Behind-the-Scenes @ Academy of Arts & Letters
Mark Twain, John La Farge, William Merritt Chase — do these names ring a bell? Visit the congressionally recognized society they founded over 100 years ago in order to honor the country’s greatest architects, artists, writers, and composers.
Join New York Adventure Club for an exclusive look inside the American Academy of Arts & Letters; founded in 1898 for “the advancement of art and literature,” the American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 250-member honor society dedicated to fostering and sustaining an interest in literature, music, and the fine arts.
Led by the American Academy of Arts & Letters historian, our unique experience will include:
- An overview of the academy and its most notable members, including Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, and Woodrow Wilson
- An exclusive tour through the society’s 1923 headquarters as part of the Audubon Terrace cultural complex, with stops inside the members’ rooms, portrait gallery, and library
- A look at the recreated studio of composer Charles Ives, which was installed as a permanent exhibit in 2014
- A visit to the former headquarters of the American Numismatic Society, which the Academy purchased in 2005
If we’re lucky, we’ll pay a visit to the rarely seen 730-seat auditorium designed by Cass Gilbert, which is sought out by musicians wishing to record live as the acoustics are considered among the world’s finest.
Tickets $25-$29
American Academy of Arts and Letters (entrance on 155th St)
633 West 155th Street
New York, NY 10032