The Bowery Boys: New York City History Secret Places of Upper Manhattan
EPISODE 293: In Washington Heights and Inwood, the two Manhattan neighborhoods above West 155th Street, the New York grid plan begins to become irrelevant, with avenues and streets preferring to conform to northern Manhattan's more rugged terrain. As a result, one can find aspects of nearly 400 years of New York City history here -- along a secluded waterfront or tucked high upon a shaded hill.
In this episode, we look at four specific historic landmarks of Upper Manhattan, places that have survived into present day, even as their surroundings have become greatly altered.
-- A picturesque cemetery -- the final resting place for mayors, writers and scandal makers -- split in two;
-- An aging farmhouse once linked to New York's only surviving natural forest with a Revolutionary secret in its backyard;
-- A Roman-inspired waterway that once provided a vital link to New York City's survival;
-- And a tiny lighthouse, overwhelmed by a great bridge and saved by a strange twist of fame.
For those who live and work in Washington Heights and Inwood, these historic landmarks will be familiar to you. For everybody else, prepare for a new list of mysterious landmarks and fascinating places to explore this summer.
And that's just the beginning! Upper Manhattan holds a host of fascinating, awe-inspiring sites of historical and cultural interest. After you listen to this episode, check out our article on the Bowery Boys website entitled Secret Places of Upper Manhattan: Twenty remarkable historic sites in Washington Heights and Inwood.