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Essential New York: Upper West Side

Take a walk in the beautiful Upper West Side. Start at Columbus Circle and discover the cultural and religious landmarks and the extravagant apartment buildings of this affluent neighborhood.

ByUrban Archive logoUrban Archive
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14 stops•6.0km•1h 14min
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Columbus Circle
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Columbus Circle

Since its completion in 1905, Columbus Circle has been a bustling center for New Yorkers and tourists, alike. The Christopher Colombus Monument that stands here is the official geographic center of the New York City, as distances to NYC are measured to here.
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Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center
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Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center

The Philharmonic Hall, now named the David Geffen Hall, first opened in 1962 and was one of the first buildings completed as part of the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts. It is home to the New York Philhamornic, the olderst symphony orhcestra in the United States.
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Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center
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Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center

The Metropolitan Opera House was completed in 1966 to replace the original 1883 Opera House on 39th and Broadway.
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Congregation Shearith Israel
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Congregation Shearith Israel

This congregation also referred to as the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue is the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. It was established in 1654 and until 1824 was the only synagogue in New York City. The current neo-Classical edifice, built in 1897, continues to serve the Orthodox community today.
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Dakota Apartments
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Dakota Apartments

The Dakota was one of New York City's first luxury apartments. It was designed in the 1880s by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, who would later design The Plaza. It is well known for being the home to numerous celebrities, including Judy Garland and John Lennon, who was famously assassinated just outside.
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Dorilton Apartments
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Dorilton Apartments

This 1902 apartment building, designed by Janes & Leo, is an opulent Beaux-Arts structure. Its design was said to "set sensitive spectator's teeth on edge."
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Ansonia Hotel
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Ansonia Hotel

This Beaux-Arts residential hotel was the first air-conditioned hotel in New York City. William Earle Stokes commisioned architect Paul E. Deboy to build the grandest hotel in Manhattan. In the second half of the 20th century, the hotel became famous for its basement pool, which was a gay bathhouse in the 1970s and later a swingers club.
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New-York Historical Society
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New-York Historical Society

The New-York Historical Society was founded in 1804 and is the oldest museum in New York City.
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American Museum of Natural History
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American Museum of Natural History

The AMNH is one of the largest museums in the world. One of its founding members was Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., the father of the 26th President.
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The Apthorp
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The Apthorp

Known as a serene enclave in the heart of New York's Upper West Side, the Apthorp is one of the city's most celebrated residential buildings. Its large central courtyard is entered through a grand barrel vaulted entrance.
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John Burgess Leech Mansion
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John Burgess Leech Mansion

This corner mansion of considerable size (though dwarfed by its huge apartment house neighbor) was completed in 1892 in a mix of Romanesque, Elizabethan, and Gothic Revival styles.
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Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
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Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument

Completed in 1902 to commemorate the Union Army soldiers and sailors who served in the American Civil War, this monument sits at a curve in Riverside Drive, making the tall structure visible from a distance.
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El Dorado Apartments
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El Dorado Apartments

This iconic Art-Deco two-tower residential building was constructed in 1931 and was described upon opening as ''designed with impressive simplicity.'' It has been home to many notable New Yorkers from Barney Pressman (Barney's Department Store founder) to Alec Baldwin and Michael J. Fox.
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First Church of Christ Scientist
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First Church of Christ Scientist

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, was designed by Carrère & Hastings and built between 1899-1903. It is notable for its large stained glass windows, especially those facing Central Park.
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