“Times Square’s so bright, I need to wear shades.” ANONYMOUS
The Algonquian and Iroquoian Indians initially inhabited the “island of the hills”, now known as Manhattan. After Henry Hudson’s exploration the Dutch East India Company was established in 1614. New York was a privately owned, Dutch venture, founded as a strictly mercantile and industrial enterprise. The nature of the settlement demanded a large international, cosmopolitan workforce. Fort Amsterdam was erected by enslaved workers and immigrants from 1623- 1635 to protect the colony. Today the Old Custom House is on the fort’s original site.
Even in a multicultural area like Manhattan the contributions of people of African descent are often overlooked. Prior to its colonization by the Dutch there was a black presence. Even before Henry Hudson, in 1525, Esteban Gomez, after sailing with Magellan, mapped coastal Maine and sailed around NYC. In 1607 Mathieu Da Costa served as a translator in the region from Canada to New York. Jan Rodrigues was set ashore in 1613 on Manhattan Island to establish trade for Dutch captain Mossel. He began a lucrative post and lived as the only nonnative on the island. In 1614 other Dutch traders contested Rodrigues’ claim. When the case went to court Rodrigues won but thereafter disappeared from written history. He has been referred to as the first merchant in Manhattan.
In 1811 the city drew up a street plan, north to 155th Street, spurred by population growth and emerging transportation options. Eventually the borough of Manhattan would be 13.4-miles in length, a mere 2.3-miles broad and nestled between the East and the Hudson Rivers. It has more than 560-miles of waterfront.
With all the visitors’ options adventure in Manhattan it is the area from 40th to 53rd Streets between 6th and 8th Avenues that is the Theater District and Times Square bounded by 7th Avenue, Broadway and 42nd Street, that draws millions of people annually. Currently there are 41 shows on Broadway. newyorktheatreguide.com
The New-York Daily Times was founded in 1851 by two journalists. Later Alfred Ochs became both publisher and held controlling interest and under his leadership the newspaper gained in domestic and international prestige. He relocated The Times in 1904 to a trapezoidal piece of land called Long Acre Square. Times Square, at the time of purchase by the newspaper, was the location of William H. Vanderbilt’s American Horse Exchange and a few small buildings. It was called Long Acre after London’s carriage district. The land was renamed to honor the newspaper and One Times Square became the site of the newspapers’ Times Tower. timessquarenyc.org
To mark the inauguration of the building on December 31, 1904, there was a huge fireworks display. The event was so popular the fireworks were replaced by a ball drop in 1907. The original ball was 5-ft. around, 700-pounds of iron and wood displaying one hundred 25-watt light bulbs. In 2000 a new ball of Waterford crystal was redesigned and displayed and in 2007 it was redesigned again. The current ball is 12-ft. in diameter, weighs 6-tons and is lit by 32,256 LEDS. The ball is timed perfectly to land at exactly midnight.
Confetti wafts over the revelers at midnight. Everyone can join the party by adding a wish, via the Wishing Wall on the square in person or by web. Enter your wish and it will be transcribed and released the next New Year’s Eve. If you visit the square just look up, the ball is viewable year around. #ConfettiWish
In 1892 the first electric sign was placed in Times Square. The bright lights became so popular that now, by law, structures there must have a designated amount of display lighting. To make each evening celebratory The Midnight Moment, the largest and longest-running digital art exhibition in the world, is shown on nearly 100 electronic synchronized billboards each evening. This free show begins at 11:57 and dazzles onlookers until midnight.
Two monumental statues, Father Francis Duffy and George M. Cohan, are featured in the square. Father Duffy stands at the north end of Times Square. He is honored as both the chaplain of the famous Fighting 69th Infantry and as priest of Holy Cross Church on West 42nd Street. The standing figure is bronze on a marble base. George M. Cohan, quintessential showman, stands at the southern end of the square between 45th and 47th Streets. Inscribed on the sculpture are lyrics from his renowned song,” Give My Regards to Broadway.”
The Times Square Museum and Visitor Center Has been renovated and is an attraction unto itself. The museum relates the history of Broadway through displays of theater collectibles, peep show booths, confetti Wishing Wall and New Year’s Eve Centennial Ball. A wealth of information is available in the center on all aspects of visiting Times Square and Broadway. Admission is free.
A few blocks off Times Square, on Fifth Ave. and 42nd St., sits one of the most hidden gems Manhattan offers. The 1911 Beaux-Arts Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, is the flagship of the 92 New York public libraries. On the exterior visitors are greeted by Patience and Fortitude, two Tennessee marble lions, longer than real lions, that flank the steps. Inside there is a visitor center and an exhibition of items from the library’s 53-million item collection that will take your breath away. nypl.org/treasures.
The displayed items represent 4,000-years of history. Highlights of the exhibition include Columbus’ sole extant letter to King Ferdinand announcing his “discovery,” Jefferson’s handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, Christopher Robin Milne’s childhood stuffed animals that were inspiration for the characters of Pooh and his friends, P.L. Traverse, author of Mary Poppins, personal umbrella, Charles Dickens’ desk and the first Gutenberg Bible in the Americas. No one should miss the opportunity to see a 1960s outline by James Baldwin and Malcolm X’s briefcase and some of his personal items. Tours are offered of the library and admission is free.
Times Square and Broadway are free outdoor theme parks. Join the journey. #ILoveNY
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