Broadway, Central Park West, Central Park South, and Eighth Avenue all intersect at the oldest traffic circle in the country. Planted at the Merchants' Gate entrance to Central Park, Columbus Circle provides safe passage for hectic New York City traffic, a neighborhood full of landmarks nearby, and a bit of history at its core.
The Columbus Circle monument located at the center of the circle was erected in 1892 as part of the city's commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the Americas. A marble sculpture of the famous explorer rests atop a 70-foot granite rostral column adorned with bronze representations of Columbus's three ships. A sculpted angel holding a globe protrudes from the monument's pedestal.
The traffic circle surrounding the monument was completed in 1905 as part of Frederick Law Olmsted's vision for a "Grand Circle" at the most prominent entrance to the park. Columbus Circle was renovated in 2005, bringing new water fountains, wooden benches, and plantings to the space.
Once here, you can't miss Time Warner Center's twin towers reaching high at the west side of the circle. In addition to housing the Time Warner corporation headquarters, the complex also hosts the Shops at Columbus Circle and CNN's New York City studio headquarters. To the north you'll find Trump International Hotel and Tower. Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History, the Plaza Hotel, Hearst Tower, and Times Square all lie within walking distance from the circle.
Attraction Information
- Location:
- Intersection of Broadway, Central Park West, Central Park South (59th Street), and Eighth Avenue
- Subway Stop:
- A, B, C, D, 1 trains to 59th Street/Columbus Circle
