Central Park West Historic District in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Transverse Road #1
How close do you have to be to this fence before you really see or hear the traffic?
Photographed by Larry Gertner, March 5, 2020
1. Transverse Road #1 Marker
The parks designers had no way of knowing that automobiles and trucks would one day be invented, but they knew that the noise of horsedrawn wagons with iron wheels would interfere with the visitors enjoyment of the Park. Their solution to the problem of moving crosstown traffic through the Park while concealing it from view and buffering the noise, was to sink four traverse roads into a “basement” level below the normal grade of the park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles.
Location. 40° 46.157′ N, 73° 58.427′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in the Central Park West Historic District. It can be reached from East 65th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Central Park - The Dairy, New York NY 10019, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Childrens District (a few steps from this marker); Columbus (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); We're Committed to Saving Snow Leopards (about 400 feet away); William Shakespeare (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named William Shakespeare (about 400 feet
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Robert Burns Statue (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . . “Third Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners 1860 Central Park”. NYC.gov PDF (Submitted on February 7, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Larry Gertner, March 5, 2020
2. The Dairy
An overlooked footpath to the marker skirts its west wall
Photographed by Larry Gertner, March 5, 2020
3. The view from the wayside
Photographed by Larry Gertner, March 5, 2020
4. Transverse Road #1
The Dairy, the 65th Street Transverse and the unnamed bridge on Center Drive
via NYC.gov, 1859
5. Transverse Road No. 2 (at 79th Street) and Bridge “E”
The illustration on the wayside is taken from this drawing by Glenn Wolff, based on a lithograph from Board of Commissioners of Central Park Third Annual report, 1860
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 1,023 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 7, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide view photo of the marker showing its location in context, and a clear photo of the marker. Detailed directions to the marker. • Can you help?
