The National Arts Club is a private and exclusive club dedicated to furthering the development of arts and the artists in America. The club serves as a gathering place for artists to meet and share their ideas. The club was founded in 1898 by Charles de Kay, a critic for the New York Times. The National Arts Club is located in the historic Tilden mansion on Gramercy Park. Tilden acquired the building in the 1870’s and hired architect Calvert Vaux, the designer of Central Park, to drastically renovate the structure. The mansion contains glass ceilings and a stunning glass dome that makes it unique among its peers along the southern edge of the park. In 1906, the National Arts Club purchased the mansion and has maintained the building as the headquarters ever since. Since its inception, many illustrious men and women have become members, including Teddy Roosevelt and Ike Eisenhower. Unfortunately, it is difficult to join the ranks of these extremely cultured highly evolved humans. Membership to the club is earned by invitation only.