Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
Escape to Tibet without leaving Staten Island
Nestled into the side of Lighthouse Hill, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art offers insight into Tibetan and Himalayan culture. Founded in 1945, the Museum features Tibetan-style fieldstone buildings that resemble a Himalayan monastery. Inside their hand-crafted walls, visitors can experience a vast collection of rare and important Asian art. Terraced meditation gardens and a lotus and fish pond add to the beautiful and serene atmosphere. The Museum’s unique setting highlights and enhances the experience of viewing the art within.
Jacques Marchais (1887-1948), an extraordinary American woman, created the center to share the artistic and cultural traditions of Tibet and the Himalayas with the world. Starting in the 1920s, Marchais followed her passions, and amassed one the nation’s earliest and most extensive collections of high-quality Tibetan art, including sculptures, thangkas, ritual objects, furniture, textiles, and historic photographs.
The majority of the Museum’s rare objects are Tibetan Buddhist in nature and were used in the monasteries of Tibet and neighboring countries which fell within the sphere of Tibetan cultural influence; they are of significance to world cultural heritage and of sacred importance to the Tibetan population.
Ongoing programs include lectures and workshops, film screenings, musical performances, special events with Tibetan and Himalayan monks and nuns, art exhibitions, and classes in tai-chi, yoga, and meditation.
Group tours are available upon request.
Address: 338 Lighthouse Avenue
Phone number: 718-987-3500
Admission: Adults - $5, Seniors/Students - $3
Hours of Operation: Wednesday through Sunday, 1pm–5pm
Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art Website: