Union Square History

Union Square History. . , 22 plaques with Union Square highlights. , 1) Start here: Union Square 1839 plaque at Union Square East and East 15th Street , 2) “Union Square was named for the union of Bowrie Lane and Bloomingdale Road, which is now Broadway.” , 3) “Excavation of Union Square, looking south from what is now 18th Street with Broadway on right.” , 4) “A celebratory fountain was constructed in Union Square at the completion of the Croton Aqueduct.” , 5) “The funeral procession for President Jackson passed through Union Square in 1845.” , 6) “In the 1840’s, Union Square was surrounded by private residences.” , 7) “Horsecars of the 1800’s.” , 8) “The southeast corner of Union Square in 1852.” , 9) “The Academy of Music, built in 1854 and the third Tammany Hal, 1868, on 14th Street east of Union Square.” , 10) “George Washington statue; sculptor Henry Kirke Brown, assisted by John Quincy Adams Ward.” , 11) “Looking south over Union Square in the 1860’s” , 12) “Posters and tickers from Union Square theatres and concert halls.” , 13) “The Great Meeting was a demonstration of 150,000 supporters of the Union cause. The flag that was fired upon at Fort Sumter was placed on the Washington statue.” , 14) “In the 1860’s 14th Street near Union Square was called “Piano Row”.” , 15) “Presentation of colors to the 20th U.S. Colored Infantry at the Union League Club House.” , 16) “The Lincoln funeral cortege passed up Broadway and through Union Square on April 25, 1865.” , 17) “The long stretch of fashionable stores along Broadway below 14th Street was called “Ladies’ Mile”.” Note: Plaque should read "above 14th Street". , 18) “The statue of Abraham Lincoln by Henry Kirke Brown was dedicated in 1870 and moved to its present location in 1930.” , 19)“By the 1870’s, there were many hotels around Union Square.” , 20) “Bartholdi, sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, cast his Marquis de Lafayette statue in 1873. It was dedicated on July 4, 1876. Originally set facing the Washington statue, the work depicts Lafayette pledging his sword to the general.” , 21) “The first Labor Day Parade, Union Square, September 5, 1882.” , 22) End here: Union Square 1872 plaque, Union Square West and West 15th Street