Asia Society was founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd to educate Americans in the cultures of Asia. Culture is used in its wide sense, ranging from the fine arts to the performing arts, as well as the political and economic aspects of the several nations.

The present building, 1976-1981, was designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes, architect of the IBM Building on 57th Street and Madison. Following current fashion, it is built of granite, a beautiful red variety, not of glass.

The core of the Society's art collection is that of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd given in 1973. John D. 3rd was the most active trustee of the institution until his death in 1978. His interest is maintained today by his widow, Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller.

Among major donors have been the Starr Foundation, the TDK Corporation, and the Lila Acheson Wallace Foundation.

The tour goes east on 70th Street to York Avenue and south on York to 66th Street to stop at the entrance to Rockefeller University. The site is of some interest to the Friends of Central Park because it is in the neighborhood of Jones Woods which was slated to be taken over as the city's first urban park. The land considered went from 66th Street to 75th, from Third Avenue to the river, only 153 1/2 acres.