The Morgan Library & Museum

Museum Historic New York library housing rare manuscripts and art

A former private library turned public museum in Manhattan, founded on J.P. Morgan’s collections. Visitors explore rare manuscripts, illuminated books, drawings and period architecture.

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The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City began as the private library of financier J. P. Morgan and today operates as a public museum and research library housing rare books, manuscripts, and drawings. The institution combines the original historic library interiors with later museum galleries and a modern wing.

Exhibits feature rotating displays drawn from the library’s collections of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts, early printed books, important literary and historical archives, and works on paper. Visitors can view the preserved study rooms and selected exhibition displays; the facility also supports scholarly research in its reading rooms.

The core library rooms and collections were assembled by J. P. Morgan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the institution was later chartered as a public museum and has undergone expansions and restorations, including a major modern wing added in the early 2000s. Conservation and curatorial work continue to maintain the historic interiors and collections.

The museum is located in Midtown Manhattan on Madison Avenue near 36th Street, close to other cultural institutions and accessible from the nearby subway and commuter rail nodes of midtown New York City.

  • Timed entry and tours: Timed-entry tickets are commonly used for the museum's galleries and for guided tours of the historic library rooms, which have limited capacity.
  • Photography restrictions: Photography rules are restricted in the historic rooms and for many exhibits; check current visitor information before planning photography.

What to See #

  • Morgan's historic library rooms: The original library and study rooms assembled by J. P. Morgan that contain historic interiors and display cases for manuscript highlights.
  • Renovated museum galleries: A modern wing completed in the early 21st century providing museum galleries, exhibition space, and conservation laboratories.
  • Rare book and manuscript collections: A collection focus on rare manuscripts, early printed books, important literary and historical archives, and drawings from European masters.
The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA
40.7488, -73.9816
Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm, closed Mon
US$25 adult (general admission)

How to Get to The Morgan Library & Museum #

The Morgan Library & Museum is in Midtown Manhattan (225 Madison Ave at E 36th St). From Grand Central-42 St (Metro-North, 4/5/6/7/S connections) it’s a roughly 8-10 minute walk south (about 0.4 miles). You can also take the 4/5/6 to 33rd St and walk north about 8-10 minutes. Several northbound buses (M1/M2/M3) run on Madison Avenue with stops close to E 36th St.

Tips for Visiting The Morgan Library & Museum #

  • Buy a timed-entry ticket for a specific morning or weekday slot - special exhibitions sell out and timed tickets limit queues for the small galleries.
  • Enter from Madison Avenue and head first to the 1906 McKim building (the original library) and the small exhibition rooms: these are compact and can become crowded mid-afternoon, so visit them on arrival.
  • Allow time for the manuscript and rare-book displays - they change frequently and are in smaller rooms that many visitors skip; check the museum's website for conservation closures before you go.

Best Time to Visit The Morgan Library & Museum #

Visit on weekday mornings or mid‑week afternoons to avoid crowds and have a calmer visit to the indoor galleries and manuscripts.

Off‑peak (best time)
Year‑round (weekday mornings, mid‑week) · N/A (indoor)
Weekday mornings and mid‑week afternoons are the quietest times to see the galleries and library rooms with fewer tour groups and school parties.
Peak times
Year‑round (weekends, school holidays) · N/A (indoor)
Weekends, school holidays and weekend afternoons are busiest; book timed tickets in advance and arrive early to avoid lines.

Weather & Climate near The Morgan Library & Museum #

Climate

The Morgan Library & Museum's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1210 mm/year), wettest in July, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Air Quality: AQI 36 Good
Best Time to Visit
JuneJulyAugust
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
34°
Warmest Month
-14°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 4°C and lows of -4°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-4°
82%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

96 mm
Rainfall
4.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.5h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-3°
81%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

77 mm
Rainfall
4.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.4
UV Index
Low
10.5h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

58 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
10°
81%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

106 mm
Rainfall
5.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.7
UV Index
Moderate
11.8h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

68 Good

Comfort

11°
Feels Like Cool
11°C
Temperature
16°
82%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

104 mm
Rainfall
4.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.2
UV Index
High
13.1h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (112 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
11° 22°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

112 mm
Rainfall
4.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.5
UV Index
Very High
14.3h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

82 Excellent

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
16° 26°
83%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

93 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.8
UV Index
Very High
14.8h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 29°C and lows of 20°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (115 mm).

82 Excellent

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Warm
24°C
Temperature
20° 29°
80%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

115 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.8
UV Index
Very High
14.6h daylight

August

August is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (110 mm).

82 Excellent

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Mild
24°C
Temperature
19° 28°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

110 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.6
UV Index
Very High
13.6h daylight

September

September is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm).

80 Excellent

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
15° 24°
77%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

103 mm
Rainfall
3.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.2
UV Index
High
12.3h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
18°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

93 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.7
UV Index
Moderate
11.0h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

106 mm
Rainfall
4.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.3
UV Index
Low
9.8h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-1°
82%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

95 mm
Rainfall
4.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.2h daylight

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