New York Public Library

The New York Public Library, particularly the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue, is renowned for its two iconic lion statues, Patience and Fortitude, which guard the entrance. A fun fact is that these lions were initially named Leo Astor and Leo Lenox, in honor of the library's founders, John Jacob Astor and James Lenox. However, during the Great Depression, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia renamed them Patience and Fortitude, believing that these were the qualities New Yorkers would need to survive the economic challenges. The lions have become beloved symbols of the library and New York City itself.