Review: The Morgan Library & Museum

Zoom out. What’s this place all about?
The Morgan is like a multi-hyphenate millennial—only instead of actress/model/influencer/whatever leads to early retirement, it’s museum/library/landmark/historic site/music venue. The building was originally the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan. But since its 2006 expansion—led by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano—it’s more like a mini Madison Avenue campus. There are now some 20 different spaces, including galleries, libraries, a performance hall, and more within.

What are we going to find in the permanent collection?
The Morgan houses art in virtually every medium, including drawings, prints, and artifacts dating from 4000 B.C. to the twenty-first century. The library's holdings include a host of rare books and manuscripts: one of 23 copies of the original Declaration of Independence; Mozart's handwritten score of the Haffner Symphony; the collected works of Phillis Wheatley, the first known African American poet; the only extant manuscript of Milton's Paradise Lost; and Charles Dickens’s manuscript of A Christmas Carol. Swoon.

What about rotating exhibits?
The museum hosts a few temporary or seasonal exhibitions simultaneously. Topics range from a particular artist or author (Charles Dickens and Emily Dickinson have been covered in the past) to a comprehensive interpretation of a specific practice, like the importance of sketching and drawing for renowned Flemish Baroque painters.

What did you make of the crowd?
The majority of museum-goers are New York City tourists (informed ones, who probably didn’t come directly from Time Square), but locals frequent the Morgan to catch a performance or take in a new exhibition.

Any guided tours worth trying?
The Morgan offers a free hourlong “highlights” tour of the permanent collection Tuesday through Sunday at 12:30 p.m. If a particular exhibition interests you, check the tour schedule to time your visit.

Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it?
Even if you don’t feel like buying items related to the collections, the Morgan Shop is worth visiting, since it’s located in J.P. Morgan Jr.'s former brownstone.

Is the café worth a stop, or should we just plan on going elsewhere?
The Morgan Café, set within the glass-enclosed Gilbert Court, is a fine spot for a casual light lunch or tea.

Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged?
A comprehensive visit to the museum could take upwards of two hours. If you’re limited on time, do a lap around Morgan’s library (the atmosphere will not disappoint), then focus on the special exhibits.