| Bulding Address: | 225 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016 |
| Zip Code: | 10016 |
| Neighborhood: | Murray Hill |
| Borough: | Manhattan |
| Stories: | 5 |
| Year Built: | 1900 |
| Building Class: | B |
History of 225 Madison Avenue, Manhattan, NYC
The site of 225 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York City, originally featured four Italianate-style brownstone houses built in 1852–1853 by the Phelps Stokes/Dodge merchant family. These houses occupied the east side of Madison Avenue between 36th and 37th Streets and were set amidst gardens and stables in a then less developed Murray Hill neighborhood.
In 1880, the prominent banker John Pierpont Morgan purchased one of these houses at 219 Madison Avenue and extensively renovated its interior, while largely preserving the exterior. Morgan moved there by 1882 and lived among his social and business contacts in Murray Hill.
Between 1902 and 1906, Morgan commissioned the construction of what is now known as the Morgan Library & Museum adjacent to his residence at Madison Avenue and 36th Street. Designed by Charles McKim of the firm McKim, Mead & White, the library was created as an Italian Renaissance-style palazzo, intended not merely as a repository but as a majestic yet intimate space reflecting the cultural significance of Morgan’s vast collection of rare books, manuscripts, and artworks.
This building is regarded as McKim’s architectural masterpiece and features three grand rooms that epitomize America's Age of Elegance. It was completed three years before McKim’s death in 1909.
After Pierpont Morgan's death in 1913, his son, J. P. Morgan Jr., transformed the library into a public institution in 1924, fulfilling his father's vision of making the collection accessible to scholars and the public. Over the decades, the Morgan Library & Museum expanded physically and in its holdings, acquiring music manuscripts, Americana, and 20th-century materials.
Significant expansions included the 1928 Annex built on the site of Pierpont Morgan’s former residence, the addition of the nearby brownstone in 1988 (once J.P. Morgan Jr.'s residence), and a garden court built in 1991 to unify the complex.
The most substantial recent expansion was completed in 2006, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano. This expansion added 75,000 square feet, increasing exhibition space by over fifty percent, and introduced new visitor amenities such as a performance hall, café, restaurant, shop, and reading room. Piano’s design harmonizes the historic buildings with modern steel-and-glass pavilions, creating a central court that serves as a gathering place reminiscent of an Italian piazza.
Today, 225 Madison Avenue stands as a cultural landmark and an internationally recognized center for research, fine art, and public education, embodying the legacy and vision of the Morgan family.
The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Avenue (at East 36th Street), Manhattan, New York City, NY 10016
Located in the Murray Hill neighborhood, The Morgan Library & Museum is a museum and research library founded by J. P. Morgan. It opened in 1906 as a private library and now houses a collection of over 350,000 rare books, manuscripts, prints, and artworks.
The institution is recognized as a U.S. National Historic Landmark and a New York City Landmark. Its architecture includes the original Charles Follen McKim main building and later expansions by Renzo Piano and others.
The complex also includes 231 Madison Avenue, an Italianate brownstone house historically associated with the Morgan family.
The location is accessible by subway via Grand Central–42nd Street and 33rd Street stations and numerous bus lines.
225 Madison Avenue, Manhattan, NYC - Building Amenities
The Morgan Library & Museum, located at 225 Madison Avenue, is a distinguished cultural institution housed in a historic complex that blends Italian Renaissance architecture with modern expansions designed by Renzo Piano.
The building amenities include:
- A welcoming entrance on Madison Avenue
- A new performance hall for events and exhibitions
- A café and a restaurant offering dining options within the building
- A museum shop with a curated selection of books, cards, and gifts
- A reading room designed for research and quiet study
- Collections storage facilities that support preservation and access to rare materials
- Three historical buildings integrated with three steel-and-glass pavilions
- A soaring central court with a glass roof serving as a gathering place reminiscent of an Italian piazza
The complex also features:
- Garden court connecting various elements of the campus
- Annex buildings with exhibition spaces and galleries
- Conservation and research centers
225 Madison Avenue Office Tenants
Specific office tenant information for 225 Madison Avenue is not publicly listed in available records. The primary occupant of 225 Madison Avenue is the Morgan Library & Museum, a cultural institution occupying the entire complex. The museum does not lease office space to external tenants, focusing instead on exhibition galleries, research libraries, and administrative facilities for its operations.
Building Details
- Address: 225 Madison Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10016
- Primary Use: Museum, research library, and exhibition spaces
- Key Components: J.P. Morgan's original library (McKim building), Morris Annex, Renzo Piano expansion
- Public Access: Open Tuesday-Sunday with ticketed admission
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For more specific availability, please check with each provider using your exact address.
225 Madison Avenue, home to The Morgan Library & Museum, is located at the crossroads of Madison Avenue and 36th Street in Manhattan, New York City. To get there, you can use several transportation options:
By Subway: Take the No. 6 subway to 33rd Street or the No. 4, 5, 6, or 7 to Grand Central. Alternatively, use the B, D, F, Q to 42nd Street.
By Bus: The M2, M3, M4, and Q32 buses stop nearby at 36th Street.
PATH Train: Use the PATH train to 33rd Street.
Cross Streets: Madison Avenue and 36th Street are the nearest cross streets. Nearby landmarks include the Empire State Building and Grand Central Terminal.
