LandmarkWashington Heights
Hispanic Society Museum & Library
One of the city's under-visited great collections, free with a ticket; only open four days a week.
613 W 155th StW 155th St at Broadway (Audubon Terrace)
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What it is
The Hispanic Society Museum & Library is at 613 W 155th St, in the Audubon Terrace complex bounded by Broadway and W 155th and 156th Sts. Wikipedia says it was founded in 1904 by Archer M. Huntington and operates from its original 1908 Beaux Arts building, with a second building added in 1930. Audubon Terrace is a New York City landmark and is listed on the National Register.
Who it’s for
Art lovers, students of Spanish and Latin American culture, and anyone who wants a quiet and ornate museum without the crowds.
Standout details
Wikipedia describes a collection of more than 18,000 works, including three Velázquez paintings, five by Goya and seven by El Greco. The Sorolla Room holds “Vision of Spain,” a set of 14 large paintings commissioned in 1911. The museum’s site lists museum hours of Thursday to Sunday 12 to 5pm; admission is free with a required free ticket, and it suggests a donation ($15, or $10 for NY, NJ and CT residents and $5 for students and seniors). The research library is open Thursday to Saturday, 12 to 3:30pm, by appointment for researchers.
Honest verdict
A major collection in a quiet courtyard, and not what many expect to find in a Dominican-majority neighborhood. It sits at the southern edge of the guide’s territory, on the north side of W 155th St.