New York Public Library lions 'Patience' and 'Fortitude'

The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at 476 Fifth Avenue opened in 1911 and is flanked by two marble lion statues. The lions were nicknamed 'Patience' and 'Fortitude' by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia during the 1930s and have appeared extensively in print and online media. Photographs of the lions and the library facade are frequently shared on social media and are widely recognized internet symbols of the city.