Madison Square

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Madison Square Park in front and the "Garden" in the background (1895)

Madison Square is a square in New York City in the Flatiron District of the Manhattan borough of Manhattan .

The square was named after James Madison - the fourth President of the United States and lead author of the American Constitution . As part of the Living Streets project of the City of New York City, the traffic areas have been significantly reduced in favor of more space for pedestrians and greenery.

history

When the city charter was revised in 1686 by Royal Governor Thomas Dongan, most of this area was initially designated as public land. Since then, this area has been used for various public purposes. A pottery field was established here in 1794, which was then relocated to Washington Square in 1797. In 1811 the area was the location of an arsenal of the US Army (1806) and was partly used for military parades. In 1814 the area was named after James Madison. After the arsenal was no longer used for military purposes, the building served as a "House of Refuge" for juvenile offenders from 1825 until it was destroyed by fire in 1839.

After the land was leveled and prepared, Madison Square Park was opened to the public on May 10, 1847. It was immediately well received by the population. Citizen protests against the plans to build a crystal palace here in 1853 led to its relocation to Bryant Park . Madison Square Park remained the site of major celebrations on historic occasions and anniversaries, including the centenary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1876 and the triumphant return of Admiral George Dewey from the Spanish-American War in 1899.

location

Snow-covered Madison Square Park at night (looking south, December 2005)
The Flatiron Building in Madison Square (2003)

Madison Square is at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway on 23rd Street . The heart of the square is the 2.5 ha large Madison Square Park , the east of the Madison Avenue is limited, which begins at the southeast side of the park at 23rd Street, in the south of 23rd Street and north of the 26th Street . To the west, the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway borders Madison Square Park. The square and park are at the north end of the Flatiron District . The term "Madison Square" as a name for the district is hardly used today. The area north and west of the park is called " NoMad " ("North of Madison Square Park"). The area east of the park is called " Rose Hill ".

Madison Square can be reached by the New York City Subway's BMT Broadway Line (NR trains) ( 23rd Street Station ). Also one block away are 23rd Street (IND Sixth Avenue Line) and 23rd Street (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) stops .

Well-known buildings

The Flatiron Building , the Met Life Tower and the New York Life Building are defining buildings in Madison Square. A new residential building on 23rd Street - " One Madison " - is similar in height to the Met Life Tower (completed in 2013). The first Madison Square Garden building was constructed right next to the park on Madison Avenue and 26th Street. It belonged to William Henry Vanderbilt . In 1879 the building was demolished. In 1899 it was replaced by a Moorish-style building designed by Stanford White that gave way to the construction of the New York Life Insurance Building in 1925.

The square achieved particular fame by giving its name to Madison Square Garden - a multi-purpose hall for concerts and sporting events.

Today Madison Square Garden is no longer in this area.

  • Madison Square Garden I-II: Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street.
  • Madison Square Garden III: Eighth Avenue and 50th Street.
  • Madison Square Garden IV: Seventh Avenue and 33rd Street.

Monuments in the park

Soon after the municipal authority for public parks was established in 1870, the square was converted by Ignatz Pilat , chief landscape architect, and William Grant . The new design brought sculptures to the park that are now attracting attention. In detail these are:

There is also the ornamental fountain from 1867 and the flagpole of the Eternal Light from 1923 (the Ethernal Light Flagpole).

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Film about Madison Square
  2. ^ Madison Park History
  3. ↑ Monuments in Madison Park

Web links

Commons : Madison Square  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 40 ° 44 ′ 36.4 "  N , 73 ° 59 ′ 17.5"  W.