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

Bowling Green Fence

Landmarks of New York

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 5, 2008

1. Bowling Green Fence Marker

Inscription. Erected by the Common Council in 1771, this fence surrounds New York’s earliest park. The park was leased in 1733 for use as a bowling green at a rental of one peppercorn a year. Patriots, who in 1776 destroyed an equestrian statue of George III which stood here, are said to have removed the crowns which capped the fence posts but the fence itself remains.

Erected 1964 by New York Community Trust.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Notable Places • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1771.

Location. 40° 42.282′ N, 74° 0.823′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in the Financial District. Marker is at the intersection of Bowling Green Drive and Broadway, on the left when traveling east on Bowling Green Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New York NY 10004, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bowling Green (a few steps from this marker); Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House / National Museum of the American Indian (a few steps from this marker); Places of Exchange (within shouting distance of this marker); Drawn To The City (within shouting distance of this marker); “North America” sculpted by Daniel Chester French

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(within shouting distance of this marker); The Marketplace (within shouting distance of this marker); Sharing the Circle (within shouting distance of this marker); …to Manhattan (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

Also see . . .
1. Bowling Green. Statue Of King George III Pulled Down, Melted To Make Bullets For Patriots. New York Freedom Trail website. (Submitted on November 21, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. The Trust's "Landmarks of New York". A long-time crusader for preservation, the Municipal Art Society joined with The Trust in 1956 to begin the “Landmarks of New York” project. (Submitted on October 27, 2009.)

3. Bowling Green Fence Plaque. Official NYCP&R description. (Submitted on March 3, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Marker at Bowling Green image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 5, 2008

2. Marker at Bowling Green

The marker is located on the fence, to the left of the entrance to the park.

Bowling Green image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 5, 2008

3. Bowling Green

This photo looks south into Bowling Green park, on the opposite side of the park from the marker.

Tail Fragment from Statue of George III image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008

4. Tail Fragment from Statue of George III

This is the tail fragment of the statue of King George III that was pulled down at Bowling Green on July 9, 1777. This reproduction is on display at the Yorktown Victory Center.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,733 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 21, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.