1853
Maker: Valentine
Antique map of Manhattan before Central Park, from D.T. Valentine's Manual, 1853. Shows wards (yellow boundary lines), fire districts, corporate piers, private piers, the street grid, parks, etc. Much of the area north of 51st street had not been built at all yet- the grey areas indicate buildings. Manhattan is split with the populous area south of 57th Street in the larger map and the northern section, largely unbuilt, in a smaller inset at top. The roads in the northern portion were not built- this was simply a plan at the time. Castle Garden is jutting out into the harbor. The creation of Central Park was approved in 1853. Construction began in 1857; existing structures, including a majority-Black settlement named Seneca Village, were seized through eminent domain and razed. The park's first areas were opened to the public in late 1858. This map was printed on light-weight paper and has been archivally restored- cleaned and backed with light-weight archival paper for structural support. Very good restored condition with some slight waviness to the antique paper, tight margin on left side, some minor stains remain. Measures approx. 15.5 x 21 inches to the neatline.
Genuine Antique Map from 1853
Item Number: NYC300