Treasures at the New York Public Library — The Polonsky Exhibition

The library on Fifth Avenue has been around for over 100 years and has collected and preserved about 56-million items. The Polonsky Exhibition displays a very small selection of these items.

What items are on display?

Some objects are on permanent display such as Winnie-the-Pooh and Friends and the writing desk and chair of Charles Dickens. The permanent Exhibition will be changing many of the treasures occasionally so visitors can view the diverse collection. Objects that are sensitive to light will be removed and will be replaced by other treasures.

Will you need tickets?

Timed Tickets are free. But it’s best to make reservations on their website at https://www.nypl.org/spotlight/treasures.

What did you see at the Exhibition?

Some of the vast highlights that I viewed as I toured the Exhibition were Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, letter from Christopher Columbus to Luis de Santángel, Shakespeare’s First Folio, the Gutenberg Bible, set model for the Off Broadway production of IN THE HEIGHTS. These are just some of the many displayed items that mark the beginnings of one kind or another. Check out the libraries website for a list of items in the collection.

Letter From Christopher Columbus to Luis de Santángel, Treasurer of Aragon, who funded much of the voyage in 1492.