to spoil the mystery by giving away too many details in this review. There are artifacts on Napoleon and many other fascinating people of history. Collections of rare books from the 1400-1500's. While visiting the museum be sure to visit the J. Piermont Morgan garden which is open from May 2nd- October 26, 2025. Admission to the historic rooms of J. Pierpont Morgan's Library is free Tuesday and Sunday 3 to 5 pm. Reservations for these free hours are not required. There are so many free cultural places and sites to see. Summer is a great time to enjoy the arts. Museums, live music in the parks, this is definitely a museum to visit. read more

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What an amazing museum. While visiting NYC and looking for something to do one afternoon, we stumbled upon The Morgan Library and Museum. A special exhibit of The Psalms was on display, and it was fascinating! The history of the Morgan family is quite interesting, and the personal collection/library is a sight to be seen! I am so, so glad we decided to check this out. The Psalms exhibit was worth an afternoon all its own. Incredibly important and remarkable. read more

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Fun little museum in midtown. We went because they had a Jane Austen exhibit which featured first editions of some of her novels, actual letters written between her and family members, and even a dress of hers. Great exhibit but my only issue is that it's in a very small space and with the amount of people coming to see it you had to wait a long time to see each item. Maybe would have been better in a larger space and more spread out. The rest of the museum is interesting, really liked seeing some of the rooms as they originally were in the gilded age. I recommend going on a Friday evening if possible as it's free after 5pm for NY state residents. read more

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The Morgan is small but the architecture and old money details are interesting to see. There are only a few exhibits, but I enjoyed the Arrested Beauty photography and being in the space itself. The painted ceilings had incredible detail. Even the gift shop space still had ornate aesthetics from the past. It's free on Fridays after 5pm. read more

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Wonderful time spent walking around the Morgan Library, and learning more about Anna de Costa Greene, his 'Personal Librarian'. Also has a most delightful tea service at the library cafe. At $88 for 2, it is both a culinary experience and a fun meal to share! I do wish there was a better decaf tea options, perhaps a decaf mint could be added? read more

The Morgan Library & Museum - Tea service at the Morgan Library cafe. - Libraries Near Me - New York, New York

My only complaint here is that I couldn't spend more time! We went at 10:30 right when they opened- we pre-booked our tickets and got there around 10:20 to get in line. Highly recommend going early- we were able to see the library portion without a crowd but by the time we got to some of the special exhibits they were more crowded. This place is stunning- I was in awe of all of the books, art and history. I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to this stuff so I was very excited! Did you know that The Morgan has 3 Gutenberg Bibles - considering there are less than 50 in the world that's amazing. The collection is vast and amazing and the artwork and architecture is so brilliant I love the contrast between old and modern. They currently have some amazing exhibits on at the moment one on Jane Austen that includes many of her works and a stunning piece by Amy Sherald! There was also an exhibition of photographs by Julia Margaret Cameron which I was mesmerized by. I also really enjoyed the exhibit of Lisa Yuskavage Drawings as well. So many powerful pieces by some really powerful women- loved every minute of it. If you couldn't tell already I highly recommend visiting and if you love this stuff like I do make sure you have time to see it all! read more

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For expectation management: this is a private library turned museum. It is not a public library. We saw it on a reel and wanted to visit. Im a girl who likes to browse... touch and smell books... just sit amongst them. That is not what we got. After payment, the entry is a cafe and an art display (which is cool if youre into art, but not exciting if youre in it for books). My husband enjoyed the art collection and I enjoyed the nice seating area. We walked through the other parts of the museum, which include JP Morgan's personal office, lined with art and books and other displays. There's also a beautiful rotunda with a VERY COOL cast of George Washington's face, the personal office of JPM's private librarian (including a massive collection of antiquities), and then finally: the library. The library itself is a very cool room lined floor to ceiling with rare collections. However. Because this is a museum of a library and not a functional library, you cant touch anything. Which is understandable, but again. Expectations. I don't know if I would go again. It was cool, but not what I was hoping for. read more

I was lucky enough to have a guided tour of the Morgan Library. The lobby is very modern and when walking through to the library entrance, you're transported to a world of beautiful architecture and history. Having a tour guide was great because we learned a lot about Morgan as a person, the different collections and the building process. The only downside was that it was sometimes hard to hear the guide and during the tour, random people would join the tour group. Overall, it's definitely worth going to! read more

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Thursday 17 April 2025 Sunny 60°F Amazing collection of rare original manuscripts and books from all over the world. Belle Da Costa Greene had an extraordinary life as the Personal Librarian and Director of JPMorgan's extensive, impressive library, from 1905 until her retirement in 1948. She had passed for white her entire career due to the prejudices of the times towards people of colour and African ancestry. Her story is amazing and well documented. The excellently curated exhibit ends 4 May 2025. **Buy tickets in advance ** read more

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THIS PLACE IS UNREAL!!!!!! From entering the building to having a few drinks at the Cafe.... Everything in between was amazing! We got there at 4pm on a friday. the lady asked if we wanted to wait until 5pm when it's free to get in... I didn't mind paying the $25 to get in early before the mass crowds arrive. I'm glad I did. For taking those photos with no one in it was worth it... Right around 5:15pm, I can see the place was getting busy. I didn't mind. they keep the place at a certain capacity, so it's not too crowded. The basement held all the paintings collected from Morgan... the main level has the Library, Morgan;s study the Cafe and the retail store. The 2nd floor held a huge collections of rare bibles from the 13th-19th centuries. So beautiful to see the fine work that was put into every page... I'll definitely come back here. such a nice place to visit and a MUST-SEE!!! read more

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What a beautiful place for a family day, to stroll with friends or even a solo date! The library works of art were beautiful and the architecture inside is very elegant. We ate at the café, which was absolutely delicious. The BLT was thick and filling and was paired with spicy sweet pickles and chips. Their salad had a lot of components, which made for a unique blast of flavor! We also shared their cream soda, vanilla float which felt very nostalgic and elegant all at once. We did not order the teatime ourselves, but we did see it being delivered to a nearby table, and it looked absolutely delicious and plated beautifully on tiered China. The café is a seated area where your order gets delivered to your table. They do have a coat check inside when you enter as well. I definitely recommend this museum in library to anyone but especially if you're traveling with a more intellectual crowd! read more

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I came here with my knitting group to view the Jane Austen exhibit. It was my first time, and the staff was very helpful. I was able to get a discount as a City employee. The Jane Austen exhibit was crowded but was worth seeing. After viewing the various exhibits, we dined in at the café. Two people in the group opted for the Tea for Two, while the rest of us ordered the following: peach, Burrata and hot-honey, smoked Coppa & apricot croissant toast, and BLT (my order). The two that shared the Tea for Two, overall, enjoyed it. They did say that there should have been two of everything, which wasn't the case. However, the pricing was fair. I enjoyed my BLT with a cream soda, and everyone else enjoyed their meals. I had a good time at the Morgan Museum, and I would go back. read more

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For my last activity in NYC, before heading home, I chose the Morgan Library. What an exquisite building filled with beautiful things. Rare books, artwork, manuscripts, sculpture, etc all housed in a building that JP Morgan used to house his priceless treasures as well as to meet with business associates. This ticked the boxes for the architecture, art, book lover in me. I used the Bloomberg Connects app to educate me on what I was seeing, and appreciate the history, detailed descriptions, and backstory of each piece. My only fail is I forgot to look at the gardens! read more

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This was a fun and not too expensive place to visit in NYC! They had a few art exhibits, which were interesting but not my favorite. I really liked the library room, which was really pretty and cool. I also thought the religious books area was interesting to look at. The price isn't too bad. I think I wouldn't visit here again for at least another few years. But I do think it's a worthwhile place to visit if you've never been here before, or haven't been back in a while. read more

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After reading The Personal Librarian, I've wanted to visit the museum. I was finally able to go on one of the free Friday nights It is open from 5-8 pm. From outside you can see the Morgan home building- one of the remaining Gilded Age mansions. The atrium entrance is beautiful with lots of natural light and soaring ceilings. A coat check and cafe are located in the atrium entrance. Bathrooms are on the lower level. The cafe has wine, charcuterie and other snacks. Musicians play in the atrium. It is a very fun atmosphere. The library in comparison is small. Two levels of books line the walls. JP Morgan's desk and chairs are on display. Several books including the Gutenberg Bible are displayed in glass cases. The room also has a huge fireplace. The museum also has changing exhibits. We saw a cool exhibit on the Book of Psalms and another on Renoir's drawings. Both were interesting! Walking to the gift shop, you can see the foyer entrance to the Morgan house. The house is not open to the public. The gift shop had some unique items as well as typical gift shop items. I'm so happy I went to see the library! read more

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Lovely tea for lunch. $66 for 2. Beautifully presented with nice service. Wasn't a huge fan of the opera cake and the finger sandwiches were all good. We laughed about the edible glitter on the grapes. The library rooms are amazing. Absolutely gorgeous. They make history come alive. And anywhere that has books and art is a special place! Definitely worth a visit. It's a short one so we went to the NYPL after read more

The Morgan Library & Museum - Tea for 2. Very nice. - Libraries Near Me - New York, New York

Stopping by and checkout the current exhibition of Franz Kafka and the iconic librarian Belle Greene. The audio tour through our phones are available. WiFi is available, too. The garden is not open until May 2nd. Ticket is $25 per person read more

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If you're even slightly into books, history, or just being in the presence of greatness...run DONT WALK to The Morgan Library. I'm still picking my jaw up off the marble floors. They have Gutenberg-level history just casually existing behind glass. There are Mesopotamian tablets with cuneiform that look like they were written yesterday (except, you know... thousands of years ago). Napoleon's actual diaries, Christopher Columbus's Book of Hours, handwritten letters from Queen Elizabeth I, and OG Frida Kahlo pieces. I'm not even being dramatic when I say it feels like walking through the receipts of human civilization. The space itself is stunning. ornate, peaceful, and somehow both intimate and epic. You'll feel smarter just being in the building. It's like the ultimate flex for book and history lovers. Highly recommend taking your time, soaking it all in, and letting your inner nerd scream (quietly. It is a library after all) read more

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I had a great time visiting! I didn't realize this place existed until recently, but it's a cute little museum in Midtown. I loved the oil paintings on the very bottom floor. On Fridays, you can get a ticket for a free Friday in the evening. It's a great little spot to stop by. read more

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All I can say is this library is as beautiful as the pictures. After reading the book the Personal Librarian I was excited to find that this museum actually existed. I think it's one of the best kept secrets of. NYC. while you're not only able to visit JP Morgan's personal office and his assistant, Belle, they are also traveling exhibits. While I was there, one of the exhibits was the psalms it was so interesting with so many ancient artifacts a feast for your eyes do not skip out on this one! read more

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Beautiful musuem! Saw the whole thing in about 2-3 hours so not too long and big. Jane Austen area was way too crowded and not very air conditioned but still cool to see. The library room was very very nice. Basement bathroom was clean. Super easy to get in. read more

The Morgan Library & Museum - Libraries Near Me - New York, New York

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Can't believe after all these years I've never been. I was staying around the corner and had a couple of hours to occupy. Amazing architecture and interesting collection of rare books. I love museums and this place definitely scratched that itch. It's not the size of MoMA or anything similar. More in the lane of a private collection. So it won't take up your whole day. read more

This is a must-see spot if you've heard of Belle da Costa Greene, the Black woman who became JP Morgan's personal librarian, helping him build his incredible collection of precious and rare books, including three Guttenberg Bibles and several illuminated manuscripts. She also became, for a time, the highest paid woman in America. The Library and Museum entry fee is a bit expensive for those less familiar with this story, or frankly, those hoping for either a full and circulating library like the nearby NY Public Library (with its iconic lions) or a massive museum like several throughout NYC. That said, this place is a delight for folks like me who are interested in the history and lives of the Gilded Age robber barons in the City. The Library is housed in JP's mansion, with only the gorgeous rotunda at the original entrance, and the rooms that house the Library open to the public. While much of the library collection is in inaccessible to visitors and stored in stunning shelves and cases behind glass, many of the jewels Morgan acquired are on view for a closer look. Also on view on the main level are several sculptures, important musical scores (some acquired after Morgan's death - the Museum trustees use that high entry fee for acquisitions and preservation), small but important items from the ancient world, and a gorgeously decorated massive fireplace. The building expansion houses traveling and temporary art installations, many of which are consistent with Morgan's tastes in collecting. There's a lovely café behind the current first floor entry space, and a room with (generally) more contemporary artists being exhibited. Special exhibits are mostly upstairs and often include works with a religious theme (Bibles and psalters from many religious traditions and in many languages; a Caravaggio, Bellini and Perugino show; and other kinds of things like Renoir's drawings; music-themed exhibits; and one on story-telling through the centuries. The wonderful gift shop is also on the upper floor. We loved touring the Library and Museum, but for those who aren't sure yet, stop by on Friday for 5-8pm, when admission is free. You may even find yourself willing to visit a second time! read more

Small enough to enjoy and not be exhausted. I've been here several times so it was nice to see the new exhibits -- Sing a New Song: Psalms in Medieval Art and Life; Lisa Yuskavage Drawings. I love the illuminated manuscripts and the Psalms exhibit did not disappoint. read more

The Morgan Library & Museum - Libraries Near Me - New York, New York

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This library is an experience, to be certain! We arrived at 10:30am (reserved) and checked our coats and hats (free of charge) and headed straight to the exhibits. We visited during the Jane Austin exhibit, which was very interesting and had a lot of interesting items. We then headed to the cafe and decided to have the high tea service, which is $66 for two, including tea. The tea service takes at least 1/2 hour. We noticed that it took a while and heard a server telling another table that it takes that long. It does. The food was not especially traditional and was a little hit or miss for us, but not horrible. There are four small scones - all the same with some sort of dried fruit like apricots (fine). Then two deviled eggs with caviar (tasty), and four "sandwiches." Ours were a mix of open faced and traditional with chicken salad, egg salad, pimento cheese, and cucumbers. The top tier had a few bunches of glittered mini grapes, a small pink pastry, and a piece of cheesecake. These items were to be shared. (?) Aside from the grapes, it seemed like a portion for one person. A little strange. Overall, the food was good, but we were still hungry after the tea, which is unusual. The service was fine. We saw better service at other tables, but I think that's because we were tucked away behind a tree. The other menu items we were seeing looked AMAZING! We might go back to try some other foods. After tea we went to the original library area and were BLOWN AWAY! Original music written by Chopin....Guttenburg Bible....artifacts from Mesopotamia.... we were blown away. And the books and ambiance. It was AWESOME! This library is a MUST SEE if visiting NYC! After the exhibits, we hit the gift shop for a few baubles and left by 2:30 p.m. A great day. read more

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The Morgan Library is absolutely stunning. I can't believe I didn't know this place existed. Kick off the weekend with their Friday evening series: live music starts at 5 PM, and gallery access is free. It was my first time visiting and completely worth it. A perfect, low-key way to start the weekend. read more

The Morgan Library & Museum - Libraries Near Me - New York, New York

A good old NYC staple and must see for visitors, the Morgan Library showcases some of JP Morgan's art and book collections. It's a unique experience for NYC visitors and the library is a beautiful place worthy of Instagram or any other social media photos. There were a few other exhibits when we were there and they were also nicely done. That said, I feel the $30 admission is slightly high for a relative small museum. read more

The Morgan Library & Museum - A most Beautiful library! - Libraries Near Me - New York, New York

Stunning library and wonderful cafe. We got afternoon tea and were so pleasantly surprised, it was delicious and the service amazing! Highly recommend read more

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Really enjoyed wandering through this museum and soaking in all the history present in the collection. The architecture was amazing, the book collection astounding and there was even a little café! Highly worth a trip. read more

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Good place to have coffee and hang out with friends after visiting the museum. I came here with my friend and the place was spacious and clear. read more