Metropolitan Museum of Art History

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, commonly referred to as The Met, is one of the most renowned and comprehensive art institutions in the world. With a history that spans over 150 years, the museum has played a pivotal role in shaping public engagement with art, serving as a cultural landmark in New York City and beyond. Its extensive collections, encompassing more than 5,000 years of artistic expression from every corner of the globe, offer a rich tapestry of human creativity and innovation. Below is a comprehensive exploration of the history of The Met, from its founding to its evolution into a modern cultural institution.

The Origins: Vision and Founding (1866–1870)

The idea for the Metropolitan Museum of Art was born during the mid-19th century, a time of great cultural and social change in the United States. In 1866, a group of American expatriates, including prominent artists, businessmen, and civic leaders, convened in Paris to discuss the possibility of creating a national art institution in New York. Among the most notable figures were the lawyer John Jay, painter John Frederick Kensett, and art collector William T. Blodgett. These individuals were inspired by the great museums of Europe, particularly the Louvre in Paris, the Uffizi in Florence, and the British Museum in London.

Upon returning to New York, the group sought to establish a museum that would serve as a center for art, culture, and education in the rapidly growing city. They believed that art should be accessible to all and saw the museum as a way to foster public appreciation and understanding of the arts. The museum’s founding mission was clear: to provide the people of New York with access to art and to promote the study and cultivation of fine arts through education.

On April 13, 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was officially incorporated. The institution's mission statement declared that the museum would be “located in the City of New York, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining in said city a Museum and Library of Art, of encouraging and developing the study of the fine arts, and the application of arts to manufacture and practical life, of advancing the general knowledge of kindred subjects, and, to that end, of furnishing popular instruction and recreation.”

Early Years and First Collection (1870–1880)

When The Met first opened its doors to the public in 1872, it was housed in the Dodworth Building at 681 Fifth Avenue. At the time, its collection was modest, consisting primarily of Roman and Greek sculptures, paintings from European Old Masters, and a small number of American works. The museum's early acquisitions were largely facilitated by its first major benefactors, including William T. Blodgett, who donated his collection of European paintings, and railroad tycoon John Taylor Johnston, who served as The Met's first president.

In its formative years, the museum struggled to build a comprehensive collection and establish itself as a major cultural institution. Nonetheless, the founders were determined to grow the museum’s holdings through donations, loans, and acquisitions. The museum’s first purchase was made in 1871: a Roman sarcophagus that remains part of the collection today. The museum’s visionaries recognized that they would need a larger, permanent space to house their growing collection.

The Move to Central Park: The Met Fifth Avenue (1880)

In 1880, The Met moved to its current location on Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, on the eastern edge of Central Park. This location provided the space needed for the museum’s ambitions to grow, and it marked the beginning of a new era for The Met. The building, designed by American architects Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, reflected a neoclassical design, but it would undergo numerous expansions and transformations over the following decades to accommodate the ever-growing collection.

The move to Central Park allowed The Met to expand its reach, and the museum began to establish itself as one of the most important cultural institutions in the United States. As the collection grew, so did the museum’s reputation. The museum’s trustees and curators actively sought to acquire works from around the world, and by the end of the 19th century, the collection included art from ancient Egypt, European paintings, Islamic art, and more.

Expansion of the Collection: 19th and Early 20th Centuries

As The Met entered the 20th century, it continued to expand its collection at an accelerated pace. The acquisition of entire private collections became a hallmark of the museum’s growth strategy. One of the most important early acquisitions was the Cesnola Collection of Cypriot antiquities, which arrived at the museum in 1874. Luigi Palma di Cesnola, an Italian-American soldier and diplomat, excavated these objects on the island of Cyprus and sold them to The Met. This collection laid the foundation for the museum’s renowned holdings of ancient art.

The museum’s European painting collection also expanded significantly during this period. In 1907, The Met acquired the collection of financier J.P. Morgan, which included masterpieces by artists such as Raphael, Rembrandt, and El Greco. Morgan’s collection was transformative, significantly enhancing The Met’s status as a premier repository of fine art. His legacy at the museum was also reflected in his role as president of the museum from 1904 to 1913.

In addition to European paintings, The Met began to focus on building its collection of American art. In 1924, the museum received a major bequest from collector George A. Hearn, which included important works by American artists such as Winslow Homer and Thomas Eakins. This gift established the core of The Met’s American wing, which would later become one of the most comprehensive collections of American art in the world.

Architectural Expansions and Modernization (1900–1940)

The early 20th century was a period of significant growth for The Met, both in terms of its collection and its physical space. By the 1920s, the original building had been expanded multiple times, and the museum was beginning to take on the sprawling, multi-winged form that visitors recognize today. The museum’s architectural expansion was overseen by several renowned architects, including Richard Morris Hunt and McKim, Mead & White, who designed many of the museum’s iconic galleries.

The addition of the American Wing in 1924 was a major milestone in The Met’s history. Designed by McKim, Mead & White, the American Wing was dedicated to the art and decorative arts of the United States, from the colonial period to the 19th century. It included period rooms, furniture, paintings, and decorative objects, providing visitors with a comprehensive look at American art and culture.

Another significant addition came in 1938 with the opening of The Met Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park, located in Upper Manhattan. The Cloisters, designed by architect Charles Collens, is a museum dedicated to the art and architecture of medieval Europe. The building itself is a reconstructed medieval monastery, and it houses a collection of manuscripts, tapestries, sculptures, and stained glass from the Middle Ages. The Cloisters, with its unique setting and focus on medieval art, has become one of The Met’s most beloved and atmospheric spaces.

Post-World War II Growth and International Acquisitions (1940–1970)

The post-World War II era marked a period of unprecedented growth and diversification for The Met. Under the leadership of directors such as Francis Henry Taylor and James J. Rorimer, the museum expanded its holdings in key areas, including modern and contemporary art, African art, and photography.

One of the most important acquisitions during this period was the Temple of Dendur, a Roman-period Egyptian temple that was gifted to the United States by Egypt in 1965. The temple, which was saved from flooding during the construction of the Aswan High Dam, was installed in a specially designed gallery in 1978. The gallery, which features a large reflecting pool and glass walls that allow natural light to flood the space, has become one of the most iconic and popular areas of the museum.

In addition to the Temple of Dendur, the museum continued to acquire major collections of art from around the world. In 1963, the museum received a significant collection of Islamic art from Hagop Kevorkian, which helped to establish The Met as a leader in the field of Islamic art. The museum also expanded its collections of Asian, African, and Oceanic art, reflecting a growing interest in non-Western artistic traditions.

The Modern Era: Growth, Innovation, and Globalization (1970–2000)

The final decades of the 20th century saw The Met continue to grow and evolve, both as an institution and as a leader in the global art world. In the 1970s, the museum embarked on an ambitious program of renovation and expansion, aimed at improving the visitor experience and updating the museum’s infrastructure. Under the leadership of director Philippe de Montebello, who served from 1977 to 2008, The Met underwent significant changes that solidified its position as one of the world’s greatest museums.

One of the most important developments during this period was the creation of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, which opened in 1982. This wing is dedicated to the art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, and it includes works ranging from ancient Mesoamerican sculptures to contemporary African art. The wing was named in honor of Michael Rockefeller, the son of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who disappeared in New Guinea in 1961 while collecting art for The Met.

In the 1990s, The Met continued to expand its modern and contemporary art holdings, reflecting changing tastes and the growing

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