History Of Central Park

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Central Park is an urban park in New York City between Fifth Avenue and Eighth Avenue and running from 59th
Street to 110th Street.

Central Park is the most visited urban park in the United States.

The Park was initially opened in 1857. It was later improved and expanded according to Frederick Law Olmsted and
Calvert Vaux’s Greensward Plan, after which it was reopened in 1873.

Central Park is comprised of 341 hectares (843 acres). It is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long and (0.8 kilometers)
0.5 mile wide. Central Park initially consisted of 315 hectares (778 acres) when it was first opened in 1857.

The Park’s 341 hectares (843 acres) include 55 hectares (136 acres) of woodlands, 101 hectares (250 acres) of lawns, and 61 hectar (150 acres)
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Bethesda Fountain rises high above Bethesda Terrace, looking over the hundreds of visitors that come every day to enjoy the view of the Lake and relax at the “heart” of Central Park.The sculpture that tops it, Angel of Waters, was designed by Emma Stebbins in 1873 and is one of the most recognizable icons in the entire park.
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Bethesda Terrace arcade was created in the 1860s as a part of the Park's main architectural feature. The highlight of the arcade is the magnificent Minton Tile ceiling.
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Cleopatra's Needle is a red granite obelisk. The "Cleopatra's Needle" in Central Park is one of three; there also is one in Paris and one in London, which is one of a pair with the New York obelisk. Each obelisk is approximately
68–69 feet tall and weigh about 180 tons. They originally were erected at the Temple of Ra in Heliopolis in
Ancient Egypt around 1450 BC by the pharaoh Thutmose III.
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Bow Bridge is one of the most photographed and filmed locations in Central Park and it deserves every bit of
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The famed Carousel, with its sweet calliope music and 57 magnificent horses, is the fourth to stand in Central Park since 1871.
It is one of Central Park's most popular attractions.
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Sitting high atop Vista Rock (the second highest natural elevation in the park) Belvedere Castle provides a panoramic view in almost every direction. It is also perhaps the most magical monument in Central Park, one that combines function, form and romance
– all in one convenient, central location.Originally designed in 1865 by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, Belvedere Castle was intended to be a Victorian Folly, a fantasy structure that provides a great backdrop and views, but without a real intended purpose.
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The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Central Park Zoo and the Tisch Children’s Zoo. Here, just a few yards from
5th Ave. you’ll find over 130 different species ranging from giant Polar Bears to the Brazilian black tarantula.
A walk around the Zoo’s five plus acres will take you through a variety of habitats, all carefully designed to recreate the natural environment of the animals they house.

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