New-York Historical Society

The New York Historical, known as the New-York Historical Society until 2024, is an American history museum and library on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Official and reference sources agree that it was founded in 1804, making it New York’s first museum, and that it has long focused on preserving and interpreting the history of New York and the United States.

Its holdings are especially notable for their range: art, artifacts, documents, and a major research library. The institution describes its Patricia D. Klingenstein Library as one of the oldest and most distinguished research libraries in the United States, with deep collections in New York and American history.

What makes it stand out is the way it brings scholarship and public history together. Alongside exhibitions and public programs, it preserves original records, manuscripts, and objects that help explain more than 400 years of New York and American life in a way that feels vivid and accessible.