The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of the City of New York
The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of the City of New York
20 West 44th StreetNew York, NY 10036
212 840 1840
generalsociety.org
M-Th 11am-7pm; F 10am-5pm
Two years prior to the signing of the Constitution, in 1785, the General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen was founded, and has been a central hub of skilled tradesmen activity for well over two centuries. Its Mechanics Institute offers tuition-free, technical courses to help people acquire skills needed for tasks from plumbing to Historic Preservation.
The building, with its elegant marble staircase, mosaic tiled floors and stained glass window, is yet another 44th Street New York City landmark listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, and serves as a museum to the long and storied past of the organization, where many of the traditions continue. Known to be the second oldest in the city, The General Society Library opened its doors in 1820. With a sky-lit high ceiling to let in natural light, I found it to be a beautiful room to browse through both the technical books and others selected for recreational reading. In a second floor room, overlooking the stacks of books, there is a vast collection of mechanical locks displayed in glass cases with one dating back to 4000 BCE. Either just spending a few minutes or, perhaps, getting a private tour, this building is well worth exploring, as it certainly qualifies as one of those remarkable hidden gems on a side street in Manhattan.
