New York City’s iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building—better known as the main branch of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue—is more than just a historic landmark with grand Beaux-Arts architecture and a pair of stone lions. Beneath its elegant facade and marble halls lie fascinating stories, hidden spaces, and little-known facts that even frequent visitors may not know. Whether you’re a lifelong New Yorker or a curious tourist, here are five secrets about the New York Public Library that will make you see it in a whole new light.
The Rose Main Reading Room Almost Disappeared
The majestic Rose Main Reading Room, stretching nearly the length of a football field, is one of the most photographed spots in the entire building. But in 1998, a large chunk of the ceiling—plaster and all—crashed down in the middle of the night. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it forced the library to undergo an intensive, multi-year restoration. Engineers used drones and laser mapping to reconstruct and reinforce the ornate ceiling, which is now as strong as it is beautiful. If you look closely, you might even spot subtle differences between the original decorative work and the restored sections.
There’s a Hidden Train Platform Beneath It
Beneath the library, specifically under Bryant Park, lies a long-abandoned secret: the old NYCRR Track 61. This private rail line was allegedly used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during his visits to the city. Though never officially confirmed by the library, the platform connects to Grand Central Terminal and is believed to have provided discreet access to nearby hotels and secure routes away from public view. While it’s closed to the public, urban explorers and historians continue to speculate about its full story and potential use during World War II.
The Lions Have Names—and They’ve Changed Over Time
The stone lions guarding the library’s entrance have stood there since 1911, but their names have shifted with history. Originally dubbed “Leo Astor” and “Leo Lenox” after two of the library’s founders, they were renamed “Patience” and “Fortitude” during the Great Depression by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, who admired those qualities in New Yorkers enduring hard times. Today, they’re the library’s unofficial mascots and are dressed up for various city events and holidays. They’ve even donned masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Secret Book Vault Lies Below Bryant Park
Most visitors don’t realize that the bulk of the library’s vast collection isn’t stored in plain sight. Beneath Bryant Park, a seven-level underground storage system houses more than 4 million research volumes. The high-tech stacks are climate-controlled and served by an intricate book train system that zips requests to the reading rooms in just a few minutes. This underground vault is rarely seen by the public, but it’s one of the most advanced archival systems in the world.
It Was the Setting for a Real-Life Treasure Hunt
In the 1980s, author Byron Preiss buried 12 treasure boxes around the U.S. as part of his book The Secret: A Treasure Hunt. One of the puzzles included visual and poetic clues that many believe point to the New York Public Library. While the actual treasure in NYC has never been found, avid hunters continue to scour the area, convinced it lies somewhere on the library grounds. The mystery remains unsolved, adding a layer of myth to an already magical place.
