40 Wall Street

Now known as The Trump Building, the magnificent structure at 40 Wall Street was once in a race to be the Tallest Building in the World.

The History of 40 Wall Street

In 1928, developer 

George Ohrstrom began amassing parcels of land so that he could realize his dream of building the world's tallest skyscraper. This commercial building was to be the headquarters for the Bank of Manhattan Trust Company and would be designed by H. Craig Severance, whose former partner William Van Alen was - at the same time - working on plans for the famed Chrysler Building.

High Line

The High Line is a 1.45 miles (2.23 km) long elevated park, 30ft (9m) above the ground. It was originally built in the 1930s as an elevated railroad along the

Tracks on the High Line

West Side of Manhattan.

An Elevated Railroad

In the 1860s a railroad was built along the sparsely populated west side of Manhattan, known as the West Side Line. By the 1930s however traffic had increased to such an extent that the railroad became a safety concern.
So in 1934 a mile and a half long part of the track - 22 blocks from Gansevoort Street to 34th street - was elevated 30 ft (9m) and became known as the High Line. The tracks were used by freight trains which could go straight into the warehouses in the Meatpacking and Chelsea districts.
After the trains stopped using the tracks in 1980, the railroad started to fall in disrepair, and wild plants quickly covered the tracks.

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

Commissioned to service in 1943, the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid is now a wonderful museum and a National Historic Landmark.

History of the USS Intrepid

USS Intrepid

The USS Intrepid is considered by many to be one of the most successful ships in U.S. history. After a victorious 2-year stint in World War II, the ship went on to serve NASA as a primary recovery vessel and, following that, played an important role in the Vietnam Conflict.

Trump Tower

Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue epitomizes the glamour of the 1980s. The building is just one of many Trump real estate holdings in New York City.

Trump Tower, located on Fifth Avenue near 56th Street in the

Trump Tower

midtown section of Manhattan, is a 58-story structure that was built in 1983. The tower was designed by Der Scutt of the architectural firm of Swanke, Hayden, and Connell. Scutt has designed a number of buildings in NYC, but Trump Tower has been his most notable.

The Building

Trump Tower stands 664 feet (more than 200m) tall. It is a reinforced concrete, shear-wall/core design, similar to Trump World Tower, built much later and completed in 2001.
A concrete hat-truss at the top of the building ties exterior columns with the concrete core, increasing resistance against lateral forces such as wind and minor earthquakes. 

Main Entrance

At the time of completion the Trump Tower was the tallest such building in the world.

The building's exterior is clad in dark reflective glass with setbacks beginning near of the base of the building. The setbacks provide more corner spaces and wider views of the city.

Grant's Tomb

The General Grant National Memorial, better known as Grant's Tomb, overlooks the beautiful Hudson River from the Morningside Heights district of Manhattan. For lovers of both architecture and Civil War history, it's a must-see while in New York City.

What is Grant's Tomb?

An old joke asks "Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?" Technically speaking, the answer is "no one". That is, no one is "buried" here but Ulysses S. Grant and his wife 

Grant's Tomb

are indeed entombed in this grand mausoleum.
The couple are ensconced in red porphyry sarcophagi inside this Pantheon-style building that was once one of the most popular tourist attractions in Manhattan. The National Park Service, however, notes that the monument is no longer terribly popular with visitors though Grant is historically considered a war hero and was chiefly responsible for the defeat of the Confederacy in the American Civil War.

Skyscraper Museum

This unique museum, which has occupied several locations, pays homage to the buildings that give the city of New York its unique appearance.

History of the Museum

The Skyscraper Museum, now located in the Battery Parkneighborhood of Lower Manhattan, got its start in 1997 with a display called "Downtown New York", 

Raymond Hood's
1929 proposal
for New York

located in a vacant bank building on Wall Street. The following year, it took up headquarters at the Bankers Trust Building, also on Wall Street, and then in 2000 moved to a location on Maiden's Lane, not far from the World Trade Center. That location closed in 9/11/2001 and was commandeered as a headquarters for emergency operations during the World Trade Center tragedy. During that time, the museum enjoyed temporary quarters on Broad Street.

The Cloisters

A unique branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters is dedicated to the art and architecture of Middle Ages Europe.

A Different Kind of Museum

The Cloisters

The Cloisters museum sits in Upper Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park on a hill overlooking the Hudson River. The museum building and the gardens around it cover approximately four acres (1.6 ha).

The museum was designed by Charles Collens (1873-1956), the same architect who created New York City's Riverside Church. Joseph Breck worked on the inside, with assistance from James J. Rorimer, who created the galleries so that they flowed logically from the Romanesque to the Gothic period.

Castle Clinton

Castle Clinton is a historic fortress built in the early 19th century to defend the New York harbor against the British. Originally built off-shore, it is now located in Battery Park.

Construction

Clinton Castle is the only remaining fortress in Manhattan. It was built in 1808-1811 on an artificial island and was known as the West Battery. The circular brownstone fort was designed by John McComb Jr. and Lt. Col Jonathan Williams. 

Castle Clinton

Intended to defend the city during the War of 1812 against Great-Britain, it was a complement to the East Battery / Castle Williams fortification on Governor's Island. Neither fort saw any military action.

Citigroup Center

At 915ft / 279m, the aluminum and reflective glass clad tower known as the Citigroup Center is one of the tallest building in Midtown Manhattan. But what really makes this skyscraper stand out are the triangular rooftop and the four massive 114ft (35m) columns on which the building seems to float.

The Plot

Citigroup Center

Those columns were the result of an agreement between Citibank and the St. Peter's Lutheran Church. The church owned a valuable property in Midtown, occupying one third of a city block on Lexington Avenue and 54th street. In the 1960s the church faced financial problems and wanted to sell its property.
At the same time Citibank, which was located just across the street, was looking to expand. Thus the church sold its property to Citibank, but only on the condition that the bank would build a new church replacing their 1904 Gothic Revival church. The two parties also agreed that the new St. Peter's church had to be a distinctive building, not incorporated in the office tower.

Battery Park

Referred to as the "Emerald Doorstep to the Metropolis", New York's expansive Battery Park has undergone much renovation during the last several years, making it better than ever!

Fountain near Clinton Castle

Location

The 23-acre/9ha waterfront Battery Park is the largest public open space in the Downtown section of Manhattan. The park is located at the tip of Manhattan, causing many to refer to it as the city's "front lawn". The peaceful park faces the vibrant waterfront on one side and the bustling section of Manhattan known as - what else? - The Battery, on the other.

Macy's Department Store

From one man's dream of building a "fine" dry goods shop came the world's largest department store and one of the most famous ever built.

History of Macy's Herald Square

When Rowland Hussey Macy opened his "fancy dry goods" store in 1858 on New York's 6th Avenue, little did he know that his name

would long be associated with one of the most legendary stores in retail history.

That little Macy's store paved the way for a number of firsts and New Yorkers soon began to flock to the store with the big red star logo (inspired by a tattoo that Mr. Macy sported) for the finest in shopping experiences.

Trinity Church

Dominating the Lower Manhattan skyline from the mid-19th century until the early 20th century, Trinity Church is known for its magnificent architecture.

Building the Church

Trinitiy Church

The congregation of Trinity Episcopal Church is one of theoldest in America, having been established in 1697 under charter by King William III. At that time, the crown granted them a prime piece of real estate at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street. A church building has stood there ever since.

The current Trinity Church is the third building to stand at that location. It was designed by American Institute of Architects co-founder William Upjohn and was consecrated on Ascension Day in 1846. Upjohn was known as a leader of the American Gothic Revival movement. His magnificent design made Trinity one of the first and finest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in the United States.

Washington Square

Washington Square Park, located in the heart of Greenwich Village, is a very popular and crowded square. It is best known for its bohemian and rebellious character.

People from all backgrounds flock to this large square dotted with trees. At the center of the square are its two main attractions: a large fountain and the Washington arch.

History

Before the Washington square was built in 1826, the area was used as a burial ground. 

The Row

The north side was a German cemetery, while the south side was a potter's field (a nameless burial ground). The area was later used as a public gallows and execution ground.

Between 1829 and 1833, a row of houses were built at the North side of the square. The prestigious houses, built of red Brick in Flemish bond in Greek revival style, became known as 'The Row'. The entrances are flanked by Ionic and Doric columns and have marble balustrades. By the end of the 19th century, the north side continued to attract rich and leading citizens,

Washington
Square Arch

while the south side was populated with immigrants living in tenement houses.

Federal Hall

A National Historic Site since 1939, Federal Hall is probably the finest Greek Revival building in New York City.

The Early Days of Federal Hall

Situated at 26 Wall Street, the original structure 

Federal Hall

known as Federal Hall was built in 1700 to house New York's City Hall. During the turbulent years before the American Revolution, the building was the location for many historic events. After the Revolution, the 1st Congress met at Federal Hall and the new governing body was responsible for passing many important laws and acts at that location. In addition, George Washington was inaugurated at Federal Hall in 1789.

City Hall

A designated New York City landmark and listed on the New York and National Registers of Historic Places, City Hall is one of the most treasured buildings in Manhattan.

City Hall

Located in Lower Manhattan between Broadway and Park Row, New York's City Hall is full of wonderful U.S. history and its architecture has been praised by a wealth of experts in the field.

History of City Hall

When it became time for the city of New York to replace their old city hall, built in 1700 and located at Wall and Nassau Streets, government officials held a competition to determine who would design the building. The winners were a pair of gentlemen - one American, one French - who never again collaborated on a building project.

The Dakota

Truly one of New York City's most revered addresses, The Dakota apartment building has long been a place where New York's well-to-do live.

While it's an architectural gem in its own right, the apartment building is best known as the place where former Beatle John Lennon was gunned down in December 1980. Lennon fans still visit the site regularly and place objects there in homage to the singer/songwriter.

Some History

The Dakota was built between the years 1880 and 1884. Situated at 72nd Street and Central Park West, the

The Dakota

apartment complex is believed to have been given its name because the upper west side of Manhattan seemed, at that time, as remote as the Dakota Territory.

Edward Clarke, developer of the Dakota building, was one of the first to introduce a new concept of living for the rich in New York City: instead of living in a home with servants, the potential tenants would share the building and rent full-serviced flats instead.
Even though New York's high society was sceptical at first towards the new concept of living and the remote location, the Dakota soon started attracting tenants. Only twenty years later the Upper West Side had become a fashionable area with the Dakota building as one of its most prominent addresses.

Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island was once known for its prisons and asylums, but it is now regarded as a fashionable place to live, situated in the middle of the East River, right between Manhattan and Queens.

Its History

Originally called Minnahanock by the Native Americans who resided there, the piece of land now known as

Cherry Walk

Roosevelt Island had a number of other names as well, including Hogs' Island (1637-1685), Blackwell's Island (1686-1921) - after the Blackwell Farmhouse, and Welfare Island (1921-1973) - for the hospitals and asylums that were established here.

Park Slope Historic District

Park Slope is a historic district with beautiful rowhouses and mansions. The area started to developed during the second half of the 19th century thanks to the improved access to nearby Manhattan.

Development of Park Slope

The Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn began to develop after ferry service connected the Brooklyn Terminal and South Brooklyn to thriving Manhattan in 1814. By 1850, the area was burgeoning thanks to the foresight of local developer and entrepreneur, Edwin Clarke Litchfield, 

who bought large parcels of land in the area and sold it to residential developers. Soon, the farmland so abundant in the area was gone and the neighborhood became an early suburb of Manhattan. The completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883, connecting Manhattan with Brooklyn, accelerated the urbanization of the area.

Williamsburgh Savings Bank

A familiar sight in the Brooklyn skyline, the Williamsburgh Savings Bank (now known as One Hanson Place) was the tallest building in Brooklyn until the construction of The Brooklyner in 2009.

About "The Willie"

The building often referred to as "the Willie" was built between the years 1927 and 1929, completed just before the onset of the Great Depression. 

This wonderful Art Deco edifice was built by the architectural firm Halsey, McCormack and Helmer, and at 512 feet (156m) in height, immediately received acclaim as the tallest building in Brooklyn. As a matter of fact, for many years, it was the tallest building "between Manhattan and Paris".

The ground floor banking room was magnificent, boasting 63-foot-high (19m) vaulted ceilings and incredible 40-foot-high windows that let in the sunlight. At 112-feet-long and 73-feet-deep (34x22m), decorated with mosaics and plenty of Italian Marble, the grand banking room has long been considered one of New York's finest interiors.

Daily News Building

The Daily News Building was constructed when the New York newspaper had the highest circulation of any newspaper in the world!

The Construction

Located on 42nd Street, the Daily News Building was constructed in 1929-1930 for the newspaper 

The Globe

of the same name, owned by Joseph Patterson.
Journalist/publisher Patterson chose architect Raymond Hood for the job. Hood had designed the magnificent Chicago Tribune building, which was owned by Patterson's grandfather, Joseph Medill.

Lincoln Center for The Performing Arts

In New York City, the cultural capital of the United States, there stands a complex that is dedicated to the finest in the world of music and the arts... Lincoln Center.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is more than just one building. It's an entire area - 16.3 acres (6,6 ha) in all - devoted to music, dance, and theater.
It is home to 12 institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Lincoln Center Theater, the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Ballet. Literally thousands of concerts and performances happen here each year, making it one of New York's most visited venues.

Origin

In 1959 construction started on a grand complex that was to concentrate several cultural institutions that were spread out over the city. The initiative for the complex was taken in 1950 by the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, which were both looking for a new accommodation. They founded the Lincoln Center Corporation, presided by John D. Rockefeller III. The location chosen for the new complex was a rundown area of tenements west of Central Park, 

Vivian Beaumont Theater

a neighborhood featured in the famous musical 'West Side Story'.

Park Row Building

New York City's magnificent Park Row Building was built around the turn of the 20th century and was - for 9 years - the tallest building in the world.

The skyscraper 

is one of several surviving late nineteenth-century office towers situated on the street that became known as Newspaper Row, the busy center of newspaper publishing in New York City from the 1840s to the 1920s.

The World's Tallest

It's hard to believe that the 391-foot (119m), 30-story building long known as the Park Row Building once held the honor that now belongs to gigantic buildings like the Sears Tower in Chicagoor the Empire State Building in New York. But in 1899, when the building was completed, it was indeed the tallest anywhere.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

The neo-gothic Cathedral of St. Patrick is the largest catholic church in the United States. Despite its 330ft (100m) tall spires it is dwarfed by the many neighboring midtown skyscrapers.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

History

St. Patrick's Cathedral, situated on posh Fifth Avenue near Rockefeller Center, is actually the "new" St. Patrick's. The original church opened in 1815 on Mulberry Street in lower Manhattan. During the next several decades, the Catholic population of New York City continued to rise, and in 1853, Archbishop John Hughes declared that the city's faithful should have a new place to worship.

Little Italy

New York City is indeed a melting pot of many cultures. You'll find neighborhoods filled with people of various ethnic backgrounds. One of the most popular areas with visitors is Little Italy, where you can experience the sights and smells of The Old Country.

Where is It?

The neighborhood known as 

Little Italy is located in Lower Manhattan, between Canal and Houston Streets and Lafayette and the Bowery, bordering Chinatown. The area has long been home to New York's Italian population, including those who came through Ellis Island in search of a better life in America.
At the end of the 19th century Little Italy was populated with more than 40,000 Italians who housed in cramped tenement houses. Today the number of Italians still living here is only a small percentage of this figure and much of Little Italy has been devoured by the ever-growing Chinatown.

American Radiator Building

In 1924, this stunning black-and-gold building added new character to New York's Bryant Park area.

Something Different

For Raymond Hood, what started out as a small job designing

radiator covers became so much more. When the American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Company decided to build a new showroom and office building on 40th Street near Fifth Avenue, the company turned to the man who had been creating their radiator covers and asked him to come up with a design for their new headquarters. Just a few months prior, Hood had become instantly famous for his unique winning design for the Chicago Tribune building and American Radiator was just one of many companies that pursued his talents.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Building

For four years the tallest building in the world (1909-1913), the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Building still stands as a reminder of the opulence of early twentieth century New York City.

Metlife Tower

MetLife

Located on posh Madison Avenue at 23rd Street, the original MetLife headquarters was a rather modest building, constructed in 1893. The company, who had made its fortune selling insurance to immigrant wage workers who had much to lose if they were injured or died on-the-job, had become the largest and most successful insurance company in American by the early years of the new century.

To match their new status, the president of the company, John Rogers Hegeman, hired architect Napoleon LeBrun and Sons in 1907 to design a magnificent marble office tower to rival the other large skyscrapers that had begun springing up in Manhattan just a few years prior. Hegeman wanted the building to be the world's tallest.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Sitting on what was once the site of an ash dump, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been a colorful addition to the city for nearly 100 years.

A Brief History

Citing the need for some dedicated green space, the New York legislature put aside 39 acres in 

Rose Garden

1897 for the building of a botanic garden. Though it took 13 years to design and open the garden, in 1910 it finally opened to the public. Through the first decade, the garden continued to grow with new additions including rock gardens, a Japanese garden, and a children's garden.