The Public Theater’s headquarters on 425 Lafayette Street was commissioned by John Jacob Astor just before his death in 1848. This was the first of the great free public reference libraries in the United States and it first opened its doors in 1854 with more than 80,000 volumes. Prior to the opening of the Astor Library, the only libraries available to the public were subscription libraries which charged a membership fee, and limited access to those who could pay.

In 1897 an agreement was reached to consolidate a number of libraries and build The New York Public Library at 5th avenue and 42nd Street. The Astor Library continued to operate until 1911, when The New York Public Library was completed. In 1920 the structure was bought by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) who remodeled the building to serve as a receiving station, aid center, dormitory and synagogue for thousands of newly arrived immigrants. Over its 44 year tenancy, HIAS processed and/or housed approximately 250,000 immigrants – one of whom was Mandy Patinkin’s grandfather.  

Joseph Papp acquired the building in 1965 with help from the City of New York and it became one of the first buildings to be declared a New York City Landmark. The Public Theater’s mission - that arts should be accessible to all - echoes the democratic legacy of the Astor Library that made knowledge available to everyone. The complex was transformed into a functioning performance center and still operates as our headquarters, housing five theaters, administrative and production offices, rehearsal space and Joe’s Pub.