Nicholas Roerich Museum - rare for New York: here infrequently occur museum dedicated to the works of a single artist. It is located on the western side of 107th Street in Manhattan and attracts pilgrims from around the world.

The life and work of Roerich are mainly related to Russia (before 1917 revolution) and India, where he died in 1947 .  During his long life the artist lived in the United States a total of not more than one year, but it is here and waiting for him the greatest success, and the hardest hit .  In 1920, Art Institute of Chicago organized a tour of thirty cities of the master of the country, Roerich made a strong impression on the Americans: earned a reputation as a seer, guru .  His devotees became adept rich New York broker Louis Horch, which in the future to finance all projects of the artist (including such exotic, like getting two concessions in the USSR) .  The main project was the construction of Manhattan's 29-story skyscraper Master Building on the first two floors is planned placement of the Roerich Museum with a collection of more than a thousand paintings .  The remaining areas were given under the apartment hotel - the rent was to provide funding for new beginnings .

Roerich, who traveled in Asia, did not go into the details, the business side took the Horch. Skyscraper was inaugurated in 1929, on the eve of the Great Depression. Horsch saved project by complex financial and corporate transactions. Roerich took these actions as a betrayal (creditors he called "anti-cultural enemies" and "dark forces"). Followed by a sharp conflict (even with the participation of the US government), Roerich lost the opportunity to visit the country. Master Museum Building was closed, the collection came into the hands Horsch.

In 1949, a dedicated follower of Roerich, Zinaida Fosdick (artist called her "guardian of the faithful") has decided to re-create the museum in the house where she lived with her husband, also a follower of the guru. Small beautiful building with carved balustrades, gables, bay windows, built in the early XX century. Roerich himself had never been here, but could easily pass: Master Building is a few blocks away (there is now a housing cooperative).

The museum contains around 200 works of the artist - paintings, sketches and drawings. Some bought from Horsch unusual way: ruined broker tried to sell them, providing long installments, and customers from time to time became followers of the artist, darivshie bought paintings to the museum. The collection also includes some fifty paintings of Roerich, Jr., Svetoslav.

The museum publishes books Roerich, exhibits the work of young artists, holds poetry readings and concerts. Besides the museum, the building is Agni Yoga Society for promoting the works of the artist's wife, Helena Roerich.