Frick Vs. Morgan NYC Showdown of Private Collections Made Public Art
- Savvy Single Mama
- Jun 27
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 16
NYC is known for unique and intriguing art, culture, and history. Inviting those who visit to come closer and interact with its every fiber. If you’re a person seeking an art experience, this is your city for sure. With so many amazing options to choose from, how to decide where to go and what to do? This blog compares two noteworthy personal collections made public, the Morgan Library & Museum and the Frick Collection. Let's have a showdown between these two iconic places and see which is the better choice for your NYC day. This will help you build an itinerary that works and play in the wealth of the City.
Both are homes overflowing with their prized possessions from all over the world. In the days of auctions when the wealthy bid on coveted items, and institutions all over the world competed for antiquities and objects, both Henry Clay Frick and JP Morgan were men who knew what they wanted, and spared no expense. While museums like the MET and Natural History Museum, along with the MoMA have followings of their own for all the right reasons, these bigger museums offer days worth of wondering and exploration. Meanwhile, in the same city, The Morgan and The Frick have a more intimate feeling, just being at home with the old guy down the street who acquired all kinds of wonderful things. If you have time for both, go do it. If you have a few hours in your itinerary and need to decide on one, narrow it down with these helpful details:
Let’s compare: the Frick Vs Morgan
Comparisons: | The Morgan Library & Museum | The Frick Collection |
Location: | Midtown Madison Ave & 36th Street | Upper East Side 1 East 70th Street
|
Origin: | Founded by financier and steel tycoon J.P. Morgan in 1906 to house rare books and manuscripts, some really cool artifacts Public since 1924 | Founded by industrialist Henry Clay Frisk to display European Art collection, many paintings, portraits and themes running through out Public since 1935 |
Style: | Beaux-Arts building meets modern museum design | Gilded Age mansion |
Focus: | Literature, rare books, illuminated manuscripts, historical documents, drawings, paintings | European Old Master paintings, sculpture, decorative arts from the Renaissance to the 19th century |
COST: | Adults $25.00 Seniors $17.00 Students $13.00 Children 12 and under, FREE Admission not required to visit the Café
College students are free the first Sunday of each month
Special Children Resources and activities offered,
EBT Free | Adults $30.00 Seniors & Disabled $22.00 Students $17.00 Children 10 – 17 FREE Children under 10 NOT ADMITTED
Can reserve Free Tickets through NYC Culture Pass (NYPL card holders)
EBT Free
CUNY, FIT, NYU, Pratt Students and faculty Free. |
FREE DAYS: | Friday evenings are pay what you wish | Thursdays from 4 – 6pm are pay what you wish |
HOURS: | Tue – Sun: 10:30 – 5 pm Friday open until 7 pm Closed: Monday | Thurs – Sun: 10 – 6 pm Closed: Mon – Wed. |
Mood: | Quiet, scholarly, decadent, warm and intimate | Grand, elegant, cold and crisp |
Things both hot spots have in common:
Both are a few hours of wandering, while the Morgan spans four large gallery rooms and an enigmatic study, the Frick features many rooms of a mansion, which was reopened in May of 2025 after being closed for five years for refurbishing. Newly reopened, the Frick’s draw is a luxurious marble staircase leading to the upper level which is now open to the public, previously unavailable. Second floor galleries are now open to view for the first time which opens the families private bedrooms to visitors from all over the world! While the Morgan is less spacious, it’s not less time consuming to “see”.
Café anyone?
BOTH collections offer a café on site. While I am not one to spend much time in a café (I’ve got things to see!), the Morgan’s atrium definitely made my to do list with its walls of windows and tea time. This girl’s afternoon experience was the best deal for an afternoon lunch with delicious options AND a three-tier teatime! Well done Morgan! Well done. Their menu selections made eating more fun, and everything looked and sounded absolutely delicious even to the picky eaters in our party. Our server was awesome too, helpful, attentive, and knowledgeable. The Frick has a scenic café on the second floor which offers art inspired cocktails, mocktails, and both European and American wines. They have some options for coffee, tea, pastries or salads, pastas and soups as well. While it looked pretty, we opted not to stop, again things to do!
Policies and Vibes
There are absolutely NO PHOTOS allowed in the Frick. And the attendants are vigilant about this. Yet, the QR codes in each room offer a wealth of information, and it’s actually difficult to navigate without the audio tour. Each room has a theme, and the interesting vibes will only lead to questions, which will then lead to answers on your phone, which will be tempting for capturing the art in real time, but no no no, resist the urge! If photos are your language (as they are mine) this feels very discouraging. You CAN take photos in the beautiful Artium, which is a picturesque gallery in the middle of the mansion.
At the Morgan, no one batted an eye as I took selfies, captured video, and took my time to focus shots. They do not appreciate flash photography, but there were no looks or nods. The attendants here were all especially warm and welcoming. The coat check attendant was professional and every encounter felt classy and respectful. Maybe the Frick is uptight because it’s so newly reopened? Maybe they are worried about leaked footage or someone running away with their ballroom? No clue.
Check the websites about checking coats and large bags. They both prefer the online reservation system. Although at each we still needed to confirm our tickets at the counter. Absolutely no drinks or food.
Definitely double check any questions before you go on their sites at:
Gardens
Frick Vs Morgan
We LOVE a good cityscaped garden! While both offer a beautiful garden designed true to the era, there are some differences to your experience worth considering:
Garden Details: | Morgan | Frick |
Public Access: | YES! Seasonally open for Spring, Summer, Fall. Check the schedule, weather permitting and times vary | No. Look but don’t touch (or visit) |
Location: | Formal Garden behind the museum | Walled courtyard in the middle of the mansion |
Visible from the street: | No, must be inside to see as it’s nestled between buildings | Yes, can be seen through the cast iron gates out front and as you wait to get inside |
Style: | Like a secret garden of the Gilded Age, benches available inside of the gothic style garden wall. | Looks peaceful, with a symmetrical rectangle with elegance, trees, reflection pool and hedges. |
So WHO were these iconic men that left their public collections as a legacy to their own interests?
At the turn of the 1900’s the world was changing and the industrial era was gaining momentum! Well known figures emerged who were quickly monopolizing and setting the tone for the US for the next century to come.
Henry Clay Frick made his fortune in the coke industry (a fuel derived from coal used in steel making). He partnered with Andrew Carnegie to become a key figure in Carnegie Steel, which became US Steel, the world’s first billion-dollar corporation. Known for being gritty with a hands on approach and tough stance against labor unions. Ruthless.
JP Morgan was a banker, who financed corporations and moved into the Steel and railroad industries. A big role in General Electric. Preferred to restructure labor conflicts and negotiate. Helped stabilize the US financial system.
Aspect: | Morgan | Frick |
Lived: | 1837 - 1913 | 1849-1919 |
Born and Lived: | Pennsylvania Lived in Pittsburgh Built a Mansion on 5th Ave, NYC Vacationed in Prides Crossing, Massachusetts | Connecticut Lived in Boston, Switzerland and Germany NYC The Oaks Estate, Glen Cove, NY
|
Faith: | Episcopal, leader in his church | Presbyterian (Protestant) |
Hobby: | Yachting | Horseback riding |
Day ideas around the Frick?
The Upper East Side lining Central Park, this is an easy day to plan. Just a few blocks south of the MET, this could be a Museum/ Central Park/ Museum Day. Starting and ending your day with wither the MET or the Frick. There are many Deli's along the way you could stop for a chicken parm sub and eat in Central Park in-between stops. This actually sounds like a perfect day to me, complete with a rooftop cocktail (or mocktail) at the MET? YES.
Day ideas around the Morgan?
For this stop Bryant Park, the New York Public Library and the midtown options are the highlight. Grand Central is right there and a fun place to pop in and take photos or grab a bite to eat. The root beer floats in the food court there are perfect. Also, tons of gourmet baked goods, tacos, shake shack and others. If Grand Central is a feature of your transportation in or out of the City, this is very convenient. If not, it's still worth the time to stop and see. I made an entire day or options for those visiting the Morgan which can be found HERE.
So let's see where we’re going…
Kids? The Morgan.
College Student? The Morgan on the First Sunday, unless you go to CUNY, FIT, NYU, Pratt Students or faculty, then Frick.
Lunch or afternoon teatime? The Morgan
Pairing your day with Midtown activities? Morgan.
Pairing your Day with Central Park East? The Frick
Like Cuneiform and Akkadian Writings? Morgan
Like Religious Relics? Morgan
Need to see a Monet? Frick
Love Angels/ Fragonard? Frick
Feeling like photography? Morgan
Is it possible to see BOTH of these in the same day? Yes, they are two miles and a subway apart! Catch the 6 train to move between both locations.
Either are accessible by subways/ public transportation within a few blocks.
Either is in an area rich with other things to do!
For more help with itineraries while in NY, click here.
If you would like a taste of Broadway with a side of some speakeasies, click here.
For help with your Winter Wonderland trip to NYC click here.
Thoughts & Tips:
Most of NYC is best experienced by walking! Wear comfy shoes and go wander and explore. I save indoor/ paid options for days where I do not want to be outside in the elements or if there is a specific itinerary I am following, usually when friends are visiting and we are showing them around. I do typically plan my NYC days to incorporate something I've never done before or haven't done in a long time.
*Show up ready to go with the flow of traffic and remember getting there is part of the fun!
*Do a little research to make the experience a little more meaningful, some of the older items seem random outside of context
*Look on the Website to see if you meet the criteria for any of the discounted admission
*Make a day of it! There's so much to see and do around both/ either museum and if you make it all the way there, enjoy the surrounding areas
*Use the public transportation. Subways are easier than you think
*Admire the architecture, it's part of the vibe
*Let go of things you can't control
*Give yourself a little extra time for traveling
Thanks for stopping by today!
I'd love to hear of your experience in NYC! Did you visit the Frick or the Morgan? Feel free to leave feedback and share your tips as well.
Mz. Savvy
A note from the editor:
The information in this article was accurate when published but may change without notice.
Confirm the prices and times on websites, and use your best judgement.
Confirm details when planning your trip.
Thank you so much for Visiting, please consider liking and sharing if you found this information helpful. I'd love if you subscribed to my site, I share a newsletter once every 6 weeks about family travel and do not share this mailing info, nor do I subscribe with google ads.
Happy Travels!
