New York Public Library The New York Public Library—one of the most significant national treasures—was not created by the government but by American philanthropy. It owes its existence to Samuel J. Tilden, John Jacob Astor, and James Lenox. Library Founders Samuel J. Tilden, one-time New York governor, left the bulk of his fortune — about $2.4 million — for the establishment of the Public Library. John Jacob Astor was a German immigrant who made his fortune in New York real estate. He was, for that reason, known as the landlord of New York. He became the wealthiest man in America and establish ..read more

The Peace Fountain with St John the Divine Cathedral in the background Conceived as a fountain, the Peace Fountain never had any water! The shortage of water, however, is more than compensated by a plethora of symbolic allegories. The whimsical sculptural composition features the sun, moon, crab, giraffes, Satan’s head, and the winged archangel. St John the Divine Cathedral Artist-in-Residence Greg Wyatt sculpted the Peace Fountain in 1985 to mark the 200th anniversary of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. The 40-foot-high bronze sculpture celebrates the triumph of Good over Evil. The Peace Fo ..read more

City Exploration Games and self-guided tours offer a unique experience: on these urban adventures, you’ll solve puzzles, discover hidden places, and learn about New York. The games are self-guided, all you will need is a smartphone and an app. Each game leads you on a journey through different locations in New York. You’ll follow the navigation, solve clues, discover the city, and become a part of the story. Discover a new and exciting way to explore New York City with these immersive outdoor games! Fifth Avenue Romantic Tale, New York​  Embark on a quest of the ..read more

The glistening Times Square is one of the most iconic and expensive outdoor advertising locations in the world. It’s estimated that the roughly 230 ads that appear in Times Square get seen by up to 500,000 people per day.  The advertising mecca started with the first electric advertisement that went up in Times Square in 1904 when the New York Times moved there. The first electrified ads were installed in 1904, hailing the virtues of Studebaker wagons, Budweiser and Trimble Whiskey. The trend caught on fast, and they were followed by huge ads for ladies’ corsets. Manhattan: Broadway – 46t ..read more

One of New York’s most dazzling traditions is its holiday window displays. Introduced by Macy’s department store in 1874, they were meant to attract excited Christmas shoppers to the store’s goods. It worked so well that soon other department stores followed suit. Alas, these days, most of them have stopped this holiday practice, making holiday window displays pretty much a dying art. But standing strong on the side of holiday cheer, Saks, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, and, of course, Bergdorf Goodman still build amazing handcrafted, over-the-top scenes each year. Creating Bergdorf Goodman holiday ..read more

By the second part of the 19th century, Newport, Rhode Island, turned from a pretty seaside town into an opulent Gilded Age resort. Built as summer houses for the Gilded Age elites, the grand mansions looked like the palaces of European Royalty. Marble House, Newport One of the most remarkable of them was Marble House. Built between 1888 and 1892 as a summer “cottage,” it was a 39th birthday gift to Alva Vanderbilt by her husband, William K. Vanderbilt. Marble House was designed by one of New York’s leading architects of the day – Richard Morris Hunt, who drew his inspiration from the Petit Tr ..read more

General Grant Memorial, the largest mausoleum in North America, is the final resting place of Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia. General Grant Memorial Ulysses Grant commanded the victorious Union army during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and served two terms as the 18th U.S. president from 1869 to 1877. When the war wasn’t going well for the North, Lincoln appointed Grant to head the Union Army, who led it to victory. Even though some victories, like in the battle of Shiloh, came at the cost of tremendous loss of life and the fact that Grant was known to drink heavily, he was loved an ..read more

Do you see them looking at you? Laughing at you? Making faces? They are! They are the grotesques and gargoyles of the City College. In keeping with ages-old Gothic tradition, the stone-terracotta buildings are covered with over 1,000 of them! The creatures are observing you from anywhere you are on campus. Beware! The grotesques and gargoyles of the City College The City College was founded in 1847 and was the country’s first free public institution of higher education! In 1895, the City College built its present-day Gothic campus in western Harlem, designed by legendary architect George Brown ..read more

Written by Marlie Wasserman You’ll find Windsor Hotels throughout the world, but you may not realize that Manhattan once had its own Windsor Hotel. In the last three decades of the nineteenth century, travelers flocked to the luxurious Windsor, at 575 Fifth Avenue, between 46th and 47th. With its 600 rooms and seven floors, the Windsor was one of the best and biggest hotels in the city. All that would change, dramatically, on March 17, 1899.  But first, let’s picture the hotel. In the early 1870s, the men who designed and built the Windsor spared no expense. Dominating a square block, the ..read more

3 and 4 Gramercy Park West Architect: Alexander Jackson Davis Style: Greek Revival Built: 1845 Designed in 1845 by the eminent architect Alexander Jackson Davis in the unassuming Greek Revival style, the houses are adorned with elaborate ironwork—a detail that makes them stand out even in New York’s highly eclectic architectural landscape. Unusual for New York, the sunny verandas and outdoor porches are channeling breazy mood of the American South. Characteristics of Greek Revival Architecture Greek temple-style façade with columns in wood or stucco White paint or construction ma ..read more