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New York, NY

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The Obelisk in Central Park- captured on film.
Mary F.

Photos don't do it justice. It's incredible to see in person. It's hard to believe after all this time- being outside facing the elements- there's so much detail. Must see in the city.

Central Park Obelisk, New York
Bruce K.

Well, this is out of place. It's actually a 15th century BC (yes, 3500 years old) obelisk and was installed in Central Park in 1881. The obelisk was a gift to the United States in 1877 as thanks for remaining friendly and neutral while France and Britain tried to control the Egyptian government. The obelisk is nearly 70 feet tall and is made of red granite. It was originally erected in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis on the orders of Thutmose III, in 1475 BC. It's granite, so the thing looks quite new though the hieroglyphs have faded some in the last 150 years. It stands proudly on a small raised mound in Central Park, anchored in bedrock. The spot is named Greywacke Knoll. Only about 30 such obelisks are still in existence worldwide. This is the only one in North America. I've seen the Obelisk of Theodosius in Istanbul https://www.yelp.com/biz/at-meydanı-istanbul?hrid=YBLUJr28LXTdLyf3k6gbfA and the Boboli Obelisk in Florence https://www.yelp.com/biz/giardino-di-boboli-firenze-2?hrid=y57Tkg8IzvrCmpjuM_4htw. If you're in Central Park, stop and check it out. Read the translation of the hieroglyphics. [Review 18374 overall - 372 in New York - 1896 of 2022.]

The translation. 04/23/21
Marianne W.

Central Park Obelisk really has the name Cleopatra's Needle. I took a photo of the plaque that's displayed on one side. What I read was impressive. It's a gift from Egypt. As I was reading the structure was teetering above me in all it's beautiful splendor. The base is unusual with what reminded me of Lobster Claws. I sat down on one of the benches that lines the circle where the obelisk is located. It was then that I noticed one side of the obelisk is worn down. That was concerning to me. The weather appears to be taking its toll on this beautiful structure. The hieroglyphics are translated for you. Read the plaque on the base. I took a photo. I'm certainly glad I visited to get a close look. I've passed this way many times but failed to take an interest in the obelisk. I have a new appreciation for Cleopatra's Needle. I recommend you visit!

Geoffrey S.

You don't own history, or it's custodian. You can either walk along side it, be part of it, or like this ancient relic, survive it. The true origins are lost to antiquity... however it is a reminder of a lost age and a forgotten time. It was my honor to spend some time with it, and at 51, the wait well worth it. May others take as much enjoyment as it has brought to me.

Phil H.

As someone who runs the loop in this park on a consistent basis I have passed by the obelisk so many times I've lost count. Pretty cool Egyptian artifact known as Cleopatra's Needle. I use it as a marker for when I'm heading back to the UES and know my run is almost done when it comes into view. Knowing how 2020 went I'm surprised this thing didn't summon mummies to attack us.

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10 months ago

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Review Highlights - The Obelisk

“I took a bunch of pictures while processing the fact that this was an ancient Egyptian artifact with hieroglyphs still legible.”

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Bowery Savings Bank Building

Bowery Savings Bank Building

5.0(3 reviews)
2.0 mi•Midtown East, Murray Hill

Tour historic buildings and designated landmarks of New York. Bowery Savings Bank building is one…read moreof many historic. Any history buff or avid amateur architecture enthusiasts would have a full appreciation and admiration of this stone building as old world architectural craft is no longer in use. This building still stands with the passage of time and nature's elements. The correct location of Bowery Savings Bank Building is in Chinatown, Lower Manhattan- NOT Midtown East, Murray Hill. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=132531

You might find a few Bowery Bums in the doorway of the Bowery Savings Bank Building, but it's New…read moreYork, and more to the point it's the USA, and that goes with the territory. This building is very special to me because when I needed to get my citizenship it was here that my awesome lawyer (whose office is in the upper reaches of this magnificent building) helped me through the process and got me over the line - and I will always be grateful for that. He's David Gottfried of Gottfried & Gottfried, by the way. I would recommend him to anyone as the perfect immigration lawyer for my situation and I wish nothing but the best for him. As for the building it's a typical old rustic early 20th century New York stunner, and it seems haunted. They do make you go through a security check to get up inside here but then so does Barbie with her clients.

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Bowery Savings Bank Building - Exterior

Exterior

Bowery Savings Bank Building - Lil Bowery Wow

Lil Bowery Wow

Bowery Savings Bank Building

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Van Gogh's Ear - Van Gogh's Ear, a public art sculpture by Elmgreen & Dragset

Van Gogh's Ear

5.0(3 reviews)
1.6 mi•Midtown East, Midtown West

Don't look for this work of art. It's not there. If you were lucky enough to see it, write a…read morereview. It's pretty cool if you stare and stare. Then all of a sudden you realize what you're looking at! My photos are from April 14, 2016. It was a beautiful Spring Day. I am enjoying reminiciing about today during the Arctic Blast!

"Van Gogh's Ear", a public art sculpture by Elmgreen & Dragset, is in place at 30 Rockefeller…read morePlaza, right across the street from the entrance to Sak's 5th Ave. The sculpture, by the same duo that brought us the Prada Marfa Store in the middle of the Texas desert, is a tribute to the ready-made style of Marcel Duchamp. The sculpture is a 30 foot tall swimming pool, taken out of its normal context and displayed in its side with a diving board built in at the top. One of my favorite elements are the working lights on the inside left and right of the pool sculpture. Being that it's out of context - a recreational object in the middle of a commercial center - it creates a sense of longing and desire for recreation over industry and gives you an off-kilter feeling (why am I going to work when I could be swimming!). Overall a great piece of colorful public art at placed I a great spot for the perfect season. The piece is on display from April 13th though June 3rd, 2016. Catch it while you can!

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Van Gogh's Ear - The sign for Elmgreen & Dragset's piece "Van Gogh's Ear"

The sign for Elmgreen & Dragset's piece "Van Gogh's Ear"

Van Gogh's Ear - Van Gogh's Ear beautifully backlit by NYC last night.

Van Gogh's Ear beautifully backlit by NYC last night.

Van Gogh's Ear - They removed the street-side barricades.

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They removed the street-side barricades.

Chrysler Building

Chrysler Building

4.5(141 reviews)
2.0 mi•Midtown East

Did you know that Chrysler Building's iconic spire was secretly assembled inside the building and…read morethen raised into place to claim the title of the world's tallest building? The stunning stainless steel spire was constructed in secret within the building itself and then hoisted into position, giving it the final height needed to surpass competitors and become the tallest building in the world for 11 months after its completion in 1930. The building is a masterpiece of Art Deco architecture, featuring geometric patterns, lavish ornamentation, and a terraced crown with triangular windows and arches. ts exterior is adorned with stainless steel gargoyles shaped like American eagles, reflecting both Chrysler's automotive legacy and the era's design flair. Despite being named after the Chrysler Corporation, the company had no involvement in the building, and it was personally funded by Walter Chrysler as an investment for his children. The Chrysler Building remains the tallest steel-framed brick building in the world, standing at 1,046 feet. This combination of secret engineering, artistic design, and historical significance makes the Chrysler Building not only a New York City landmark but also a symbol of ingenuity and architectural ambition.

Love the architecture and the art decor here. The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco skyscraper on…read morethe East Side of Manhattan. It is the tallest brick building in the world with a steel framework. It was both the world's first supertall skyscraper and the world's tallest building for 11 months after its completion in 1930.

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Chrysler Building - Lobby

Lobby

Chrysler Building
Chrysler Building

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Bryant Park - Carousel rules

Bryant Park

4.6(1.4k reviews)
2.0 mi•Midtown West

Bryant Park in NYC is a great gathering space for enjoying the shaded outdoor area on a nice day…read more There are some delicious places to pick up a coffee or a fresh baked snack and read a book or a newspaper from the communal borrowing bins. Once you arrive, there is a perimeter sidewalk with multiple entrances. There are tables and chairs to sit at as well as benches and in the center, there is a big open grassy area where you can lay out a blanket and relax. Within the park, there are many table top type games that are also communal. There are some historic statues in the park as well as an abundance of signage to help you navigate this pretty large park. I enjoyed my visit and look forward to coming back as the people watching was excellent and everyone was friendly.

If there ever was a true New York hub, then this is it! A really lovely park right in the heart of…read moreeverything. Here are some facts I found out about it. Bryant Park in Manhattan has a rich, quirky history and many surprising secrets -- from its days as a poor person's cemetery to hosting over 12 million visitors a year. Between 1823 and 1840, the site was a potter's field -- a burial ground for the city's indigent. Bodies were later moved to Wards Island, and the land became the Croton Distributing Reservoir. The western lawn sits directly above underground stacks holding 3.2 million books and 50,000 reels of microfilm for the New York Public Library. In the 1920s, during subway construction, a replica of Federal Hall was built in the park to celebrate Washington's bicentennial In 1853, the New York Crystal Palace hosted a major world exhibition here. It burned down in 1858. Tesla spent time feeding pigeons in the park; one white bird allegedly inspired him. The park renamed 40th Street & 6th Avenue "Nikola Tesla Corner" in his honour. The Josephine Shaw Lowell Fountain - Visitors toss $3,000-$4,000 worth of coins yearly into this fountain, all going toward park maintenance. In winter, the park transforms into a Winter Village with an ice rink, shops, and restaurants -- built from scratch in just two weeks. Bryant Park is the most densely occupied urban park in the world, with daily visitors often exceeding 1,000 per acre. Guided tours reveal hidden mosaic installations and even a Buddha statue tucked away in the park.

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Bryant Park - Fountain view

Fountain view

Bryant Park - Skating rink

Skating rink

Bryant Park - Ice fountain

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Ice fountain

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Plaque

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Plaque

5.0(1 review)
1.9 mi•Midtown East

"Don't know much about history Don't know much biology…read moreDon't know much about a science book Don't know much about the French I took" (Sam Cooke) I guess you can call me a history nerd. After all, I did major in history and rarely walk past a plaque or memorial or marker that I don't stop to read and more than likely Yelp. So when we were walking out to the street from Grand Central Station's Park Avenue/East 42nd Street entry and saw a wall plaque with the portrait of a familiar woman, I just had to stop and check it out. The portrait was of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Those of my generation will always remember the traumatic and terribly sad photographs of her from Dallas on November 22, 1963 with her pink pill box hat and her blood splattered pink dress. Twelve years after JFK's assassination the former First lady was engaged in a high stakes 1975 battle to save one of her hometown's iconic landmarks. At issue was a plan to take the wrecking ball to New York City's Grand Station Terminal and demolish it, just as Penn Station has been demolished and rebuilt in 1964. She became outraged when she learned of the plan and led a coalition of New Yorkers and the the Municipal Art Society to stop it. She was the star of a famous press conference from Grand Central and declared "If we don't care about our past we can't have very much hope for our future, we've all heard that it's too late, or that it has to happen, that it's inevitable. But I don't think that's true. Because I think if there is a great effort, even if it's the eleventh hour, then you can succeed and I know that's what we'll do." She also wrote an eloquent letter to NYC 's Mayor Beame and asked him "...is it not cruel to let our city die by degrees, stripped of all her proud moments, until there is nothing left of all her history and beauty to inspire our children? If they are not inspired by the past of our city, where will they find the strength to fight for her future? Americans care about their past, but for short term gain they ignore it and tear down everything that matters..." The plaque was dedicated on June 24, 2014 to mark renovations to the station's main entrance. The renovations honor her legacy with photographs, a video display, and the plaque. The entry itself was renamed "The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Foyer".

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Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Plaque

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Empire State Building - Photo opportunity with King Kong himself

Empire State Building

4.0(2.4k reviews)
2.4 mi•Koreatown, Midtown West

I came here with my two 6 year olds, and they absolutely loved it. I did too. I remember coming…read morehere around their age and remember thinking this was a very boring experience with a lot of lines. They ended up making this a full interactive experience where you eventually make your way up to the upper viewing deck. The photo backdrops were all very fun and we especially loved the King Kong one where you craw into his hand. The process is something though. They aren't joking in the instructions with their airport like screening process. I recommend getting there well ahead of your tour time to get in line to move along quickly. Once you're through, there is plenty of space to wander. Most photo backgrounds, with the exception of the King Kong one, move along pretty quickly. There is an option to book going up to either 86th or 102nd floor. We went up to the 86th since it was much cheaper. I'm not sure we needed to do the very top since from that point, it's all pretty high. The prices are up there, like you'd expect for NYC. But this was pretty much our major day activity so felt like it was a good time.

One of the most iconic skyscrapers of the world! Even though I've visited NYC many times, I didn't…read morevisit Empire State Building until April 2026. Unfortunately, it ended up being foggy when I went up. *cries* At least I can now say that I've been up the Empire State Building! It's one of those tourist traps you have to do at least once in your life, for good reason!

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Empire State Building - King Kong poster

King Kong poster

Empire State Building - Ahhhh godzilla got me

Ahhhh godzilla got me

Empire State Building - Empire State Building image 2023

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Empire State Building image 2023

The Obelisk - landmarks - Updated October 2026

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