Launched in 1804, the New-York Historical Society is a major repository of American history, culture, and art, with a special focus on New York and its broader cultural significance. The grand neoclassical edifice near the Museum of Natural History is finally emerged from the renovation tent. Now open on the fourth floor is the Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture, a state-of-the-art study facility and gallery of fine and decorative arts, which displays more than 40,000 objects amassed over 200 years -- including paintings, sculpture, Tiffany lamps, textiles, furniture, even carriages -- that had previously been in storage for decades. Also look for paintings from Hudson River School artists Thomas Cole, Asher Durand, and Frederic Church, including Cole's five-part masterpiece, The Course of Empire. Of particular interest to scholars and ephemera buffs are the extensive Library Collections, which include books, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, photographs, and more documents chronicling the American experience. (An appointment may be necessary to view some or all of the Library Collections, so call ahead.)

The highly acclaimed exhibit "History Responds" which dealt with the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack and its aftermath began in 2002 and will continue through 2004.

An extensive, top-quality calendar of public programs runs the gamut from family story hours to Irving Berlin music nights to lectures by such luminaries as Ric Burns and Susan Sontag to expert-led walks through various Manhattan neighborhoods; call or check the website for the schedule.