Century Association, social club in New York City
The Century Association is a private social club in Midtown Manhattan, founded for painters, writers, musicians, and other people working in the arts. The clubhouse on West 43rd Street was designed by the firm McKim, Mead & White and completed in 1891, with a limestone facade in an Italian Renaissance style.
The club was founded in 1847 by a group of New York artists and intellectuals who wanted a place to meet and support each other. In the late 19th century it moved to its current home, designed by McKim, Mead & White, which has since been designated a New York City landmark.
The name "Century" refers to the founding goal of limiting membership to exactly 100 people, gathering a "century" of artists and thinkers. The rooms are still lined with paintings, sculptures, and prints donated or created by members over the years.
The club is a private members-only institution, so access for the general public is not normally possible and visitors are usually invited by members. The building is on West 43rd Street, close to Bryant Park, and easy to reach on foot from several subway stops nearby.
Although the club originally aimed to keep membership very small, over time it counted figures such as Mark Twain and John La Farge among its members. The art collection was never purchased outright but grew entirely through donations and bequests from members themselves.
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