Washington Heights in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Sugar Hill Luminaries Lawn
Highbridge Park
Sugar Hill was named in the 1920s for the sweet life enjoyed by those who lived here. Loosely bounded by West 145th and 155th Streets and by Edgecombe and Amsterdam Avenues, this hill boasts neighborly streets and an eclectic range of late 19th and early 20th century architectural styles, but is best known for the people who lived here. In the 1920s and ‘30s, an intellectual vanguard emerged within the African-American community, and its base was Harlem. Those who could afford it – singers and musicians, political activists, author and painters – made their homes in the Sugar Hill area, which was distinguished by the accomplishments, affluence and sophistication of its residents. The New Negro Movement of this time, later known as the Harlem Renaissance, was part of the intellectual fabric of this community, and Sugar Hill’s history is a reflection of that movement.
Residents included political reformers W.E.B. DuBois, founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Walter White, secretary of the NAACP; and the Reverend Adam Clayton Powell Sr. Musicians and performers such as Paul Robeson, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and Billy Strayhorn also lived here. The field of arts and letters was represented by Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison, Aaron Douglas, and William Stanley Braithwaite. Professionals included Thurgood Marshall, the first African American U.S. Supreme Court justice. Between the wars, these and many other luminaries created a unique sense of community on Sugar Hill.
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated several sections of Hamilton Heights/Sugar Hill as historic districts between 2000 and 2002. In 2002, Sugar Hill in its entirety was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2009, NYC Parks named this park feature Sugar Hill Luminaries Lawn in response to a request from a community group that was endorsed by Community Board 12 in Manhattan. City Of New York Parks & Recreation May 2009
Erected 2009 by City Of New York Parks & Recreation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment.
Location. 40° 49.847′ N, 73° 56.43′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Washington Heights. Marker is on Edgecombe Avenue near West 155th Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New York NY 10032, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington Residence (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); John T. Brush Stairway (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named The John T. Brush Stairway (about 700 feet away); Polo Grounds (approx. 0.2 miles away); Convent Garden (approx. 0.2 miles away); Holcombe Rucker Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Greg Marius Court (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Holcombe Rucker Park (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
Also see . . . Sugar Hill Luminaries Lawn in Highbridge Park. Official NYC Parks description of Highbridge Park (Submitted on June 14, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 316 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 14, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.