New York Public Library Art & History Exhibitions

Rarely are the opportunities to access the best-kept secrets of the New York Public Library. Until October 31, 2026, the institution unlocks its most precious boxes to trace the meteoric rise of the American metropolis. Between aged manuscripts weathered by time and unpublished vintage photographs, the route highlights a hidden face of the city, far from the usual tourist circuits. From visionary urban planning schemes to intimate portraits of anonymous citizens, every archival piece acts as a machine for travelling back in time. This exceptional selection presents documents usually kept concealed behind locked doors in the archives. Access to this unique documentary heritage remains open to all until autumn 2026, offering a pedagogical and fascinating perspective on the evolution of a constantly mutating urban landscape.