Hispanic Society Museum and Library is a research library and art museum in Washington Heights, Manhattan, that holds the most important collection of Hispanic art and rare books outside of Spain.
The Museum collects classical art of Spain, Portugal, Latin American and the Philippines. It is famous for its Goya, El Greco, and Velázquez masterpieces. It has an entire room of large-scale Sorolla paintings. Most New Yorkers don’t know about it, but when parts of the collection are exhibited in Madrid, people line up around the block to see it.
Latin Culture at Hispanic Society
OCTOBER
Mexican Festival
Mano a Mano, the Mexican culture organization, produces a Day of the Dead / Día de Muertos celebration with a community altar, art workshops, music by Linda EPO, and a pop-up shop of Mexican crafts; at the Hispanic Society museum in Washington Heights, Manhattan; on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 3-6pm. FREE. 🇲🇽
Past Featured Artists
- Dominican Yorks, Dominican artists in conversation with the Museum’s collection 🇩🇴
- Anna Tona, Maltese opera singer, channeling the Duchess of Alba 🇲🇹
About Hispanic Society Museum and Library
The Society was founded in 1904 by Archer Milton Huntington (1870-1955), who traveled extensively in Europe as a child. His branch of the Huntington family made their money building California railroads.
Huntington met Spanish impressionist Joaquin Sorolla in England, and invited him to exhibit in New York City. Afterwards, he commissioned Sorolla to paint 14 murals now known as “Vision of Spain.” The Sorolla room holding the murals is an incredible space. If you’re from the coast of California or Spain, you will feel at home in the Sorolla room because his light, that Mediterranean light, is the light of home.
There are priceless old maps including a couple by Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512), for whom the Americas are named.
The Prado in Madrid, Spain’s most important art museum, says the Hispanic Society collection is more complete than theirs.
Tickets
Entrance is free with a suggested $10 donation.