Usually off-limit to the public, the American Irish Historical Society is opening its doors to Untapped Cities!
Located on Manhattan’s Museum Mile, the American Irish Historical Society is a center of Irish culture and knowledge. Built in 1901, the five story Beaux-Arts townhouse was a private home before it was purchased by the Society in 1939. It is one of the last standing mansions on Fifth Avenue, beautifully maintained with tons of fun secrets – like working vintage elevators, secret staircases and more. The Society hosts a variety of public events such as concerts, lectures and poetry readings. With a library that holds over 10,000 volumes, it is home to one of the largest private collections of Irish and American Irish history and literature in the United States.
The insider tour will begin with a short history of the Irish in America and what led to the founding members establishing the Society in 1897. Visitors will also learn about the historic townhouse and its previous residents. Highlights of the library and archives, by such artists as Nathaniel Hone and George (A.E.) Russell, are on full display. The tour concludes with the Society’s current exhibit about the Easter Rising and its American dimension.
Here are a few more pictures of the Mansion:
Next, read about the Top 10 Secrets of the American Irish Historical Society. See our full list of Behind the Scenes Tours.