Rucker Park originated from Park
Service playground named P.S. 156. This park opened on February 23rd,
1956 but in 1974, the park was renamed after Holcombe L. Rucker. Holcombe L.
Rucker grew up in Manhattan and attended Benjamin Franklin High School. He
worked for the New York City Parks and Recs as a playground director from
1948-1964. In 1947, he started a basketball tournament in Harlem. This
tournament was for kids of New York, inspiring them to succeed within their
school curriculum. Rucker personally taught participants and helped with their
homework, and also let report cards determine who would be able to play. These
tournaments helped to provide 700 college athletic scholarships to the kids of
Harlem. 

NBA stars began to appear on the
court when Rucker organized games where his best players in Harlem would play
against the NBA’s best such as Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Rucker
died however in 1965 right as these tournaments began to prosper. Weekend
afternoons in the 1960s and 70s attracted big name basketball stars such as
Julius Erving, Nate (Tiny) Archibald, Joe (The Destroyer) Hammond, Connie
Hawkins, Richard (Pee Wee) Kirkland, Earl (The Goat) Manigault, Frank (Shake N’
Bake) Streety, and James (Fly) Williams. In the 1980s, NBA stars began to fear
injury during the off-season and opted not to attend the tournament. This
brought back the local league that once started at Rucker Park but big name
players have still appeared at the court since then. Names include Vince
Carter, Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant.

The park has been established as
legendary training ground for NBA’s stars and has inspired many children within
the streets of Harlem. Many people propose that Holcombe Rucker should be
placed in the Hall of Fame for his contribution to the sport even though he
never played himself. Rucker Park continues today with tournaments such as the
Entertainers Basketball Classic (EBC), which begins June 15th on
2015 celebrating it’s 309th anniversary.&nbsp;

Rucker Park began in the late 1940s when a Harlem teacher started a basketball tournament for impoverished youngsters within the neighborhood. Holcombe L. Rucker did not expect street legends and NBA stars to be attracted to the park but this is exactly what happened. The park gave hope and entertainment to generations of kinds and affected the entire future of basketball.   

Rucker Park

Start at W. 155th Street & Broadway and wind your way through Washington Heights, to historic sites dating from the Revolutionary War through the 1940s. There are museums, parks, monuments, and theaters to explore. This tour ends at a lighthouse by the George Washington Bridge. 

Audubon Terrace was the brainchild of multimillionaire Archer M. Huntington (1870-1955), who had a particular interest in Spanish and Portuguese culture and studied at Yale, Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Madrid. Archer wrote poetry books, edited works on Hispanic culture, and conducted archaeological excavations in Spain; he founded the Hispanic Society of America in 1904 and owned one of the largest collections of books outside of Spain on Spanish culture and history. Archer set up a program at the Library of Congress to reproduce rare Spanish books. The land where Audubon Terrace was built had been owned by Archer's mother, but was part of the farmland that the American author and ornithologist John James Audubon purchased in 1841. Audubon's two sons later built homes for themselves on the Audubon Terrace land. After Audubon's death in 1851, his widow began selling parts of the farm. By the 1870s, the terrace had become part of a residential area called Audubon Park.Archer's cousin, Charles Pratt Huntington (1871-1919), designed the building to house the Society on Audubon Terrace. Charles was a Harvard grad who studied architecture at the Ecole Nationale Superior des Beaux Arts in Paris. The neo-Italian Renaissance style building was joined by the others in similar styles between 1907 and 1930, facing a common courtyard; the exception is the church, which faces W. 156th St. The two buildings at the western end of the terrace, the American Academy and the National Institute of Arts and Letters, were designed after Charles' death, by William Mitchell Kendall of McKim, Mead, &amp; White.The neighboring buildings in the Audubon Terrace Historic District include: (former) American Geographical Society (3755 Broadway), Museum of the American Indian (3745 Broadway), American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, (633 W. 155th St. and 632-638 W. 156th St.), American Numismatic Society (621-627 W. 155th St.), (former) Morrisania Branch of New York Public Library (610 W. 156th St.), and Church of Our Lady of Esperanza (624 W. 156th St., the second Spanish Roman Catholic church to be built in the city). The American Geographical Society moved into the Audubon Terrace building in 1911 and has moved to 121 Sixth Avenue; it was founded in New York City in 1851 and spent several decades after World War I creating maps of Hispanic America. The Manhattan location of Baricua College is now at 3755 Broadway; the school also has Bronx and Brooklyn locales. Baricua is a private college founded in 1974 that was designed to serve Puerto Rican and other Hispanic students. The Morrisania Branch of NYPL has moved to the Bronx.The massing of educational and cultural institutions together at Audubon Terrace was unique; most similar groupings were within universities. The courtyard is paved in red brick and decorated with a grouping of statues, including one named El Cid on a pedestal. The statue depicts a Spanish warrior, El Cid Campeador (1043-1099) on horseback and was sculpted in 1927 by artist Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington (1876-1973). Anna married Archer in 1923.Admission to the Hispanic Society of America's museum is free. The East Building Gallery has reopened but the Main Building was still closed for renovations as of November 2021. Weekly guided tours of the Gilded Figures Exhibition were being offered in the fall and winter of 2021-2022 on Saturdays at 1pm.

The building on the northwest corner of W. 155th Street and Broadway, across the street from Trinity Cemetery, is the Hispanic Society of America Museum and Library. The Beaux Arts style building was constructed in 1908 with five-bay wings added to the east and west later. The building is part of the Audubon Terrace National Register Historic District, encompassing the entire block west of Broadway between W. 155th and 156th Streets. The block features eight buildings facing a central courtyard with statuary. The Hispanic Society of America complex was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012. The Society closed for major renovations in 2017 but the East Building Gallery reopened in 2021.

Hispanic Society of America Museum and Library at Audubon Terrace

The Polo Grounds was home to two iconic moments in World Series history- the iconic over the back catch of Willie Mays and "the shot heard round the world." This stadium was the fourth of four fields constructed in the Manhattan area that were known as the Polo Grounds. The original Polo Ground was just north of Central Park and used to host polo matches when it was first utilized in 1876. By the 1880s, the field was used for baseball more than any other purpose but was also home to football matches and other sporting events. The stadium replaced the original Polo Grounds in 1890 and the grandstand was replaced after a fire in 1911. The New York Giants played their first game at the stadium in 1911 while it was still under construction. The grandstand only had 16,000 seats for the first game, but by the end of that season the stadium had a capacity of 34,000. It underwent another renovation in 1922 where they enclosed the stadium except for in centerfield. After this renovation was complete, the stadium was able to hold over 54,000 people. Although the Yankees played many games here, this field was the home of the Giants and teams coached by McGraw. Famous athletes Christy Mathewson, Willie Mays, and even Babe Ruth called the Polo Grounds home at one time. In 1951 Bobby Thompson made baseball history when he hit a home run in a National League pennant game that would go on to be known as "the shot heard round the world," a phrase coined by iconic broadcaster Ernie Harwell. The game was as important to baseball as it was to New Yorkers as the series pitted the Giants with their rival, the Brooklyn Dodgers. The home run won the Giants the pennant after trailing the Dodgers by 13 and 1/2 games in early August. To this day, the comeback of the Giants to clench the pennant is one of the most memorable comebacks in sports history.  In the 1954 World Series, Cleveland batter Vic Wertz hit a long line drive of 425 feet, flying over Willie Mays's head in center field. The game is tied 2-2 in the eighth inning of Game 1 with runners on first and second base. This was the beginning of the infamous catch: a deep centerfield over-the-shoulder running catch which became one of baseball’s most memorable plays. Mays went full speed toward the back wall catching the ball and launching it straight to the infield, preventing a runner from reaching second base. The catch kept the game tied, allowing the Giants to claim victory in the tenth inning with a score of 5-2. The moment is even remembered today; whenever someone completes an over-the-shoulder catch, it is considered a “Willie Mays catch”. Mays's catch is another iconic moment in baseball history that occurred at the Polo Grounds.  As mentioned above, Ernie Harwell covered the Giants here. He spent four years of his career here, from 1950-1953 before moving to Baltimore. Although he broke into the majors with the Dodgers, his time in New York was what really started putting him on the map. People started remembering his name and his distinctive voice. He had many memorable calls during his time with the Giants, like "The shot heard around the world" and "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!" The Polo Grounds had odd dimensions with a very elongated field that had short "porches" at left and right field, meaning they were very close to home plate. Center field, however, was very far from home plate at 475+ feet. This made Mays's throw back to the infield seem almost impossible. The short left field porch also contributed to Thompson's home run as the hit would have stayed inside nearly every other ballpark. The Giants would remain at the Polo Grounds for a few years afterward until their move to California in 1958.

The third stadium in New York City to bear the iconic name "Polo Grounds," this stadium was built in 1890 and home to the New York Giants from 1891 through 1957. The stadium doubled as the home field of the Yankees from 1913 to 1922 and would also be the first home field of the New York Mets. However, it was the Giants made the Polo Grounds famous as they hosted multiple World Series and made this the site of two of the most important moments in baseball history. The "Shot Heard 'Round the World" and "The Catch" are two moments that occurred here. The ballpark was replaced by Shea Stadium in 1963 and demolished shortly thereafter. The area is now home to a public housing project and park along the Harlem River. 
The stadium was located in upper Manhatten, specifically in Coogan's Hallow. It is known for having a distinctive bathtub shape. 

Polo Grounds (1890-1963)

The architect of the six-story, Late Gothic Perpendicular style brick apartment building at 935 St. Nicholas Avenue is unknown. The center bay of the St. Nicholas Avenue side contains the main entrance in the left of two recessed arches, with a window in the other. There is a secondary, service entrance on the W. 157th Street side; both street sides have steel fire escapes to the sides of the center bay.Duke Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. in 1899. He played ragtime piano locally while still in high school and formed his own band called "The Duke's Serenaders" in 1917. The band played gigs in New York City in the early to mid-1920s, mainly in the Kentucky Club. In 1927, Ellington began his tenure at Harlem's Cotton Club as producer of new stage shows. The band was soon contracted to record with Columbia and Victor Records and Ellington experimented with extended jazz compositions. Ellington became as well known for his dapper clothing and sophisticated style as for his jazz orchestra and compositions.He was living in Apartment 4A in 1940 when he wrote the song "Harlem Air Shaft." The song is based on being able to overhear the conversations of other tenants, to smell what they're cooking for dinner, and hear them playing the radio. In his later years, Ellington concentrated on composing pieces for special occasions. To honor the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1963, he wrote "My People," a work that traced the history of African-Americans interwoven in the nation's history. Ellington once said that "My men and my race are my inspiration. I try to catch the character and mood and feeling of my people." Duke Ellington ended up composing over 1,500 pieces of music for symphony orchestras, films, ballet, and television. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 and the French Legion of Honor in 1973. He died in 1974 at age 75; his funeral was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City on May 28th.

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1899-1974) once lived in Apartment 4A in the building at 935 St. Nicholas Avenue in Washington Heights. The world famous jazz band leader and composer resided here from 1939 to 1961. He lived in this apartment when he wrote a musical composition in 1940 called "Harlem Air Shaft" that was inspired by life in the building. The apartment building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and is a National Historic Landmark for its association with Mr. Ellington. The building continues to hold apartments.

Duke Ellington Apartment 4A, 935 St. Nicholas Avenue

The history of the magnificent Morris-Jumel Mansion dates back long ago to its first owner, Roger Morris. Morris was a British military officer who served as a member of the Executive Council of the Province of New York. Roger built the house in 1765 in order to accommodate his wife, Mary Philipse Morris, and himself. Their estate, which stretched over 130 acres from the Harlem River to the Hudson River, was named “Mount Morris”. The estate covered a massive amount of territory and was located on one of the highest points of elevation in Manhattan, offering a clear view of New Jersey, Connecticut, and all of New York harbor. The Morris family lived at the estate for 10 years from 1765 to 1775, the year in which the American Revolution began. Being a British military officer, Roger Morris was a British loyalist who went back to England at the start of the war, leaving his family and his life in America. His family relocated to the Philipse estate in Yonkers.The house would go on to play a significant role during the American Revolutionary War. Because of its very strategic location and positioning in Manhattan, this house attracted the attention of General George Washington and his Patriot officers. They moved in and made the house their headquarters for five weeks in the autumn of 1776 (September 14~October 21). The location of the house was ideal since it provided a great overview of the surrounding area. Within the house, they planned their warfare strategies which eventually resulted in Washington's first victory, The Battle of Harlem Heights. This victory was monumental because it gave the colonists hope that they could win the war and that America was not helpless. But, even though this victory was a great rallying moment for the Patriots, it still was not great enough to prevent a British takeover of Manhattan Island. With the British takeover, Washington and his troops were forced from the Morris-Jumel Mansion, and it was occupied by British forces. The house served as headquarters for the British and their allies for the remainder of the war. When the war finally concluded, the new government of the United States of America confiscated the Mansion and its property. Currently, it holds the title of the oldest remaining house in Manhattan and is now turned into a museum that depicts more than 200 years of New York's cultural history and art.

The oldest extant home in Manhattan, this mansion was built in 1765 by Roger Morris, a British military officer. The Mansion served as a headquarters for both sides during the American Revolution. Currently, the building is a house museum that is preserved and open to the public. with a vast collection of artifacts and an archive, along with regular events and guided tours.

Morris-Jumel Mansion

Located in Washington Heights, this park commemorates Private William McKenna, who served for the US during the First World War as part of an anti-aircraft battalion and who died from wounds received during the Battle of the Argonne Forest in 1918 near Reciecourt, France. Before the war, he lived near here on West 173rd St. The site was officially named for him by the New York City Board of Aldermen on July 8, 1924, 6 years after McKenna's death.

McKenna Square

The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center is dedicated to memorializing two important Twentieth Century social activists and is committed to continuing their work. Residing in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, the building holds not only historical relevance but contains promise for future generations as well. The kiosks and interactive technology that is present, allow for children and adults to relive moments of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz’s lives, while also focusing on their contributions to the fight for social justice. On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was giving a speech at the Audubon Ballroom on behalf of the organization he co-founded, The Organization of Afro-American Unity. Before he could formally begin his presentation, Malcolm X was shot in the chin, hand, and chest by three gunmen. Assassinated in front of his pregnant wife and children, who only sat a few feet away, Malcolm X had finally been claimed as a victim of the revolution. After his murder, the Audubon Ballroom fell into decay and there was a discussion of demolition. However, with the help of a local university, the Shabazz family was able to negotiate it’s salvation. By constructing a deal with Columbia University, the late activists’ family was able to secure the last place in which Malcolm was seen alive, and utilize it for the same purposes he fought for during his time on Earth. Malcolm X’s wife, Dr. Betty Shabazz, was the mastermind behind the construction of the center. She insisted that this building not only reflect her husband’s life, but also that it highlight the ongoing struggle for social equality and justice. Although she would not see the building to it’s completion, Dr. Shabazz’s influence is felt throughout the memorial. Dr. Betty Shabazz passed away in June of 1997. The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center was opened on May 19, 2005, which happened to be on the anniversary of Malcolm X’s 80th birthday. Upon entering the center, visitors are greeted with a bronze, six foot, life like statue of Malcolm. It is also decorated with a sixty-three foot mural, designed by artist Daniel Galvez. The site also has advanced technology that includes interactive kiosks that guests can access to virtually step into the past. Developed in correlation with Columbia University’s Digital Knowledge Ventures, the Malcolm X and Dr. Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center provides guests the ability to browse photographs, archival footage, documents, interviews with family and friends, historic scenes of Harlem, and postcards that Malcolm sent home to his friends. Visitors have access to almost two hours’ worth of short videos, never before seen photos, interviews with scholars, as well as interpretive features that can be understood by any age. The interactive features include timelines of Malcolm and Betty’s lives, maps following his activities in Harlem, and commentary from Malcolm’s beloved friend, Ossie Davis. These multimedia exhibits invite children and adults alike to finally experience the contributions and life works of two important historical figures. Being that the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Center is the only memorial dedicated solely to Malcolm X as a historical figure, makes it that much more impactful. Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz’s daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, is optimistic that by visiting this collection based upon her parents’ histories, it will continue to enlighten guests on the truths of their lives, instead of the misconceptions that she claims are presented throughout numerous publications. She hopes that the center will spark a new found interest within the younger generation that will encourage them to continue the fight for human rights and social justice internationally. To get more information, or to read Ilyasah’s personal description of the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, visit the links below.

The Audubon Ballroom was constructed in 1912 by William Fox, the movie producer who created the company that grew into 20th Century Fox. The Audubon Ballroom was home to a variety of theatrical performances over the years as well as meetings by area labor unions and immigrant groups. The ballrooms is most famous as the site where civil rights leader Malcolm X was shot and killed on February 21, 1965 while speaking at a rally of his new organization, the Organization of Afro-American Unity. The Audubon Ballroom was saved from demolition by the actions of preservationists, local residents, Columbia University students, and Malcolm X's widow Betty Shabazz. The building is now the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center.

Audubon Ballroom; Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center

Mitchel Square honors the memory of John Purroy Mitchel, the second youngest mayor of New York ever and U.S Army Air Service officer.Mitchel was born to an Irish Catholic family in Fordham, Bronx, New York City. His grandfather and namesake John Mitchel was a writer and leader in the Irish independence movement. The young Mitchel's career took off in 1906 when he was hired to investigate Manhattan Borough President John F. Ahern and Bronx Borough President Louis Haffen. Both of them were dismissed as a result of the investigations. His reputation as a reformer gathered support for him from anti-Tammany forces. In 1909, he was elected President of the Board of Alderman (an organization similar to the City Council today). Four years later, he was elected mayor, making him the second youngest mayor of New York ever.After failing the get re-elected, he heeded the call for volunteers to serve in the First World War, joined the Army Air Service, completed training and earned the rank of major. On July 6, 1918, Mitchel fell 500 feet from his plane returning from a training flight to Gerstner Field, near Lake Charles, Louisiana, reportedly due to an unfastened seat belt. Numerous memorials were made for him. The former Mitchel Air Force Base located in Long Island, now the cite of Nassau Community College and the Cradle of Aviation Museum, is named after him. On February 8th, 1919, the Board of Alderman named this park for Mitchel. There is also a plaque of his likeness on the entrance to Central Park through 90th Street.

Mitchel Square is a small urban park in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. It is enclosed by Broadway to the west and St Nicholas Avenue to the east. The park is named after John Purroy Mitchel, who became the second youngest mayor of New York in 1914, and later died in a training mission as a pilot in the Army Aviation Corps. The park features a memorial plaque in honor of Mitchel and a statue honoring the men from the neighborhood who gave their lives in World War I.

Mitchel Square

The Washington Heights - Inwood War Memorial was commissioned by the Washington Heights and Inwood Memorial Association to commemorate the 357 casualties of World War I who lived in the neighborhood.1 Featured prominently within Mitchel Square Park, the park is named after John Purroy Mitchel who died during a training accident of the United States Army Air Service. The monument consists of a granite pedestal, designed by architectural firm Delano and Aldrich, and a bronze sculpture of three combat soldiers designed by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. The memorial sculpture was first approved by New York City on November 14, 1921 for dedication on the following memorial day on May 30, 1922. The memorial was a gift to the city of New York, funding was provided by the Washington Heights and Inwood Memorial Association as referenced in the application for installation submitted in 1921.3 At the base of the memorial, the dedication inscription reads "ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AND INWOOD IN COMMEMORATION OF THE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR." Directly surrounding the bronze figures are 20 plaques, of which all names of the missing and killed soldiers of World War One who lived in the New York City communities of Washington Heights and Inwood. The monument has been on permanent display since its dedication in 1922 with the exception of a restoration in 1998 that replaced a missing bayonet.4

The Washington Heights - Inwood War Memorial is located in Mitchel Square Park, on the intersection of Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue between 167th and 168th Street. The bronze monument is composed of three soldiers, two of which are helping the third during battle. The Memorial was dedicated on May 30, 1922 to honor the men that perished in World War I and lived in the Northern Manhattan communities of Washington Heights and Inwood. The Memorial includes the names of all the fallen soldiers from the community on plaques surrounding the three oversized figures.

Washington Heights - Inwood War Memorial

The architectural firm of Richard Walker &amp; Charles Morris designed the Fort Washington Avenue Armory after winning a competition held by the 22nd Regiment of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE). The 22nd Regiment had moved into a new armory in 1890 at Broadway and 68th Street, but it proved to be too small. The red brick building built from 1909 to 1911 as the new, larger armory has limestone and terra cotta detailing and cost over $1.1 million. The two-story main entrance along Fort Washington Avenue is arched and framed in rusticated limestone; octagonal towers flank the entrance. Inside, the armory included bowling alleys, a swimming pool, and a steam room. A stair hall was decorated with murals painted by Ralph T. Willis showing the Army engineers at work during construction. The main entrance led to Marble Hall, a large, central space with tile floors and a vaulted ceiling. To the north of the Hall was the Colonel's Suite which featured mahogany walls and a limestone surround fireplace. The Board Room was to the south of the Hall, with freestanding columns, a beamed ceiling, and another fireplace. To the rear of the Hall was an open Stair Hall which led to Company Rooms. A memorial to those who died in World War II was on the second-floor hallway, near the Officer's Club. The Drill Hall was lit by clerestory windows and had wood flooring; a balcony on four sides could seat 2,300.The 22nd Regiment was organized as the "Union Grays" in 1861 to protect New York City after the regular militia units left to fight in the Civil War. It was then the only engineer unit in the organized militia in the U.S. The 22nd Regiment ended up being part of the 102nd Engineering Battalion after World War II and was disbanded in the late twentieth century. Two of their units survive as part of the 369th Regiment and are now attached to an armory in Harlem.The Fort Washington Avenue Armory was still being used as an active armory when it was documented in 1986. At that time, the building held the only indoor track in the city and was used for high school track and field athletes. The local public and parochial schools used the small gymnasium's basketball courts. The building has been the site of movies such as Requiem for a Heavyweight and commercial shoots. Dog shows and boxing matches have been held in the armory, as well as Shriners conventions.New York State operated a homeless shelter for a time in the former armory during the 1980s. Over one thousand people were housed in the building, and plans were made to modify the structure. Due to concerns about losing historical integrity, the plans were scrapped. Instead, the armory was repurposed as an indoor track and field facility. The New Balance Track and Field Center claims to have one of the world's fastest tracks. The 60,000-square-foot arena seats 4,000 spectators. The Armory Foundation is a non-profit that promotes fitness and education for youth. The Foundation oversees the track and field facility and hosts over one hundred track meets each year. They manage the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, a museum and interactive sports/ fitness learning center. The Foundation offers college prep and counseling services to some of New York City's high schoolers and middle school students. The SUNY Attain Lab provides workforce and computer skills training for local residents. As of November 2021, all those aged 12 and up need to show proof of vaccination against covid to enter the Armory.

This structure was constructed from 1909 to 1911 to house the armory of the 22nd Corps of Engineers. The building housed an armory for many decades and was also used as a temporary homeless shelter in the 1980s. The building now houses an indoor running track, the New Balance Track and Field Center, and the Track and Field Hall of Fame. Highlights of the Hall of Fame include a model of the New York City Marathon course and artifacts related to the history of the Olympics. The Fort Washington Avenue Armory was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 as part of a nomination of multiple Army National Guard Armories in New York State.

Fort Washington Avenue Armory and The National Track and Field Hall of Fame

There are about 220 steps inside the Romanesque Revival style, stone water tower. The arched doorway is topped by a massive horseshoe arch. The octagonal shaft is topped by a belfry covered by a conical roof below a lantern, spire, and weather vane. The tower was used to equalize water pressure of the water flowing in the aqueduct under High Bridge from the Bronx into Manhattan. The tower served as a power booster for the neighborhood water supply and as far south as the Murray Hill neighborhood in Manhattan. The original design included a stand pipe and iron tank that could hold 47,000 gallons. Nearby was a 7-acre reservoir.The reservoir near the tower was turned over to the New York City Parks Department in 1934 and made into an outdoor swimming pool by a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The swimming pool and a recreation center opened in 1936. The tower was disconnected from the water supply system in 1949. A five-octave carillon was installed in the belfry and dedicated on May 30th 1958 to the late Benjamin Altman, a merchant, patron of the arts, and philanthropist.The swimming pool is still operating in High Bridge Park. High Bridge - rebuilt in 1928 to replace multiple arches with a single span - is open to pedestrian traffic only between the Bronx and Manhattan. The bridge was closed for decades until it was renovated and reopened in 2005 (virtually walk across the bridge, along a hiking trail in the park, and up the steps in the hillside to the base of the water tower in the attached YouTube video). The water tower had been closed for renovations for a decade, but work was finished and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in late October 2021. Restoration reportedly cost $5 million, with repairs made to the roof, spiral cast iron staircase, wooden handrails, and flooring. New windows were installed, as well as window guards and new interior lighting.New York City Parks Urban Park Rangers began offering free tours of the water tower in November 2021; the first tour is scheduled for November 13th from 1 to 2pm (registration is required - link is below). The tower is closed to public access at other times.

The tower in High Bridge Park near the west end of High Bridge was built in 1872 as part of the Croton Water System that brought fresh water to Manhattan. It was the first water tower to be built in Manhattan as part of this system and the only tower that survives. The octagonal structure is made of rough-cut stone and is almost 400 feet above the high water level of the nearby Harlem River. The Highbridge Water Tower stopped being used for the water supply system in 1949 and a carillon was installed in the belfry in 1958. The tower became a New York City Landmark in 1967 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The tower was renovated in 1989 to 1990 and was closed again for renovations around 2011, but reopened for scheduled tours beginning in November 2021.

Highbridge Water Tower

Originally called “Loew’s 175th Street Theatre”, the United Palace features eclectic décor which has resulted in an architectural style that has proven difficult for many experts to clearly name. Architect Thomas L. Lamb borrowed styles from “the Alhambra in Spain, the Kailasa rock-cut shrine in India, and the Wat Phra Keo temple in Thailand, adding Buddhas, bodhisattvas, elephants, and honeycomb stonework in an Islamic pattern known as muqarnas." This eclectic mix has been described as a “Byzantine-Romanesque-Indo-Hindu-Sino-Moorish-Persian-Eclectic-Rococo-Deco” in the 1990 book On Broadway: A Journey Uptown Over Time. Adding to this mix, “many authentic Louis XV and XVI furnishings" were brought in by tReverend Ike and congregation when the theater became the home of their church. While the exact style may be difficult to pin down, it is indisputable that this building represents the height of the American “movie palace” movement – a movement which culminated in five “Wonder Theatres” constructed by the Loew’s Corporation in 1929 and 1930. The other four movie palaces are Valencia on Jamaica Avenue in Queens, Paradise on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, Kings Theater on Flatbush Avenue in Bushwick, and the Loew’s Jersey Theater in Journal Square, New Jersey. Each of the "Wonder Theaters" were masterfully designed and built to convey a sense of grandeur in order to give, “the common citizen an affordable escape into Hollywood fantasy and luxurious surroundings." Five “Wonder Morton” organs were also installed in each theater. United Palace is the only one of five venues with its original wonder organ still in place. The New York Theater Organ Society and UPCA began a full renovation of the organ, working to raise $1 million over five years to bring back the “only remaining, consistently used theater organ” in the city. Over the years, the role of the wonder theaters evolved, and these massive, elegant buildings became community gathering places. For example, in World War II, “people went to their Loew’s to watch newsreels” and to honor mothers of soldiers in gold star ceremonies. By the 1960s, families had moved out to the suburbs, decreasing the local theater-going audience. The advent of the television also made it difficult for the model of the wonder theater to continue – selling out 3,000 tickets to show only one movie at a time on the theater's single screen was no longer practical. From the 1960s to the 1980s, all of the wonder theaters were in serious decline – not helped by the parallel decline of the neighborhoods in which the theaters were located. Most of the Loew’s theaters were turned over to religious organizations in their later years. Religious groups were at an advantage to manage the properties due to their tax-exempt status. In 1969 the 175th building was sold to “Reverend Ike” (Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II) who was known for his sermons on “thinkonomics." Reverend’s Ike’s television program debuted in 1973 and became the first such broadcast hosted by an African-American religious leader (2). The United Palace House of Inspiration still operates out of the old 175th St. Theatre, but the building houses other events in addition to the weekly congregation. The United Palace Theatre is an “in-house booking agency” that has helped to put on concerts with big names such as “Neil Young, Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan, Adele and Kraftwerk." The theater also shows films, runs after-school art and performance classes, and produces community events. The management of the United Palace has become a model that some hope to replicate in other former wonder theaters, striking good balance between the various interests of local government, religious groups, and the community.

Constructed in 1930, United Palace is Manhattan’s fourth-largest theater with 3,400 seats. The United Palace was one of five so-called “Wonder Theatres” located across New York City and New Jersey. Located in the historic Washington Heights neighborhood, at the time of its opening the theatre promised, “Times-Square entertainment nearer your home” (1). For the first 40 years, this was primarily a movie theater. In 1969 the building was purchased to house a new church congregation. The building was designed by Thomas Lamb with interior elements by Harold Rambusch who also crafted the interiors of the Waldorf Astoria and Radio City Music Hall. The United Palace was designated a landmark building in 2016.

United Palace Theater

A redoubt is a “small, enclosed military work” meaning, “place of retreat” (2). On November 16, 1776 the British attacked Fort Washington and forced the Continental Army to retreat, many fled up the hill to the redoubt; however, nearly 3,000 American troops were captured that day and most were sent to British prison ships (1). For more information regarding the Battle of Fort Washington, see the Clio article <a href="https://www.theclio.com/entry/19705" target="_blank">here</a>. The redoubt itself was constructed by a battalion of Scotsmen of Malcom’s regiment under the command of Captain Robert Smith. The construction of this redoubt was planned and executed by a French volunteer, Antoine Felix Imbert. A published excavation of the site in 1902 described the redoubt as “the best preserved as it is the most militarily regular of the earthworks of the locality, evidencing the military training of its designer” (3). Built in part as defense of the Hudson river, the City of New York had also ordered several ships to be sunk in the Hudson during August and September of 1776 to further impede British navigation. Unfortunately, neither Fort Washington, nor the redoubts, nor the sunken ships could stop the British takeover. The British remained in control of New York for seven years following this defeat (from September 1776 until November 1783). It can be a bit difficult to find the marker. According to the New York Times, the marker can be found along the path to the left of the 181st Street pedestrian path.

This large boulder was placed and dedicated by the Fort Washington Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution on November 16, 1910. The boulder is carved with the inscription, “AMERICAN REDOUT 1776” and marks the site of a redoubt used by the American Continental Army during the defense of Fort Washington in November 1776 against the British in the Revolutionary War. This was one of the worst defeats for the Continental Army, the British forced a retreat. As a result, New York and Eastern New Jersey fell under British control for the next seven years. (1).

American Redoubt Marker

Maritime accidents were an ongoing problem on the Hudson River throughout the nineteenth century, and authorities attempted to deal with this issue in a number of ways.&nbsp;&nbsp;For many years, a&nbsp;red pole hung over the river&nbsp;near Jeffrey's Hook to alert seamen to the shoreline. In 1889, a&nbsp;ten candle power light&nbsp;was installed on&nbsp;the pole in order to create a more visible warning system. The City of New York&nbsp;purchased the small land area surrounding Jeffrey's Hook, which&nbsp;later&nbsp;became known as&nbsp;Fort Washington Park. &nbsp;Hildegarde Swift's 1942 book,&nbsp;The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge&nbsp;uses&nbsp;the story of the building of the George Washington Bridge next to the small lighthouse to argue that small things also matter. Hidegarde Swift was born in 1890 and died in 1977. She was a well known childen's books author best known for her story&nbsp;Little Blacknose: The story of a Pioneer&nbsp;that recieved the Newbery Honor medal. One of her other successes is called The Railroad to Freedom published in 1932.The illustrator of the book about the lighthouse, Lynd Ward, was born in 1905 and died in 1985. He was known for his wordless novels using wood engravings and his illustrations of children and adult books. His work has greatly influenced the development of the graphic novel genre.&nbsp; &nbsp;The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge&nbsp;begins by introducing the lighthouse and its job of warning the boats on the busy Hudson River&nbsp;to the nearby dangerous rocks. Every night a man climbs up to the top of the lighthouse and turns on its flashing light. When there is fog, the man additionally turns on the lighthouse's fog bell.&nbsp;The lighthouse is personalized as a character,&nbsp;pleased and proud of its job. In the middle of the book, the little lighthouse has to witness the construction of the George Washington Bridge.&nbsp;The lighthouse becomes&nbsp;very sad because it thinks that, due to the light on the bridge, it is not going to be useful anymore. On the night following the opening of the bridge, no ones comes to light the lighthouse even though the weather is stormy. The lighthouse believes that it was right, and that no one&nbsp;would ever appear to light&nbsp;it anymore. Boats on the Hudson River, however, cannot see the bridge lighting very well in the fog, so&nbsp;they call on&nbsp;the lighthouse keeper for help, asking him to activate&nbsp;the fog bell.&nbsp;The man responsible for the lighthouse&nbsp;finally arrives, complaining that some boys had stolen his keys. The lighthouse starts working again, very happy to still be used. When the George Washington Bridge was&nbsp;opened&nbsp;in 1931, the lighthouse&nbsp;appeared&nbsp;obsolete&nbsp;since the bridge's own powerful navigational lights dwarfed the less visible warnings provided by the little lighthouse. The Coast Guard therefore decided to decommission the red lighthouse and stopped its light in 1948. The light was designate for auction.&nbsp;The proposed dismantling of the lighthouse, however,&nbsp;resulted in a huge public outcry, largely&nbsp;spearheaded by&nbsp;children who were fans of the 1942 book,&nbsp;The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, by Hildegarde Swift.&nbsp;As a result of these protests,&nbsp;the Coast Guard deeded the lighthouse to the New York City department of parks and recreation&nbsp;on&nbsp;23 July&nbsp;1951. The lighthouse&nbsp;was&nbsp;placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 under the name "Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse". It became an official&nbsp;New York City Landmark in 1991,&nbsp;and municipal officials&nbsp;decided to relight it in 2002. The Little Red Lighthouse is part of the Historic House Trust. Every year, a festival is organized to celebrate Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse with NYC Urban Park Ranger-led tours. To access the Lighthouse,&nbsp;visitors&nbsp;may take an&nbsp;amazing and scenic walk along the Hudson River.&nbsp; It&nbsp;starts from stairs that exist at 148th street and Riverside Drive and continues for approximately 1.5 miles to the bridge and the lighthouse,&nbsp; Alternately, a&nbsp;shorter if less interesting&nbsp;route involves following the&nbsp;pedestrian path over the Henry Hudson Parkway at West 182nd Street and Riverside Drive.&nbsp;

Officially called the Jeffrey's Hook Light but popularly known as the Little Red Lighthouse, this small lighthouse is located in Fort Washington Park, on the Hudson River. 

Its height is forty feet, and it has a diameter of 14.5. The lighthouse was constructed in 1880 although it was not lit until  1921. It is located on Jeffrey's Hook, a small land mass that serves as the base of the eastern pier of the George Washington's bridge, which connects the Washington Heights neighborhood in Manhattan to Fort Lee, New Jersey.
When the George Washington Bridge was completed in 1931, the lighthouse was considered to be of no use anymore because the bridge's lights. The Coast Guard decommissioned it and put out its light in 1948 hoping to be able to auction it later. Public opinion did not agree with the decisions and protests ensued. This resulted in the Coast Guard giving the lighthouse to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation on July 23, 1951. 
The lighthouse became listed on the National Register of Historic Places as "Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse" in 1979, and was designated a New York City Landmark in 1991.
In 2002, it was relighted by the city of New York.

It became renown with children's book The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde Swift, illustrated by Lynd Ward (1942). 


Washington Heights, Manhattan Historical Driving Tour, W. 155th to W. 180th Streets

Rucker Park

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources