Reading room
Painted ceiling.
Sharon Mollerus — CC BY 2.0 · Larry from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada — CC BY 2.0 · Ferfive — CC BY 4.0 · Jon Tyson jontyson — CC0 · The All-Nite Images from NY, NY, USA — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Julien Chatelain from Paris, France — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Carlos Adampol Galindo from DF, México — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Los Paseos from Earth — CC BY-SA 2.0
The main building of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, officially the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, a Beaux-Arts masterpiece by the firm Carrère and Hastings that opened on 23 May 1911 and holds some 2.5 million volumes. Its marble facade is richly carved, and a pair of stone lions guarding the Fifth Avenue entrance have become the library's icon. The building was declared a National Historic Landmark in the 1960s. The highlight is the vast Rose Main Reading Room, with its carved wooden ceiling painted with sky and clouds, chandeliers and brass lamps along the long tables, along with galleries showing treasures from the collections, from manuscripts to rare books. Entry is free and open to all, with a bag check at the door. Behind the library lies Bryant Park, with lawns and seating, which turns into a winter village with an ice rink and market stalls in the cold months.
Painted ceiling.
At the entrance.
Behind the library.
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, Midtown Manhattan
SUMMIT One VanderbiltAn observation deck and art experience on the top floors of One Vanderbilt, a 624 minutes walk4.8
Grand Central TerminalA historic railway terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan,6 minutes walk4.6
Empire State BuildingA 102-storey Art Deco skyscraper built in 1930–1931 on Fifth Avenue, with a roof8 minutes walk4.8
Times SquareOne of the busiest pedestrian intersections in the world, formed where Broadway,8 minutes walk4.6
Top of the Rock at Rockefeller CenterAn observation deck on top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the centrepiece of Rockefell9 minutes walk4.8Yes, entry is free and open to all, with a bag check at the door.