The Frick Collection and The Morgan Library in New York City - Why You Should You Go Yourself and Bring Your Children and Grandchildren to Visit Beauty in Art and Building From The Gilded Age
- Mema
- Sep 28
- 5 min read
The photograph is a 1904 depiction of an acquisitive and manipulative Standard Oil (founded by John D. Rockefeller) as an all-powerful octopus.
After returning from a trip to New York, partially to see the grand opening of the Frick Collection, and remembering the last trip where I saw the Morgan library for the first time, I recall that I didn’t see any children at either. That led me to do quick research on Wikipedia on the Frick and Morgan.
The title of this blog changed immediately from if you should take your children and grandchildren to why you should take your children and grandchildren to The Frick and The Morgan. It is definitely worth a trip to New York to take in The Morgan and The Frick yourself, and make sure you have advance tickets for both before booking flights and hotel. The Frick recently reopened after a $300 million restoration to the mansion and is a hard ticket to acquire.
This Grandma stumbled upon the fact that there is a school lesson plan just for the period of time in which Frick and Morgan worked, the Gilded Age. And they knew each other and worked together. How amazing is that!
Definitely for fifth graders and above.
INTRODUCE THE TERMS ROBBER BARONS, CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY, AND PHILANTHROPY AND COMPARE TO TODAY
Robber baron is a term first applied by 19th century investigative journalists and others as social criticism to certain wealthy, powerful, and unethical 19th-century American businessmen who used exploitative practices to amass their wealth.
[The term combines the sense of criminal ("robber") and illegitimate aristocracy
The wealthy industrialists and financiers, also called "Captains of Industry" who built the core America industrial economy and also were philanthropists who created and donated to the non-profit sector included Henry Clay Frick and J. P. Morgan.
Today, the leaders of Big Tech companies have all been described in news and media as being modern-day “robber barons,” such as Jeff Bezos because of his ownership of the newspaper, The Washington Post. It has been said that their rising wealth and power stands in contrast with the described shrinking middle class. Elon Musk has also been described by news and media of being a modern-day “robber baron.”
INTRODUCE THE TERM OLIGARCH AND THE GILDED AGE AND COMPARE TO
TODAY
An oligarch is defined as a very rich business leader with a great deal of political
influence.
In addition to being a drama series on Netflix, The Gilded Age was defined as an era of dramatic industrial growth, technological advancement and immense wealth accumulation in the United States from roughly the 1870’s to the late 1890’s.
]In his presidential farewell address, President Biden used the term "robber baron" to speak of the growing influence of concentrated wealth and power in American society today. President Biden compared that these developments could signal a shift toward oligarchy, and toward the economic and social era and inequities of the Gilded Age, which included Frick and Morgan.
You may want to watch the trailers of the series with your grandchildren before going to The Morgan Library and The Frick Collection.
You may want to compare and contrast those business leaders of The Gilded Age to the
business leaders of today.
Now you are ready to explore yourself and show the children and grandchildren the real
thing!
THE MORGAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
225 Madison Avenue between 36 th and 37 th Street
J.P. Morgan (John Pierpont Morgan, Sr.) (1837-1913) lived during the Gilded Age. He was an American investment banker and financier on Wall Street as head of the banking firm which became known as JPMorgan Chase & Co..
The Morgan Library & Museum is a museum and research library in New York City, New York, U.S. It was completed in 1906 as the private library of the banker J. P. Morgan.
Key highlights include its beautiful original architecture, particularly the entry Rotunda with its ornate ceilings, and the Library itself, which houses a treasure trove of early printed books, including a rare Gutenberg Bible, one of four owned, but one always on display. Learn the meaning of a “pocketbook” by seeing original ones from the 11th century on. The museum also has on display a world-class collection of medieval manuscripts, handwritten manuscripts from famous writers, musicians, and artists, and ancient Near Eastern seals and tablets.
GETTING TICKETS IN ADVANCE IS RECOMMENDED.
Visit during Free Friday evenings to explore the historic rooms for free, but be aware that a guided tour is not part of this general admission. Check to see when there are free guided tours, when I was there it was at 12:30 pm.
There is a free on line audioguide
$17 Seniors (65 and over)
$13 Students (with current ID)
Free to children 12 and under (must be accompanied by an adult)
Monthly opportunity for college students to get in free on the first Sunday of each month
A LONG WALK FULL OF STOPS AND SIGHTS FROM THE MORGAN TO THE FRICK!
It is a long walk, two miles, from the Morgan to the Frick, but there is much to see and do along the way. You can have lunch or a snack at Grand Central Station and see that beautiful building, see the New York Public Library Building, walk up Fifth Avenue, with a stop to go to the Top of the Rock or more. The best views in New York include paid observation decks like Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, The Edge, and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. Walk along Central Park, and maybe stop at the zoo, before arriving at The Frick.
THE FRICK COLLECTION
1 E 70th St, New York, NY 10021 at Fifth Avenue.
Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919) was an American businessman, industrialist, financier, and art patron. He founded the H.C.Frick & Co. coke manufacturing company which later became Carnegie Steel Company, of which he was chairman. Frick was later instrumental in the founding of U.S. Steel, which became the world’s largest steel manufacturer. After his retirement he built the Frick Mansion,between 1912-4. The Frick Collection includes his extensive collection of old master paintings and fine furniture, donated after his death, and originally opened in 1935.
At the Frick Collection, you can see the newly renovated Gilded Age Mansion, furniture and furnishings from Frick’s time, alongside its world-renowned collection of Old Master paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts by artists like Rembrandt and Vermeer. Highlights include returning masterpieces in the West Gallery, the grand Aurora Blue staircase, and newly opened galleries on the second floor, including the master bedroom.
The Frick offers an experience to be part of the art, historic architecture, and furnishings in the reconstructed interior of the former residence. See paintings in Henry Clay Frick’s private collection, previously only owned and seen by royal kings and royal families.
GETTING TIMED TICKETS IN ADVANCE IS RECOMMENDED.
$22 Seniors (65 and over)
$17 Students (with current ID).
Free to Youths ages 10-18. Only children ages 10 and older admitted.
There is a free on line audio guide.
A day of Gilded Age excess and history in New York City not to be missed! You will spend more time than you planned living among the rich “robber barons” with
Joy,
Mema
Tips for Adults Visiting New York City:
Visiting New York City with children and grandchildren see:
