Wow, a must see for book lovers, history lovers and architectural lovers…read more
The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City is famous for its rare books and stunning architecture, but it also hides some fascinating and unusual secrets.
Here are some facts I found out about the library and reasons for a visit. For me, this has to be the most impressive and wonderful library I have ever seen.
Some bookcases on the ground floor have brass handles that open to reveal spiral staircases leading to upper shelves
There is a a hidden closet in the southwest corner contains extra‑deep shelves for oversized volumes, and a special book elevator moves massive items between levels.
Displayed in the entrance hall is an intricately carved Roman sarcophagus from the 4th century, one of the most unusual artifacts in the collection.
The library houses one of only 48 complete copies of the Gutenberg Bible, printed in the 15th century -- a rare and historically significant work.
It holds original manuscripts by Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, and Edgar Allan Poe, offering rare glimpses into the creative processes of major authors.
J.P. Morgan's private librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, was the first director of the public institution and a trailblazer as the first Black graduate of Harvard College.
The collection includes cuneiform tablets from Mesopotamia, medieval illuminated manuscripts, and works by Leonardo da Vinci and William Blake.
J.P. Morgan's priceless collection was safeguarded in a private vault, with a night watchman and a mounted police officer posted outside for security.
The main building, designed by Charles McKim, blends Beaux‑Arts, Renaissance, and Neoclassical styles, and its Reading Room -- with a barrel‑vaulted ceiling -- is a National Historic Landmark.