Founded on April 13, 1870, by a group of American businessmen, artists and thinkers, this beautiful museum first opened its doors in 1872. One of the largest and finest art museums in the world, its collections span 5,000 years of world culture from every part of the globe. The founding architects were Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mold, and the original design was a red-brick neo-Gothic structure. The museum was in two former locations before being moved in 1880 to its current spot in Central Park along Fifth Avenue (from 80th to 84th Streets). The building façade and entrance were completed in 1926. More than four million people per year from all over the world walk up the marble steps to this magnificent two million square-foot home of more than two million pieces of priceless art work.
The oldest works of art housed in the Metropolitan are its Egyptian pieces, which date back to 300,000-75,000 BC. The museum is a non-profit corporation and all of the works of art are held in trust. The trustees, in turn, are responsible for the cost of education, conservation and special exhibitions. They state the museum’s purpose as “to collect, preserve, study, exhibit and stimulate appreciation for and advance knowledge of works of art that collectively represent the broadest spectrum of human achievement at the highest level of quality, all in the service of the public and in accordance with the highest professional standards.”
The museum is owned by the City of New York, which provides for its heat, light and power. The city also picks up the tab for about half the cost of maintenance and security for the facility and its collections.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a magnificent experience, both for its splendid architecture and for the incredible artwork housed within its walls.
A must see the next time YOU are in New York.
Have YOU been there? What are some of YOUR favorite collections?