Chelsea in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

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Clement Clarke Moore Park

.489 Acre

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 30, 2018

1. Clement Clarke Moore Park Marker

Inscription.

Clement Clarke Moore Park. .489 Acre. , Scholar and poet Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) is the namesake of two New York City parks. The first is a playground in Elmhurst, Queens, known as the Clement Clarke Moore Homestead. The second is this playground, located on a former farmstead purchased by Clement's grandfather, Captain Thomas Clarke, in 1750. A retired British Army officer, Captain Clarke named his property "Chelsea” after London's Royal Chelsea Hospital for veterans. His daughter and son-in-law extended the boundaries to what are now 19th Street, Eighth Avenue, 24th Street, and the Hudson River., Born in New York City, Clement Clarke Moore spent most of his life on the Chelsea estate. He graduated from Columbia College with a B.A. in 1798, an M.A. in 1801, and an honorary LL.D. in 1829. Moore donated land for the nearby General Theological Seminary, where he taught Oriental and Greek literature from 1823 until his retirement in 1850. Fluent in six languages, he published numerous scholarly works, including a Hebrew lexicon, a biography, and several treatises and addresses., Moore is best known for having penned the delightful children's poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas.", He composed the poem for his wife Catherine and their children in 1822. A family friend had the poem published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel the following year. The poem soon became a classic, popularly known as "The Night before Christmas.” Moore died in Newport, Rhode Island in 1863., Ninety-nine years later, the West 400 Block Association 23-22-21 initiated the improvement of neglected property at the corner of Tenth Avenue and 22nd Street. The City of New York acquired the site in 1965 for use as a public park. The playground opened on November 22, 1968 and was named for Clement Clarke Moore by local law in 1969., Renovations to Clement Clarke Moore Park in 1995 included a new perimeter fence, modular play equipment, safety surfacing, pavements, and transplanted trees. Community members plant and maintain the flower beds, and the West 400 Block Association holds a variety of special events at the park. Every Christmas time, residents gather to read the poem that begins with the familiar words:,

Twas the night before Christmas, , when all through the house , Not a creature was stirring, , not even a mouse.

Scholar and poet Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) is the namesake of two New York City parks. The first is a playground in Elmhurst, Queens, known as the Clement Clarke Moore Homestead. The second is this playground, located on a former farmstead purchased by Clement's grandfather, Captain Thomas Clarke, in 1750. A retired British Army officer, Captain Clarke named his property "Chelsea” after London's Royal Chelsea Hospital for veterans. His daughter and son-in-law extended the boundaries to what are now 19th Street, Eighth Avenue, 24th Street, and the Hudson River.

Born in New York City, Clement Clarke Moore spent most of his life on the Chelsea estate. He graduated from Columbia College with a B.A. in 1798, an M.A. in 1801, and an honorary LL.D. in 1829. Moore donated land for the nearby General Theological Seminary, where he taught Oriental and Greek literature from 1823 until his retirement in 1850. Fluent in six languages, he published numerous scholarly works, including a Hebrew lexicon, a biography, and several treatises and addresses.

Moore is best known for having penned the

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delightful children's poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas."

He composed the poem for his wife Catherine and their children in 1822. A family friend had the poem published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel the following year. The poem soon became a classic, popularly known as "The Night before Christmas.” Moore died in Newport, Rhode Island in 1863.

Ninety-nine years later, the West 400 Block Association 23-22-21 initiated the improvement of neglected property at the corner of Tenth Avenue and 22nd Street. The City of New York acquired the site in 1965 for use as a public park. The playground opened on November 22, 1968 and was named for Clement Clarke Moore by local law in 1969.

Renovations to Clement Clarke Moore Park in 1995 included a new perimeter fence, modular play equipment, safety surfacing, pavements, and transplanted trees. Community members plant and maintain the flower beds, and the West 400 Block Association holds a variety of special events at the park. Every Christmas time, residents gather to read the poem that begins with the familiar words:

Twas the night before Christmas,
when all
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 30, 2018

2. Clement Clarke Moore Park Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here mounted to the fence, just to the right of the gate.
through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse.

Erected by NYC Parks.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the NYC Parks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 22, 1968.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 40° 44.807′ N, 74° 0.283′ W. Marker was in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It was in Chelsea. It was at the intersection of 10th Avenue and West 22nd Street, on the right when traveling north on 10th Avenue. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: New York NY 10011, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in New York City.

It was also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8

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other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Clement Clarke Moore Park (here, next to this marker); Chelsea Historic District and District Extension (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Clement Clarke Moore (about 600 feet away); Adam Cohen (about 700 feet away); James N. Wells Mansion - 1835 (about 700 feet away); Cushman Row (about 800 feet away); Chelsea Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Richard Ress, Jr. (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Clement Clarke Moore Park (has been replaced with this marker).

Also see . . .
1. Clement Clarke Moore (Poetry Foundation). Brief biography of Moore. Note that the biography attributes "A Visit to St. Nicholas" to a different author. (Submitted on June 7, 2019.)

2. A Visit from St. Nicholas (Wikipedia). " 'A Visit from St. Nicholas', more commonly known as 'The Night Before Christmas' and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" from its first line, is a poem first published anonymously in 1823 and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who claimed authorship in 1837...." (Submitted on June 7, 2019.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 844 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.