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South of Union Square
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New York Public Library, Main Branch · 476 Fifth Avenue
New York Public Library, Main Branch
New York Public Library, Main Branch

Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.

The WWI Victory Decorations in front of the New York Public Library. The decorations are large and include spears and shields. Crowds gather to look at the decorations.

IMAGE DATE1919
FromMuseum of the City of New York logoMuseum of the City of New York

New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation ARCHITECT: Carrère and Hastings DATE: 1898-1911 STYLE: Beaux-Arts

The Central Building of the New York Public Library occupies a fabulous site, that has often been referred to as “the crossroads of the world”. This majestic marble building, one of the masterpieces of the Beaux-Arts style of architecture, is a magnificent civic monument and fully justifies the pride of its generation and of ours. It sits regally enthroned on a terraced plateau, displaying urns, fountains, flagpoles, sculpture and ornament. Replete with sparkle and delicacy, it is by night or day a joyous creation. This building comes closer than any other in America to the complete realization of Beaux-Arts design at its best.

ByHistoric Districts Council logoHistoric Districts Council