On Monday, May 11, The New York Public Library celebrated the birthday of our beloved lions, Patience and Fortitude. For over 100 years, the lions have welcomed visitors outside of our 42nd Street location. It was a day full of literary and virtual fun—with activities like a special storytime with a book starring our lions, activity and coloring pages, and more.

To help mark their birthday, Patience and Fortitude took over the Library's Twitter account (@nypl) to share some favorite memories and fun facts. Did you miss their takeover? See what our lions had to say below.

Many patrons sent Patience and Fortitude digital birthday cards and tweets, and they loved every message they received! Click here to send them a belated birthday card. Here are a few of their favorites:

"Happy Birthday Patience & Fortitude, always smile and feel connected every time I see or pass you two....over 50 years ago when I was dating my husband,  we would meet for lunch in your shadow...happy memories of days gone by..."

"Patience and Fortitude - the two inspirational words all New Yorkers and people around the world could use. Let us continue to draw inspiration and be resolute in our commitment to support and look out for one another as we get through this crisis. Happy birthday!"

"Happy Birthday and many happy returns.  I love you both!  You are an inspiration to all essential workers.  Please send the essential workers guidance and love in these most trying times."

"During my first visit to NYC in 1972, my bride twisted her ankle, we rested at  the foot of the lions . My bride felt better and we continued exploring the library! Magic lion care, indeed!"

"Dear Patience and Fortitude, I miss seeing you every day on my commute and especially during those beautiful NYC afternoons where we can share lunch in your presence. The way you rest on your perches with such pride is how I envision New Yorkers will make their way back. We are as resilient and strong as the marble that make you the beautiful landmarks you. We are all NYC strong."

"Dear Patience and Fortitude, I miss your calm and majestic presence, and I can't wait to see you again when this crisis is over. I wish you a beautiful birthday. Thank you for being thee, through it all."

"Thank you for guarding the NYPL for years after years. You have become a New York landmark and will always be one. Since you've been through so much it makes sense you will make it through this pandemic. I know that quarantine birthdays are kinda sucky but at least you still get to sit outside (unlike most of us)."

"Wow, you guys are growing up so fast. Thank you for representing an incredible and fun learning center. You mean so much to me and the rest of NYC. Happy Birthday!"

Followers near and far shared their favorite memories with our lions by using the hashtag #PatienceAndFortitude. Share your favorite Library lion memory online using our hashtag, so we can continue celebrating these fierce felines.

I found pictures of my parents at the @nypl in June, 1988. My mom was pregnant with me in this picture, so it's technically my first visit to the library! I'm now a librarian and my last name is Schwarzmann(one letter off from the building) too! #destiny #throwback pic.twitter.com/qFpmAUB3nr

— Holly S. (@holly89) May 11, 2020

Happy Birthday #PatienceandFortitude @nypl Singing to you while I wash my hands. Q: What are you reading while sheltering in place?

— Helen Ouyang (@DrHelenOuyang) May 11, 2020

Here's my dad hanging out with Fortitude in the 70s. He had just emigrated from Ethiopia, where at the time the lion was the nat'l symbol & featured on the flag.
Happy Birthday. #PatienceAndFortitude @nypl @NYPL_Archives pic.twitter.com/p2edy0ghY3

— Sofia the First. (@PhiloSofiar) May 11, 2020

My daughter and her grandfather built a @LtlFreeLibrary modeled after the @nypl. Couldn’t do it without #patienceandfortitude

HBD to these lovely defenders of history! pic.twitter.com/b2CbC9uYuu

— Natasha Burgert, MD (@DoctorNatasha) May 11, 2020

Bobby’s birthday card for the @nypl lions. pic.twitter.com/r4BtT2sxQ7

— Andrea (@ShinyAndrea) May 11, 2020

Patience and Fortitude Take Over @NYPL Twitter

#PatienceAndFortitude here, NYC's famous felines. We got our paws on NYPL's Twitter to celebrate our birthday! Bronx-born, Manhattan-raised, we're spending the day celebrating with NYC! -P&F https://t.co/TDil9yZuhm pic.twitter.com/z2MVuYvtTH

— NY Public Library (@nypl) May 11, 2020

So, we get a lot of questions about our names. Way back in the 1930s, Mayor La Guardia spoke on his radio show to a city in the midst of the Great Depression and said we all needed #PatienceAndFortitude to get through tough times. Well, we offer up that same inspiration now-P&F pic.twitter.com/ARQ2ISqW0i

— NY Public Library (@nypl) May 11, 2020

What kind of guardians would we be for NYPL if we didn't love books? With over a century of reading under our belt, we thought we'd share some favorite titles. Let us know if you’ve read any - we all need a good distraction. -P #PatienceAndFortitude https://t.co/WaSo4kuHfN

— NY Public Library (@nypl) May 11, 2020

Forgive this pun, but...we're not lion—we love storytime! People have even written books about us. We know you're jealous, but check out this special storytime happening (starring Patience and me)! Join in here: https://t.co/caTVqjKD8M -F #PatienceAndFortitude pic.twitter.com/FBdoc8E7ND

— NY Public Library (@nypl) May 11, 2020

People visit us from all over the world, so naturally, we've made so many friends...even celebrities! Burt Reynolds came to visit once and took this wild picture with me. We'd love to see photos you've taken with us in the past—we need a new profile pic. -P #PatienceAndFortitude pic.twitter.com/pU4iTJOGd5

— NY Public Library (@nypl) May 11, 2020

Now for something we never thought we'd miss: NYC rush hour (talk about needing #PatienceAndFortitude). It hasn't always looked the same, trust us. Here's a look back. -P pic.twitter.com/bmX9d0zguQ

— NY Public Library (@nypl) May 11, 2020

Now it's time for our nightly roar for essential workers (#7pmCheer) and the #PatienceAndFortitude shown every day. We look to the future and a return to the busy NYC we know and love. We miss you and can't wait to welcome you to the Library again. -P&Fhttps://t.co/TDil9yZuhm pic.twitter.com/iDuOK2tUOb

— NY Public Library (@nypl) May 11, 2020