Looking through average collector's items – gum wrappers, pencils, bottle caps, you name it – isn't generally appealing. It is, however, completely interesting to sort through a billionaire's collection, made up of expensive items such as original Monopoly boards and historic letters.
Malcolm Forbes' unique museum is just that and more. Forbes Magazine was founded and led by financial columnist B.C. Forbes until his death in 1954. Providing the funding, he partnered with publishing expert Walter Drey, previously a manager for another NY magazine. In his later years, his two older sons, Bruce and Malcolm, assisted with the publication, and they both had an opportunity to run the magazine after their father's passing. Bruce was famous for nearly doubling Forbes' circulation while Malcolm brought in an in-house editorial staff and instituted the rankings columns.
In the 1930s, Malcolm began collecting various items, on display at the Forbes Galleries today. Hidden in the lobby of the magazine's headquarters in Greenwich Village, this free museum's permanent collection displays trinkets like 12,000 toy soldiers, hundreds of toy boats, the second largest collection of Faberge Easter Eggs (the first being Queen Elizabeth's), historical documents, and antiques.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- Tuesday through Saturday: 10am to 4pm
- Thursdays are reserved for group tours and advance reservations must be made
- Admission:
- Free
- Subway Stop:
- 4, 5, 6, N, R trains to Union Square/14th Street
- Contact:
- Location: 62 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
- Phone: 212-206-5548
- Website: www.forbesgalleries.com
