Farther up Park Row, facing City Hall Park, stands the Municipal Building, in which are the offices for city departments. It is the largest structure of the sort in the world, housing 6,000 city employees. It is 34 stories high. Going north on Broadway we get into the wholesale dry good district, then into the millinery district, and then we reach Wanamaker's great store on Eighth Street and the beginning of the retail district. The Wanamaker store is a fascinating place from bargain counters in the basement to the spacious sales rooms above where there is everything to be found that a homemaker could want. Whole suites of rooms are beautifully furnished to illustrate combinations and styles in home furnishings. There is an auditorium seating several hundred, with a fine pipe organ where free concerts are given during the day. There is also a restaurant where splendid meals are served at moderate cost.
A little further on at Fulton Street is old St. Paul's Chapel. This was used as a place of worship alternately by British and Americans during the Revolution. Washington's pew is marked in the church. The Broadway end of the building is the rear, for the church was built on the river and a lawn sloped down to the water's edge. Thus the sense of remoteness is increased. Going east down Fulton Street through the "swamp" or leather district one comes to the famous Fulton Street fish market. At the west end of Fulton Street is the Washington Street market.
Park Row passes to the right of the Federal Building, housing the district and circuit courts and the old post office. Opposite the Federal Building on Broadway is the Woolworth Building. It is 55 stories high, or 792 feet and occupies a plot of ground 152 by 197 feet. The land cost $4,500,000 and the building about $8,000,000 and was built by Mr. Woolworth of Woolworth store fame. There is a splendid view from the observation tower.
Now we come to Park Row and Printing House Square, where several of the large New York newspapers are located--The World, The Sun, and The Tribune. This has been a newspaper center for 70 years. Several other newspapers--The Press, Commercial, American, Evening Mail and Evening Post are nearby. The old Times Building was at No. 41 Park Row.
In this same vicinity stands the Hall of Records, the Police Headquarters and the old City Hall. The upper chambers have been restored to their colonial beauty and contain many interesting old relics--chairs and desks used by Washington and his cabinet when the capitol was in New York City.
Just off of Riverside Drive from Broadway to Amsterdam and 114th to 120th is Columbia University. It was founded in 1754 as King’s College. On the frieze of the library is this inscription: “King’s College, founded in the province of New York, by Royal Charter, in the reign of King George II, perpetuated as Columbia College by the people of the state of New York when they became free and independent, maintained and cherished from generation to generation for the advancement of the public good and the glory of Almighty God.”
Central Park, which consists of 843 acres out of 22,000 on Manhattan and compromising some of the most valuable and desirable portions, speaks eloquently for public spirit and recognition of real values. Such a park in the midst of a congested district means much to the well being of the City. Lakes, beautiful drives and walks, the Mall about a mile in length and bordered by elms make it a place of wonderful beauty.
On the west side of Central Park almost opposite the Art Museum is the largest natural history museum in the world. Its collections of prehistoric animals, of Indian handiwork, of minerals and gems, and various other interesting exhibits are valued at $12,000,000. The fees of its 3700 members and an income from a $13,000,000 endowment are used to finance scientific expeditions.
This is the College of the City of New York. It has over 12,000 students. Tuition is free. It has a preparatory course of three years as well as the regular college course. It conducts evening classes for hundreds who cannot attend the day courses. Its great stadium is used in the summer for public musical programs. It is the largest college under municipal control in the world.
