NEW YORK—On a breezy day an American and an Irish flag fly side by side, billowing in front of a five-story limestone building on Fifth Avenue.
Between 80th and 81st streets, this city structure is across the street from both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park.
The American Irish Historical Society has called it home since 1940.
When the townhouse was first erected in 1900, similar buildings lined the block. From the 1920s on however, many original buildings were knocked down to make way for towering apartment blocks, two of which sandwich the historic building today.
Before the society obtained the building, it had changed ownership four times: the president of U.S. Steel was the fourth owner. After being forced out of his position because of a scandal, his son sold it to an association of Irish builders.
Rare books and artifacts abound inside, amongst them the first Irish translation of the Bible circa 17th century. Letters of prominent Irish figures can also be found, including those of the poet William Butler Yeats and Patrick Pearse, a central figure in the 1916 Irish Independence movement. The library alone has more than 50,000 volumes.
Indeed, the collection’s growth is the principle reason the society moved into 991 Fifth Ave. from a donated location near Gramercy Park.
The society itself was founded in 1897; Theodore Roosevelt, who was part Irish, was one of the founders.
“It was founded in order to prompt knowledge of the Irish aspect of American history,” said Chris Cahill, director of the society, “Over the years that has broadened to include a wide range of American and American-Irish cultural areas of interest or concern.”
Concerts, lectures, plus art and historical exhibitions are just some of the cultural events the society offers to the public. An example, Dubh, a current exhibition that runs until Nov. 13, showcases work by Irish designers and artists.
The American Irish Historical Society is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will soon have a regular tour schedule.
Details are on the website.
