Great Hall

Look above the information desks to the great stone arches. Three shallow domes span this limestone hall. The architect Richard Morris Hunt designed the facade and arrival hall, and his son Richard Howland Hunt completed the work after his father’s death. The hall opened in 1902. The Grand Staircase gives you a large, recognizable landmark. Use the hall to decide which collection you are heading for before following the gallery numbers. Information staff can help you find an elevator or the current way into a collection. If your visit begins at a step-free entrance, establish where you are in relation to this hall before starting a tour. The first tour begins after security and admission.