The Metropolitan Club

The Metropolitan Club was established as a gentlemen's club in 1891. It was organized by 25 men who were distinguished gentlemen in New York's high society. In an effort to secure land, each of the 25 gentlemen donated $5,000 to buy the plot of land that the building now sits on. The club had many amenities including multiple dining rooms, 22 overnight suites, a bowling alley, a smoking room, and more. The club is highly exclusive and previous presidents have been members including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and Bill Clinton. Women are now allowed within the club, but overall the original purpose remains similar.

At the meeting where The Metropolitan Club was formed, J. Pierpont Morgan was elected the first president. According to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the founders of The Metropolitan Club originally belonged to the Union Club but became unsatisfied with how young members were running the club. This led them to form what was originally labeled The Millionaires Club, later renaming it to The Metropolitan Club. The Landmarks Preservation Commission further informs us that Mckim, Mead, & White were chosen to be the architects of the club and would follow a neo-Italian Renaissance style of design. Although it was not the first building to be designed in the neo-Italian style, The Metropolitan Club’s design created advancements in the architecture of other buildings in the area.  The club members had specific ideas about rooms they wanted, like a lounge viewing the park and outside society. The building sits on 5th Ave and 60th Street which is the beginning location of what became "Millionaires Row."

There are three types of membership within the club; resident, non-resident, and Army and Navy. The 1892 Metropolitan Club Constitution and By-Laws state that a member qualifies as a Non-resident if they do not have their residence or place of business within fifty miles of New York City's City Hall and will not temporarily reside in NYC for two consecutive months. Resident members do reside or have a business within fifty miles of New York City's City Hall and for consecutively more than two months. Army and Navy Members had limited roles in the club as they are not able to introduce strangers, fill office roles, or vote in meetings. In 1892 there was a total of 699 members, 635 Resident Members, 63 Non-Resident Members, and only 1 Army and Navy Member. The standard entrance fee for all members stood at $300 but different types of members had differing annual fees they were required to keep up with. Resident Members admitted on or before April 1st had to pay $100 and Non-Residents had to pay $50. If a member was admitted after April 1st Resident members had to pay $10 per month for the rest of the year while Non-resident members paid $5. Army and Navy Residents paid Half of both the entrance fee and annual fee.

The club grew to be highly recognized in the midst of many other private clubs on Fifth Avenue at the time. It took three years for the building to be built and furnished. The building officially opened on February 20, 1894, and the first dinner was held. The Metropolitan Club was one of the first to allow women within its walls, but they were only permitted in the Annex. It was not until 1940 that women were allowed in other areas of the club. According to the official Metropolitan Club Website, Current house rules include a dress code where men must wear jackets and ties while women's attire includes dresses, skirts, and dressy or business pant suits. Unacceptable attire includes jeans, shorts, stirrup pants, leggings, stretch pants, tight pants, sweats, and T-shirts. In addition, Cell phones and Laptops are only permitted in private meeting rooms and bedrooms. Finally, no animals or pets are allowed into the Metropolitan Club.

It is difficult to find information on current membership due to privacy, but membership cost is currently said to be $5K. Through a portal on their website, someone may inquire about hosting an event at The Metropolitan Club. The event options include Corporate, Social, Wedding, or Gala. In addition, The Metropolitan Club continues to host its own events.

Chatelain, Phillipe Martin. INSIDE THE METROPOLITAN CLUB OF NYC ON 5TH AVENUE, untapped cities. Accessed January 17th, 2023. https://untappedcities.com/2013/10/02/inside-the-metropolitan-club-of-nyc-on-5th-avenue/.

History, Metropolitan Club NYC. Accessed January 17th, 2023. https://www.metropolitanclubnyc.org/History.

Selden-Sturgill, Ruth. Designation List 127. Landmarks Preservation Commission, 11 Sept. 1979, chrome-extension://bdfcnmeidppjeaggnmidamkiddifkdib/viewer.html?file=https://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1020.pdf

The Most Exclusive Members-Only Clubs In Manhattan, Guest of a Guest. January 29th, 2013. Accessed January 17th, 2023. https://guestofaguest.com/new-york/nyc-society/the-most-exclusive-members-only-clubs-in-manhattan.

York, Metropolitan Club (New. “Constitution, by-Laws, and List of Officers and Members Metropolitan Club of the City of New York. 1892.” HathiTrust, Princeton University, 24 Dec. 2022, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101017398569&view=1up&seq=30&q1=navy

Fisher, Kimberly. The Top 5 Members-Only Clubs in NYC, Pursuitist. Accessed April 19th, 2023. https://pursuitist.com/the-top-5-members-only-clubs-in-nyc/.