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Celebrating 150 Years of The Met
April 13, 2020, marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Museum occupied two temporary buildings before opening its permanent location in Central Park in 1880. When it first opened to the public, The Met was located in the Dodworth Building at 681 Fifth Avenue. The Douglas Mansion became The Met’s second home from 1873 to 1879, situated at 128 West 14th Street. Since opening its permanent home on Fifth Avenue, the building has expanded greatly, and various additions now surround the original structure. These images chronicle the early decades of The Met’s 150-year history.
128 West 14th Street
The William P. Douglas Mansion was the second home of The Met located at 128 W. 14th Street (1873-1879) and designed by Architect James Renwick. Photographed ca. 1875.
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Vaux and Mould Facade, Metropolitan Museum of Art
The first Met Museum building located in Central Park designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, view facing northwest, showing the south (Central Park) and east (later Fifth Avenue) façades. Photographed in 1880.
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Weston Wing Facade, Metropolitan Museum of Art
The next major design for the Museum began in December 1880, just months after opening the Museum's first building. Designed by Theodore Weston and Arthur Lyman Tuckerman, this building officially opened to the public in November of 1894. The Museum's main entrance was then located on Central Park. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Weston Wing Façade, view facing west with Cleopatra's Needle in the distance. Photographed in 1888.
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Weston Wing Facade, Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Museum's main entrance as it was located on Central Park. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Weston Wing Façade, view facing northwest. Probably photographed between 1889 and 1895.
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Weston Wing Facade, Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park Entrance facing north, designed by Theodore Weston and Arthur Lyman Tuckerman. Photographed on April 20, 1950.
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met's iconic Fifth Avenue Façade was designed by architects Richard Morris Hunt and Richard Howland Hunt. Sculptural decorations were the work of Karl Bitter. Plans for this addition began in 1894 and officially opened to the public on December 22, 1902. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue Façade, view facing southwest. Photographed in 1904.
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue Facade with students from Public School No. 6 celebrating Flag Day, view facing northwest. Photographed on June 14, 1916.
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue Façade, view facing northwest showing the main façade. Photographed on May 12, 1917.
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
In 1918, The Museum took part in celebrating the World War I Victory Parade on Fifth Avenue. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue Façade, view facing west showing the facade after the World War I Victory Parade. Photographed on November 11, 1918.
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue Façade, view facing northwest after the World War I Victory Parade. Photographed on November 11, 1918.
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's main entrance as seen from across Fifth Avenue. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue Façade, view facing west. Photographed in April 1952.
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue Façade, view of the façade facing north with greenery on the plaza. Photographed 1967-1968.
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue Façade, view of the main entrance and banner displaying The Cloisters exhibition "Medieval Art from Private Collections," (October 30, 1968-March 30, 1969), including special Cloisters shuttle bus for visitors. Photographed in 1968-1969.
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