The Hispanic Society of America

History and Background

This organization was initially started because of the efforts of Archer Milton Huntington in the year 1904. Its founder members opened it to the public in the year 1908. Archer Huntington went onto contributing to the expansion of the museum and its collections over the next 5 decades. The massive amounts of these collected artifacts include Hispanic paintings, different maps and prints as well as numerous photographs and manuscripts. The collection also includes a number of valuable books. He was also helped in these efforts by his wife Anna Hyatt Huntington who was a very well known sculptor of those times. She made a number of valuable artistic additions to the museum that included the statue of The Cid as well as Spanish figures on horseback. These beautifully crafted figures provide the Hispanic Society of America with a singular and distinctive outlook till date. In recent times the Audubon Terrace houses three institutions which include the Hispanic Society of America, the Boricua College and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. 

Address and Admission Timings:

The Hispanic Society of America is located at, 613 West 155^th Street, New York, NY 10032. The museum is located at the Audubon Terrace at Broadway between 155 and 156 Streets The Hispanic Society of America has a reference library along with a museum that is free to the public. The organization also offers guided tours that are 45 minutes long. These tours are organized mainly on Saturdays.   

Museum Hours:

Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4: 00 p.m.

From Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Hispanic Society of America is closed on Mondays, on New Years Day, Lincoln’s birthday, Washington’s Birthday, on Thanksgiving Day and Independence Day. Christmas Holidays are from December 24^th to 31^st. The Hispanic Society of America is accessible through M4 or M5 to Broadway and 155^th Street. You may also take the subway Number 1 to Broadway and 157^th Street.

The Museum at the Hispanic Society of America

The museum has a large archive of archaeological artifacts, paintings, sculptures, the decorative arts, and different kinds of textiles. This organization offers visitors a chance to browse through the archives of their collection for free. There is also a reference library that helps students and researchers in their study of the arts and also to know about the culture of Spain, Portugal as well as Latin America.  Their collection in fact includes such objects that offer helpful insight into the culture and history of the social life of the countries. These paintings and artifacts give valuable information on a number of aspects. There is a large collection of almost 800 paintings and 6,000 watercolors as well as drawings. The collection includes a number of Spanish paintings that drawings. There are also almost 1000 works that are excellent masterpieces ranging from the 1^st millennium to the early 20^th century. The archives of the museum have an exquisite collection of almost 6000 objects made of textiles, ironwork, furniture, glass and ceramics. There are also a number of paper productions that includes a collection of almost 15,000 prints another 1, 75,000 photographs that are usually taken from the era of the 1850’s that includes art, culture and customs of Latin America as well as Spain. There is a comprehensive collection of textiles that are available at the Hispanic Society of America is one of the largest and most comprehensive collection of textiles that suggests the richness and variety of art that is available in the regions of Iberian Peninsula.

http://www.hispanicsociety.org/hispanic/collections.htm

The Library

The Hispanic Society of America includes a collection of valuable archives of books and resources that are extremely significant for researchers and students. There are almost 2, 50,000 periodicals and collection of books as well as 15,000 volumes that were printed before the year 1701. There are more then 200,000 manuscripts that are also available at the library archives. The research library is in fact an important collection of resources that are available on varied subjects including the history, geography, literature and fine arts in the countries of Spain, Portugal, Latin America and Philippines. The collection includes almost 2, 50, 000 titles and periodicals that provide in depth information and various details.

http://www.hispanicsociety.org/hispanic/library.htm

Friend’s of the Hispanic Society of America

Once you become a friend at the Hispanic Society of America there are a number of benefits and privileges that will be offered to you. This includes invitations to different openings and events. Various discounts on publications as well as reproductions from the museums archives. There are special events that are organized for the friend’s of society.