Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
The First Rule Of Century Club Is...
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jun 25, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jun 25, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
There's yet another interesting bit in this weeks City section FYI column, this time on one of our fair city's old school private clubs, the Century Association. Housed in a land-marked 1891 McKim Mead & White Beaux Arts building on W. 43rd street the association (also called the Century Club) was "originally an arts and letters society founded in 1847." The invitation-only club admitted its first female members in 1988 and currently has around 2,4000 members "many from New York's cultural, professional and political worlds. The 2005 membership directory included Mayor Bloomberg, Brooke Astor, Ric Burns, Robert A. Caro, Chuck Close, Betsy Gotbaum, Henry Kissinger, Robert Morgenthau, David Rockefeller, Andy Rooney and Arthur Schlesinger Jr." Former members include Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Unlike some of the other private clubs in the city (*cough* SoHo House*cough*), the Century seems to purposely seek out a low profile. Where as it is pretty hard to miss the University Club which was also designed by McKim Mead & White, one of the charms of the Century is how elegantly it lets itself stay hidden in plain site. It's beautiful building, with Times Square to one side and Grand Central to the other, just seems to blend right into the street unless you are looking for it - in which case you can't miss it.
Reading about the Century made us wonder what other private clubs are lurking quietly around Gotham. Here's one list we found of Private Clubs in New York but we're sure it is missing a number of them. Are there any clubs you've always wondered about? We've always been curious about the Kinckerbocker Club...
Photo of the Century exterior from NYC-Archtecture.
Tagged
andy rooney
architecture
arts
betsy gotbaum
bloomberg
Brooke Astor
Chuck
chuck close
city
club
clubs
david
David Rockefeller
Franklin D
grand central
henry kissinger
house
Jr.
mayor
mayor bloomberg
new york
nyc
reading
real estate
Ric Burns
Robert A
robert morgenthau
Rooney
soho
soho house
the city
Times Square
university
University Club
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYCHA says it's removed asbestos found at Brooklyn’s Marcy Houses
A steam leak left asbestos-laden residue on some of the exterior walls at the public housing complex in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 30, 2026 at 4:29 p.m. ET
'It is a crime!': Upper West Side owl lovers outraged after rooftop work wrecks nest
The owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
By
Carol Chen
News
'It is a crime!': Upper West Side owl lovers outraged after rooftop work wrecks nest
The owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
By
Carol Chen
Police search several blocks in Canarsie after dead man’s body found
By
Charles Lane
NY unemployment recipients brace for delays during system upgrade
By
Jon Campbell
and
Carol Chen
Influential Brooklyn developer illegally raised rents despite tax break, lawsuit claims
By
David Brand
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .