The Nicholas Roerich Museum – a rare occurrence in new York: here are few museums dedicated to the works of a single artist. It is located on the West side of 107th street Manhattan and attracts pilgrims from all over the world.

The life and work of the Roerich mainly related to Russia (before the revolution of 1917) and India, where he died in 1947. During his long life he lived in the U.S. for a total of not more than one year, but it was here waiting for him and the biggest success, and the hardest punch. In 1920, the art Institute of Chicago organized a tour of the wizard of thirty cities of the country, Roerich made the Americans a strong impression: has earned a reputation as a seer, guru. His loyal follower has become a wealthy new York broker Louis Horch, which financed all the projects of the artist (including such exotic as getting two concessions in the USSR). The main project was the construction in Manhattan 29-storey skyscraper Master building, on the first two floors of which was planned placement of the Roerich Museum with a collection numbering more than a thousand paintings. The remaining land was given under apartment hotel – rent was to provide funding for new beginnings.

Roerich, who traveled in Asia, didn't go into details, business side took over the Horsham. The skyscraper was officially opened in 1929, on the eve of the great depression. Horch saved the project through the complex financial and legal transactions. These actions Roerich was perceived as a betrayal (creditors he called "anti-cultural enemies" and "dark forces"). There was a sharp conflict (even with the participation of the U.S. government), Roerich lost the opportunity to visit the country. The Museum in the Master building was closed, the collection fell into the hands of Horsham.

In 1949 devoted follower of Roerich Zinaida Fosdick (the artist called it "the guardian of the faithful") decided to recreate a Museum in the house where she lived with her husband, also a follower of the guru. Small beautiful building with carved balustrades, pediments, Bay Windows, built in the early XX century. Roerich himself not never been here, but it could be passing by: Master building is a few blocks away (there's now a housing cooperative).

The Museum houses over 200 works – paintings, sketches, drawings. Some bought from Horsham in an unusual way: the bankrupt broker is sought to market them, giving long credit, and buyers from time to time, became followers of the artist, giver bought paintings the Museum. The congregation also included about fifty paintings of Roerich, Jr., Svetoslav Roerich.

The Museum publishes books Roerich, exhibits works by young artists, holds poetry readings and concerts. Besides the Museum, the building houses the society Agni yoga, dealing with the dissemination of works of the artist's wife, Helena Roerich.