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Essential New York: Central Park South to Mid-Park

Check out some of the sites in the lower half of Central Park! 🌳

ByUrban Archive logoUrban Archive
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13 stops•3.3km•40 min
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Dipway Arch, Central Park
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Dipway Arch, Central Park

Take note of Central Park landscape designer Calvert Vaux’s masterful use of granite at this structure near the Artisan’s Gate entrance.
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Gapstow Bridge
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Gapstow Bridge

This picturesque spot has become a noted location for intimate outdoor New York City weddings.
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Central Park, The Pond
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Central Park, The Pond

This scenic body of water was a popular spot for ice skating when the park first opened, and provides an excellent view of one of the city's most famous hotels.
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Inscope Arch
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Inscope Arch

Built during the 1870s in response to the overflow of pedestrian traffic in the park, today, this archway and bridge will take you from the pond to the zoo.
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Central Park Zoo
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Central Park Zoo

The Central Park Zoo was the first zoo in New York State. A new zoo was created under the eye of master planner Robert Moses in 1934.
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The Arsenal
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The Arsenal

Older than the park itself, this medieval-inspired structure was once a police precinct, a weather bureau, the first Museum of Natural History, and a makeshift zoo.
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Robert Burns Monument
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Robert Burns Monument

"Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?" New York has not forgetten the poet who penned this tune.
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Central Park, The Mall
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Central Park, The Mall

A quadruple row of the one of the largest and last remaining stands of American Elm trees in North America creates this cathedral-like canopy above the Park's widest pedestrian pathway.
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Bethesda Terrace
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Bethesda Terrace

In this terrace, regarded as the "heart of the park," Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux envisioned this space as one "to see and be seen," to both enjoy nature and mingle with like-minded people.
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Bethesda Fountain
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Bethesda Fountain

Unveiled in 1873, this work by sculptor Emma Stebbins is the first piece of public art created by a woman in New York City.
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The Bow Bridge, Central Park
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The Bow Bridge, Central Park

The second oldest of its kind in America, this cast-iron bridge is modeled after an archer’s weapon.
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Central Park Boathouse
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Central Park Boathouse

Enjoy a stunning lakeside meal at this NYC landmark.
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Alice in Wonderland Sculpture
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Alice in Wonderland Sculpture

Alice in Wonderland, here, is a little bit larger than you would imagine. Children are encouraged to climb all over the statue - you'll notice that in certain places, it has been polished smooth!
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