The Met Museum After Dark: Inside World Monument Fund’s Hadrian Gala at the Temple of Dendur

It’s rare that a monument as prestigious as The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Temple of Dendur is open after visiting hours. Sure, there’s that one star-studded annual gathering hosted by Vogue in partnership with The Costume Institute—but outside of the First Monday in May, the hallowed halls of the museum usually remain still and sleepy once night falls.

That is unless you’re a group of monument-devotees; those who champion the preservation of the sort of engineering feats that have stood the test of time, much like the Temple of Dendur. Enter: World Monument Fund’s Hadrian Gala, which raises funds to protect and restore cultural landmarks like Cambodia’s Angkor Archaeological Park, the Chapel of the Sorbonne in Paris, the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, as well as some additional 700 sites in more than 100 countries.

“Because of continued conflicts, climate change, over-tourism, and urbanization, cultural resources are disappearing as fast as natural ones,” Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of World Monuments Fund, told guests. “Communities worldwide are calling on us to help them face these threats, and WMF has a responsibility and a duty to respond.”

Unfolding in the shadow of the famed Egyptian temple, a glamorous dinner on Wednesday evening was just one of sixty gatherings hosted internationally by World Monument Fund this year to marks its 60th anniversary. Recent backdrops have included Versailles, Windsor Castle, and the Maharaja’s Palace in Jaipur, but, alas, the Met served as its grandest thus far—notably enticing support from the fashion set. Many sat alongside Christian Louboutin including Sabine Getty, perfumer Frederic Malle, and Ashley Olsen, donning a gown from her own brand The Row.

“These boots are a gift from his majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan,” Louboutin, who received the Hadrian Award in 2022, told Vogue, nodding to his fascinating choice of footwear for the celebration. “They're made of a blue satin and silk brocade and were embroidered in Bhutan by The Royal School of the 13 Artisans.”

The evening incorporated acceptance speeches that stirred up wonderful travel memories from the evening’s honoree David M. Rubenstein. Their Majesties the King and Queen of Bhutan, who were also being honored, sent along a delegation of compatriots in their stead and shared a message via video highlighting the five-year-long WMF restoration of the Trashigang Dzong fortress after an earthquake in 2009.

Later on, guests headed towards another nearby historic monument: the Payne Whitney House on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, now known as Villa Albertine. The McKim, Mead, and White-built home became a hub for the French Institute for Culture and Education in 2023—but this time around it found itself transformed into a celebratory after-party-slash-members club, as people took to the dance floor, sipped Louis Roederer Champagne and Ragnaud-Sabourin Cognac. A rather opulent silent auction also offered up lots ranging from a trip to Bhutan to a limited-edition, hand-painted steamer trunk—perhaps a fitting piece of luggage for such a trip to Bhutan?—made by the Trunk Company and hailing from Jaipur. Their sales, among many more lots and generous donations, would only go to strengthen the impressive $2.5 million raised, all in one monumental New York night.