It is housed in a brownstone building in Astor Place, between 3rd and 4th Avenues immediately N. of the Bowery, and was founded in 1857-1859 by Peter Cooper, and chartered in 1859. Cooper's most efficient assistant in the Union was Abram S. Hewitt.
All courses are free.
There is an excellent museum for the arts of decoration. During the year 2505 was the highest number in attendance at any time, and then 3000 were on the waiting list.