One of New York's most beautiful Gilded Age mansions was turned into an art museum. Take a look inside.

Originally, the Frick Collection was just the first floor of the former mansion, while offices were on the second floor.

However, after a four-year renovation and restoration, the new and improved Frick opened in April 2025, with the second floor open to the public.

Frick was, let's say, a controversial man, even in his time. He was a robber baron who made his money from steel.

Most famously (or perhaps, most infamously), Frick was known for his union-busting tactics and his involvement in the 1892 Homestead strike, which culminated in workers battling guards, who Frick had hired, leaving 10 men dead and 60 wounded. It's a plot that might sound familiar to viewers of the second season of "The Gilded Age."

This was followed by an assassination attempt on Frick's life by anarchist Alexander Berkman. Frick survived, Berkman's crime led to poor public perception of the union, and the strike was unsuccessful, leading to the union's demise.

In 1905, Frick relocated from Pittsburgh to Manhattan's Upper East Side. He commissioned his mansion, which was designed by Thomas Hastings and finished in 1914. The land and the mansion he built atop it cost $5 million, roughly $184 million today.

Frick began collecting artwork in his 40s, often cherry-picking pieces from the huge lots purchased by JP Morgan and other high-society figures.

Frick died in 1919 at the age of 69. In his will, he stated that his home and all the furniture and art inside it were to be turned into a museum after the death of his wife, Adelaide.

Adelaide died in 1931. After some extensive renovations, the museum opened to the public in 1935.

I wanted to see what the Frick was like on a typical afternoon.

An adult ticket costs $30, with discounts for seniors, students, and visitors with disabilities. Entry for children from 10 to 18 and members is free.

However, no photos are allowed outside of an area known as the Garden Court, so I returned on a Tuesday, when it's closed to the public, and received a private tour.

There are two gardens at the Frick, though neither is open to the public. This is the 70th Street Garden, complete with a pond.

It's the one area where photos are allowed.

Not to be dramatic, but this room took my breath away.

Pope was chosen to do the renovations on the eastern part of the house, and this area that used to be where carriages would pull up. I think it's better as an atrium, don't you?

When I visited on a Friday, a string quartet played for the many visitors who were sitting and enjoying the museum.

The East and West Galleries are connected by this room.

The flowers were painstakingly crafted by the artist Vladimir Kanevsky.

"I wanted my sculptures to be there as part of a whole symphony, to celebrate this grand museum's reopening," he told the Frick.

It's filled with paintings and sculptures.

The skylight was part of the recent restoration, to allow more light for patrons to see the art.

This is "Mistress and Maid," completed by the artist around 1667.

This room also has paintings by Rembrandt and other iconic artists.

This room is almost 100 feet long, meaning that going from one end to another takes time enough as it is. Having buttons like these was typical in Gilded Age mansions.

Now, it holds many more pieces of art.

During the renovation, it was ruled that the statue was too large to move. Instead, a large crate was made to keep it safe from the construction. She even got to be "unboxed" earlier this year.

This is the Fifth Avenue Garden, which, at one point, would have offered a lovely view of Central Park, too.

Like the other garden, this isn't open to the public, at least not for now.

Even in the hallways, art is everywhere you turn.

There are many books still lining the walls.

After Henry and Adelaide Frick died, their daughter Helen was responsible for establishing the Frick Art Research Library. It's part of the museum complex, but it has a separate entrance around the block.

I could've spent hours looking at all the mantels, moldings, and doorframes alone.

It's the portrait on the left side, right next to the door.

My tour guide told me this was a favorite of many visitors.

This is actually an artichoke plant, which the sculptor was quite proud of. "I do not know why this is such a great match, but it is," said Kanevsky.

He purchased the panels from JP Morgan, whose own personal collection is available to view at the Morgan Library, just 2 miles away.

Originally, four of these panels were made for Madame du Barry, a mistress of King Louis XV.

This room wouldn't be out of place on "Bridgerton."

Green, a fashionable choice during the Gilded Age, was apparently a big color for the Fricks.

One of the most well-known paintings in this room is "The Hon. Frances Duncombe" by Thomas Gainsborough in the 1770s.

The Frick isn't just about the paintings — the furniture is historic as well.

From here on out, this is all brand-new for visitors as of April 2025.

I liked that this staircase felt very open, like it was the heart of the house.

I'm glad that after almost 100 years, the artistry on the second floor is now open for everyone to view, not just the Frick's employees.

The side tables in this room were used by the Fricks, who were able to take advantage of the rising sun with these east-facing windows.

There are at least 15 fireplaces throughout the house.

If you visited the Frick before the renovation, you might think this room looks familiar, and you'd be right. Its art was moved downstairs so visitors could see it.

But now that the second floor has reopened, the art and furniture were painstakingly returned to their original home in Mrs. Frick's sitting room.

This is where "Bridgerton" crossed my mind for the second time during my visit.

Some of the paintings in this room were commissioned for Madame de Pompadour, the famed mistress of King Louis XV.

As you can imagine, it was named for its walnut paneling.

She can be seen on signs, merch, bookmarks, totes, and more.

Green once again makes an appearance.

Westmoreland's name is a nod to the county where Frick was born. His family purchased the train car in 1911. It was eventually dismantled in the 1950s.

Westmoreland serves coffee, tea, cocktails, mocktails, both sweet and savory snacks, and desserts.

Like a scene straight out of "There Will Be Blood," there is indeed a bowling alley in the basement of the Frick. However, due to accessibility issues (among other things), it's not open to the public.

The Frick and its exhibits are always changing. From October 2 to January 5, a collection of pieces on loan from the Terra Sancta Museum will be displayed — and as someone who got a sneak peek at the exhibit, it shouldn't be missed.

And keep an eye out for Frick on season four of "The Gilded Age" — he was certainly hanging around with the George Russells of the time.