Overview

The American Academy of Arts and Letters was founded to honor American artists, composers and writers. It is part of a complex of Classical Revival structures built on the estate of John James Audubon, who is buried nearby in Trinity Cemetery. The Academy is not open to the public, but by appointment scholars can peruse original work and first editions in the library. Members have included Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, Andrew Wyeth and Aaron Copeland. The same complex houses the Hispanic Society of America and the American Numismatic Society.