Midtown Musings: Inside the New York Public Library
We’ve been doing Midtown Musings for a while now, highlighting our favorite spots in the neighborhood. They’ve ranged from just-opened restaurants to under-the-radar museums. Yet somehow, we missed an absolute treasure, just a few blocks away from Refinery: the New York Public Library’s Main Branch. Built in 1911, it’s a testament to the elegance of Beaux Arts architecture, with high coffered ceilings, gleaming stone walls, and rich wood detailing (not to mention rare books like a Gutenberg Bible and original works from Shakespeare, Voltaire and Walt Whitman).
Take a walk with us through the storied halls of New York Public Library.
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Why study anywhere else? The grand Rose Main Reading Room, fresh off a restoration, is one of the most beautiful places to get work done in the city.
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Seriously, the NYPL is all about the ceilings.
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Just look at these frescoes!
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All around the building, details like this mural of a man reading al fresco add a whimsical touch to the imposing grandeur.
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Always remember to look up at the NYPL.
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Archways everywhere!
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We’ll end with this timeless quote from 17th-century English poet John Milton: “A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.”
Check out more Midtown Musings
Beyond the New York Public Library, Midtown is a treasure trove of fascinating locales. Some we love: Spanish resto Boqueria, the epic shopping experience at Dover Street Market, and, another of NYC’s iconic libraries, the Morgan Library.