May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Throughout the month, Broadway Stages will feature and celebrate exceptional people, businesses, and organizations of Asian and Pacific Island heritage. We invite you to join us in recognizing their accomplishments and contributions! Today, we bring you a piece of the great Tibetan culture that you can find right here on Staten Island, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art.

In the Lighthouse Hill section of Staten Island sits a Tibetan monastery surrounded by a garden full of rhododendrons and azaleas native to Central Asia. This is the earliest example of Himalayan-style architecture in the United States. Inside the monastery is a collection of books, art, and cultural artifacts from Tibet, Nepal, Northern China, and Mongolia. You have just entered one of Staten Island’s hidden treasures, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art.

The Museum, one of the earliest and most extensive collections of Himalayan art and artifacts, was founded in 1945 by Jacques Marchais (1887–1948), who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Marchais’ journey to Staten Island is intriguing and demonstrates her fortitude. She was quite young when her father died and spent time in various orphanages and homes throughout her childhood due to her mother’s sporadic care. Due to financial hardship, at the young age of three Marchais began her acting career, at the behest of her mother, who also changed Marchais’ name to Edna, which she thought was a better stage name. Marchais successfully performed in many plays and private recitals. Her acting career took her to Boston where, at age 16, she met her first husband and had three children. The marriage ended and Marchais quickly remarried and divorced a second time. In 1916, she moved to New York where she met businessman Harry Klauber. They married in 1920 and a year later the family moved to Staten Island. It was then that she started cultivating her interest in Central Asian art. Over time she amassed a collection of texts, works of art, and artifacts. Eventually, she embarked on creating what she called the “Potala of the West.”

Marchais brought her vision to local stone mason Joseph Primiano. Although neither ever traveled to Tibet, they knew what they wanted to achieve after viewing photographs of the Potala at Lhasa, the historic seat of the Dalai Lamas.

Terraced into the hillside, the space features several traditional details of Himalayan architecture. The complex’s flat roof is capped with a pagoda. Moreover, trapezoidal windows and doors with cross-cut wood posts and slate caps punctuate the space’s Tibetan heritage. Housed within are a library, chanting hall, meditation cells, and gardens with a lotus pond.

Marchais filled the building with over 2,000 books on Tibetan art and culture and over 1,000 artifacts and works of art. The collection includes sculptures, ritual objects, musical instruments, scroll paintings, and furniture.

While Marchais collected 90 percent of the material, items continue to be added today through donation. Along with donated items, financial support helps to keep Jacques Marchais’ vision alive. If you are interested, you can make a donation by clicking HERE. 

The Museum is open to the public Wednesday–Sunday from 1–5 pm, Saturdays only in January. But the Museum also offers a slate of events, including Yoga, Tai Chi, guided meditation, and more! You can view the Museum’s calendar online For more information about these events. You can also stay informed about exhibits and events by following the Museum on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures are alive and well in every neighborhood of New York City. We are grateful for pioneers like Jacques Marchais, who made it their mission to share their passion with us. Broadway Stages knows how lucky we are to live in a city where we can explore such diverse cultures. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and visit the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art and transport yourself around the world!