Get lost from Houdini Trick to fame to old books of almost every faith at The New York Public Library

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I had two planned visits, one at the Unesco-declared World Heritage, Solomon Guggenheim Museum and the charming Bryant Park which I passed by the other days. 

Bryant Park is only at the back of the New York Public Library which celebrated the 150th birthday of founder Albert  A. Berg in August this year so that I went inside to check. The entrance is free and one has to use a kiosk to register online.


Got up to the third floor and found this charming nook which has no much traffic of tourists. Ginormous is this library and exquisite that one can just wander around and wonder.


But up from the street, one cannot ignore the beautiful structure of New York Public Library. It is indeed a big sturdy hall of humanity's stocked knowledge ready to serve the younger generation, researchers and visitors of this Land of Liberty. 

Inside, there is a current exhibition is beautifully and expertly curated. The heritage items were curated as follows: BEGGININGS with articles representing ideas and age of reason, EXPLORATIONS with articles of travels and discovery, PERFORMANCE with articles related to performing arts like old music sheets, costumes and raw drafts of performers like Bethoveen, poster of Houdini and the dress of Isadora Duncan. 

    

On the side note, I saw Houdoni's certification signed by policemen who witnessed his public performance. Great to know of this clever magician's magic trick. Likewise, i saw the dress once worn by Dancer Isadora Duncan who was said to have died by choking on her long scarf that got tangled in her car. It was revolutionary during her time perhaps because the seams were not sewn that I thought it's unfinished or just a lining of a dress, and also perhaps because it is a loose-fitting dress. 

FORTITUDE, the name of one of the lion statues encased the courage and resilience amid the danger, pain, adversity like the LGBTQ, Black culture, Jewish experience and female emancipation.

The WRITTEN WORD is amazing with all the old publications from cuneiform tablets to papers contemporary writers. 



The VISUAL WORLD offered paintings, illustrated books and reference materials. CHILDHOOD housed children's literature which emerged in 17th and 18th century. BELIEF showcased a wide array religious texts from Judaism, Christianity, Islam and this one section is my favorite as I saw old articles from other faiths too. Importantly, I saw a GUTTENBERG BIBLE. Hurray!!!

Lastly, NEW YORK CITY in a can, err, in a glass case is ironic. It is way beyond words. 




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