흥선대원군 이하응의 사저였던 운현궁을 소개한 《우리나라 최근대사의 거점, 운현궁의 비밀》.
서울 운현궁은 궁호를 가지고 있지만 궁궐은 아니다. 조선 26대 임금인 고종이 임금이 된 후 자신이 살던 사가(私家)를 궁으로 승격시킨 것이다.
이 책은 운현궁의 연혁, 건물 내역, 인물, 연표 등의 내용을 크게 네 부분으로 구분하였다. 특히 인물 부분은 운현궁에 관련된 인물들, 바깥주인, 안주인 등 3부분으로 다시 세분하였다. 그리고 관련 연표에서는 1866년 신미양요에서 1897년 대한제국이 수립될 때까지 주요 사건을 다루었다.

Ⅰ. 서울 운현궁(雲峴宮)의 소개 ····················································· 1
가. 운현궁의 역사 ·················································································· 1
나. 운현궁의 건축 연혁 ······································································· 14
다. 운현궁 관련 유물과 문화재 ·························································· 17

Ⅱ. 운현궁의 건물 ·········································································· 24
가. 운현궁 건물의 내용 ······································································· 24
나. 운현궁의 각 건물별 특징 ······························································ 31

Ⅲ. 운현궁과 관련 인물 ································································· 63
가. 은신군(恩信君)[?～1771] ······························································· 63
나. 남연군(南延君)[ ?～1822(순조 22)] ············································ 63
다. 흥선대원군(興宣大院君)[1820~1898] ············································ 68
라. 고종(高宗) ······················································································ 73
마. 명성왕후(明成王后)[1851~1895] ··················································· 82

Ⅳ. 운현궁의 역대 주인들 ····························································· 94
가. 운현궁의 바깥주인들 ····································································· 94
나. 운현궁의 안주인들 ········································································· 102

■ 부록(1) : 추가 자료 ········································································ 108
■ 부록(2) : 관련 연표 ········································································ 143
■ 참고 문헌 ······················································································· 171